DESCRIPTION:
SUBTITLES WILL BE PROVIDED SHORTLY
English Is done
Arabic is done
Italian is don
German is Done
French is Done
Spanish Not yet.
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The opening scene is set in a magificent church, but the architecture is distorted, quite imaginative but it works well. When we are introduced to Licitra as Cavaradossi we have a mellow voiced tenor with an easy delivery.
Guleghina is an absolute delight in her role as Tosca, she displaysa wide range of vocal power and sweetness as she changes her moods.
The painting which is at the centre of controversy is tastefully done, some other productions seem to have a rather tasteless one.
Nucci as Scarpia is in good form, he is a great baritone and acts the part with restraint and a touch of menace.
In act two we are in Scarpias rooms, again the architecture is tortured. The tension between Nucci and Ghuleghina in the early part of the act is edge of the seat stuff. After the secret of Angelottis whereabouts is revealed I like the way Nucci turns on the charm before returning to his menacing best.
Probably the highlight of the whole production is Guleghinas rendition of the aria, it is as near to perfection as I could wish.
Scarpios death is not as bloody as some but is quite effective.
The theme of tortured buildings is continued with the ramparts of the castle roof. The soldiers come and go through a stairway in the middle of the courtyard, this leads down into the castle lower levels. Eventually Cavaradossi is led up from the depths, In his aria he displays a lot of emotion as well as a great rendition. He does not have a spectacular voice, but it is very expressive.
The execution is staged well, Cavaradossi dying credibly. The final leap of Tosca from the battlements is however over before you can blink.
Performers:
Floria Tosca - Maria Guleghina
Mario Cavaradossi - Salvatore Licitra
Il Barone Scarpia -- Leo Nucci
Cesare Angelotti -- Giovanni Battista Parodi
Il Sagrestano -- Alfredo Mariotti
Spoletta -- Ernesto Gavazzi
Sciarrone -- Silvestro Sammaritano
Un Carceriere -- Ernesto Panariello
Un Pastore -- Virginia Barchi

Coro e Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala
Riccardo Muti
Directed for Stage by Luca Ronconi
Recorded live at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, March 2000
Directed for television by Pierre Cavasillas