Production: Margarethe Wallmann
Tosca Sondra Radvanovsky
Mario Piotr Beczala
Scarpia Thomas Hampson
This production of Puccini's Tosca at the Vienna State Opera is very popular. I can see why. In Act I the church shows members of the Swiss Guard. I was going to question this when I remembered we are in period, the time of Napoleon, when Rome was ruled by Naples. I associate the Swiss Guard only with Vatican City. Perhaps the Bishop of Rome is attending.
This performance is from last year. I love Sondra in this. She dominates her male partners. She sings and acts with such wonderful intensity. Tosca is a diva of the greatest quality, and should seem so.
There is a lot to like here. Unless I am hallucinating, Piotr gets a bis for "E lucevan le stelle." Cool. I don't seem to tire of Tosca as long as it's new people each time.
No comments:
Post a Comment