Search - Puccini: Tosca on DVD

Mario, the quickest death ever!!!!

Andres Santos Jr. | Sao Paulo, BRAZIL | 12/01/2008

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I liked this DVD, the production is a little bit controversial, but the director achieved to show the intimate drama in a huge stage. The second act is perfect. The first is surprisingly good after Scarpia entrance and the sets are riveting. The problem here is the third act, