Tosca from Vienna

 Scarpia, Tosca, Cavaradossi

I wanted to see Tosca, but the recent one from the Met is too soon for me.  Besides it was just ok.  I looked around and found this amazing one from the Wiener Staatsoper 2016.

Conductor: Jesus Lopez Cobos
Stage Designer: Nicola Benois

Tosca: Angela Gheorghiu,
Cavaradossi:  Jonas Kaufmann,
Scarpia:  Bryn Terfel

Bryn is astounding.  I've seem him in a variety of roles--Falstaff, Méphistophélès, Figaro, Wotan, etc. --, but this is not the Bryn I know.  He roars and terrifies.  Perhaps Scarpia should always be like this.  He's peeling fruit while he interviews Cavaradossi.

Jonas is the great romantic hero of our time, and is perfect in this role.  He receives extended applause for his aria at the beginning of the third act.  In fact he gets an encore here.  This is the performance where Angela missed her cue.  I'm very surprised they left it in.  Maybe you could get an edited version.  Because it's funny but spoils an otherwise fabulous performance.

I recommend this.  All are on the same page, with great intensity and beautiful singing.

No offense to the Met.