Puccini - Tosca / Sinopoli, Zeffirelli, Domingo, Behrens, MET

Starring:Kirk Browning, Hildegard Behrens, PlÃ¡cido Domingo, Cornell MacNeil, Italo Tajo, Richard Vernon (IV), James Courtney (III), Russell Christopher, Franco Zeffirelli
Director: Anthony Laciura
Studio: Geneon [Pioneer]
Product Type: DVD

Editorial Review:
Amazon.com essential video
This is the best of Placido Domingo's several video performances as the painter Cavaradossi, lover of the prima donna Floria Tosca and enthusiast of revolutionary ideals in the repressive atmosphere of Napoleonic-era Rome. His colleagues, Cornell MacNeil and Hildegard Behrens, are both seasoned and highly capable performers who make the deadly confrontation between Tosca and the corrupt police chief Scarpia intense and believable. Guiseppe Sinopoli conducts with style and dramatic power. But in many ways the primary reason for wanting Tosca in a video rather than an audio recording is the staging by Franco Zeffirelli--effective for the few thousand who saw it in the opera house but even more effective on camera for the much larger television and home video audience. He shifts easily from the small-scale duets in Act I to the grandiose spectacle of the "Te Deum" just before the curtain. His attention to small details helps build the tension in Act II to its violent climax, and in Act III he gives poignancy to the abrupt shift from hope to despair. The essence of Tosca is melodrama, and the singers, conductor, director, and audience all revel in it. --Joe McLellan
Description
The fiery, passionate grandeur of Puccini's Tosca came to life with the Metropolitan Opera's new production of March 1985. Franco Zeffirelli, who both directed and designed the sets for the production, left his audience positively agasp. Conducted by Guiseppe Sinopoli. Appearances made by: James Courtney, Italo Tajo, Placido Domingo, Hildegard Behrens, Cornell MacNeil, Anthony Laciura, Russell Christopher, Melissa Fogarty, and Richard Vernon. Subtitled in English and filmed on March 20 and 27, 1985.

Puccini - Tosca / Sinopoli, Zeffirelli, Domingo, Behrens, MET
Average customer rating:

Magnificant!

A Great "Starter Opera"

THIS TOSCA TRIUMPHS!

Behrens is vocally there but that's basically all she's got going for her

Not perfect, but still a fantastic production

Puccini - Tosca / Sinopoli, Zeffirelli, Domingo, Behrens, MET
Starring: Kirk Browning , Hildegard Behrens , Plácido Domingo , Cornell MacNeil , and Italo Tajo
Director: Anthony Laciura
Manufacturer: Geneon [Pioneer]
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

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ASIN: 6305079188
Release Date: 1999-02-23

Amazon.com essential video

This is the best of Placido Domingo's several video performances as the painter Cavaradossi, lover of the prima donna Floria Tosca and enthusiast of revolutionary ideals in the repressive atmosphere of Napoleonic-era Rome. His colleagues, Cornell MacNeil and Hildegard Behrens, are both seasoned and highly capable performers who make the deadly confrontation between Tosca and the corrupt police chief Scarpia intense and believable. Guiseppe Sinopoli conducts with style and dramatic power. But in many ways the primary reason for wanting Tosca in a video rather than an audio recording is the staging by Franco Zeffirelli--effective for the few thousand who saw it in the opera house but even more effective on camera for the much larger television and home video audience. He shifts easily from the small-scale duets in Act I to the grandiose spectacle of the "Te Deum" just before the curtain. His attention to small details helps build the tension in Act II to its violent climax, and in Act III he gives poignancy to the abrupt shift from hope to despair. The essence of Tosca is melodrama, and the singers, conductor, director, and audience all revel in it. --Joe McLellan

Description

The fiery, passionate grandeur of Puccini's Tosca came to life with the Metropolitan Opera's new production of March 1985. Franco Zeffirelli, who both directed and designed the sets for the production, left his audience positively agasp. Conducted by Guiseppe Sinopoli. Appearances made by: James Courtney, Italo Tajo, Placido Domingo, Hildegard Behrens, Cornell MacNeil, Anthony Laciura, Russell Christopher, Melissa Fogarty, and Richard Vernon. Subtitled in English and filmed on March 20 and 27, 1985.

