Tosca: In the Settings and at the Times of Tosca

Puccini's Tosca is probably one of the most famous and well known opera in the Western world. This Italian production with Placido Domingo and Catherine Malfitano is simply superb: Malfitano is extremely well as Tosca, her dramatic soprano voice has always delighted me; and Domingo's Mario Cavaradossi is well played, although I'm more partial to Jose Carrera's Cavaradossi. Raimondi is excellent as the evil Scarpia, he is simply enjoying himself playing the villain. And as always, Puccini's melodic and well orchestrated music is so much a pleasure to listen.

The production values are very well done, giving the opera a you're there atmosphere. I've always liked this opera, and this made-for-TV production has everything to recommend it to opera buffs such as myself.

I watched this live on BBC2 in 1992, getting up in the small hours for the last act, and recorded it on VHS. I treasured the tape for years, watching it occasionally until it died. I've just ordered the DVD and am hugely looking forward to seeing it again.

To be honest it's probably a no better than average performance of Tosca. It's a bit experimental, and it doesn't always work perfectly. It would be beside the point to mention the bits which are a bit clunky, except to note the point in the first act when Domingo fell walking down a ramp - it turned out he broke his toe, but unless you know it happened you would never notice.

But it's on location! At the authentic times, in the authentic places! For an opera so connected with its historic milieu this is magnificent, and if you know Rome and the historical setting of the opera it's irresistible. And a lot of it is truly brilliant. The real star is Ruggero Raimondi, already wonderful in films of Don Giovanni and Carmen, he completely steals the opera as Scarpia, helped by production obviously aware how good he was. But the principals hold their own; the final act in particular doesn't need any excuses.

For all its rough edges this is unique. See it if you can.

I love Tosca and always have done. It has a very dark, somewhat complex and perhaps tragic story, great characters(Scarpia when performed well lives long in the memory) and superb music. I have always loved Puccini, and I feel Tosca is his magnum opus, that is subjective of course but to me it is his darkest, most complex opera. There are so many highlights, not just Recondita Armonia, Vissi D'Arte and E Lucevan Le Stelle but also the Te Deum, the climax and the beautiful and haunting music that you hear as Scarpia writes the letter/safe conduct.

As for this 1992 production, it is one of my favourite versions along with the 1976 one. It does look great, the sets are very well done and some bits of staging such as any scene between Tosca and Scarpia- the murder scene is incredibly chilling- and the te deum are truly inspired. The vidoegraphy is also interesting, with some nice close ups and frames, and the costumes are beautiful especially Tosca's dress in Act 2.

The orchestra play the music wonderfully, while the conducting I had no problem with either. The performances add a lot to how good this production is. Catherine Malfitano is an exceptional Tosca, she has a beautiful voice that projects impressively and her acting is above excellent. Placido Domingo is great as Caveradossi, while he is very poignant in Act 3 some of him in Act 2 also comes across as somewhat arrogant. Not but not least, Ruggero Raimondi as Scarpia. I cannot say enough possibly about how good he is other than saying he is one of the best Scarpias I've seen, charming sometimes yet truly sinister and Machiavellian at other points.

All in all, if you love Tosca, if you find yourself a copy of this production, I personally wouldn't miss it. 10/10 Bethany Cox