Customer Reviews:

Magnificant!.......2007-07-07

Act I, the chapel scene as designed by Zeffirelli and executed by some very talented artist will never, in my opinion, be matched by other designers. It is truly a masterpiece, so good, in fact, that at the end of the act, the curtain closes, only to reopen for the most fabulous tableau ever! While the rest of the sets are grand, this Act I makes this DVD a valuable asset to any designer seeking inspiration, no matter the size of their working stage.

A Great "Starter Opera".......2007-06-10

"Tosca" is a great introduction to opera, and this DVD is a wonderful introduction to "Tosca".

The best features of this particular production are Zeffrelli's staging and camera direction and, of course, the wonderful Cavaradossi that Domingo gives us.

Of course, there are a few problems, too, as has been mentioned by others. Most notable among them, for me, was Hildegard Behrens. Her voice, though not particularly Italianate, was lovely. But a great Tosca needs a great actress and in this role Ms. Behrens' acting was not equal to the task.

Foremost among her problems was that she did not seem to have the slightest bit of chemistry with Domingo. He gave her a passionate, fully committed Mario to play against and yet...she barely looked at him in their scenes. Couldn't someone have reminded her that she is passionately in love with this man? That is essential to the characterization and the plot.

Instead, she played Tosca as somewhat naive, not terribly bright, and lacking in the charisma needed to convey a great star. Naive could have worked, but a great star needs charisma and a great love needs passion. Domingo brings these in spades, but unfortunately got very little from Behrens in response. (On the positive side, at least she doesn't give it the "silent movie melodrama" approach.)

On-stage passion is so easy to fake that I'm surprised she seems to be making no effort at all--pulling away from Mario when she should be leaning into him, rarely looking at her lover. A flaw--but with all the other strengths of this production--fortunately not a fatal one.

So...why 5 stars? Because, although Behrens' acting problem prevents it from being definitive, it is still dramatically, vocally, and filmically a wonderful production.

THIS TOSCA TRIUMPHS!.......2007-05-25

Franco Zeffirelli's sumptuous production is all I could wish for from opera on DVD. The camera is always where it needs to be. A variety of well framed angles keeps the pace going strong without jumping around too much. The sets are stunning. (Were those real books in Scarpia's study?) The atmosphere is electric. Behrens is wonderful as Tosca and Domingo brings down the house as Cavaradossi. Cornell Macneil's Scarpia is exquisitely malevolent. There isn't a weak link in the chain here. Sinopoli's conducting is emotional and animated. I listened to it on my Sennheiser 650 headphones and it sounds wonderful. Technically, it's superb. Everythinig comes together for an emotional, involving, and ultimately triumphant TOSCA. Highly recommended.

Behrens is vocally there but that's basically all she's got going for her.......2007-04-10

It's unfortunate, and really really superficial, but the visual close ups on this DVD have exposed perhaps the greatest weakness in this production of Tosca.. Behrens is simply too over the hill to do this role any justice.. She's got a voice.. that she does.. and from a birds eye view in the bleachers of the Met, this may not make a world of difference.. but on the DVD, it does.. and Behrens is simply not convincing both from an acting standpoint and visual standpoint.. (her costume looks way out of wack and her hair looks pretty bad.. she just looks uncomfortable the entire time up there as if she knows that there's something wrong..)

On the other hand, Domingo is totally a hoot as Cavaradossi giving us one spectacular performance after another.. (he too was in his 40s when this opera went into production but unlike Behrens, Domingo is convincing!)

In the end, once again, it's Domingo's brilliant versatility that shines through.. what an incredible musician..!! (the pit is tight as well.. conductor Giuseppe Sinopoli looks like he worked them to death..)

Although Cornell Macneil (Scarpia) has lost some resonance, his incredible acting really makes up for it!!!

This production is worth getting just to see Domingo (a bit past his prime perhaps but one would never ever know it!!!) He's just a superstar..
there's nothing else to say..

Not perfect, but still a fantastic production.......2006-09-20

I owned this production on VHS and am glad that DG have re-released this with DTS sound. I have always enjoyed watching this DVD, even though it does have a few shortcomings. The most obvious one is the casting of Cornell McNeil as Scarpia, as vocally he falls short, but he makes up for it with his intense acting. Behrens too falls short, but I enjoyed her vocalism and characterisation. There will be too many comparisons to past interpretators of the role, and her voice may not be Italianate enough, but in my books, it works and she is wonderful as the heroine! Domingo is the star of this show! Zefferelli's set is masterfully done and the production is sumptous for the MET stage.

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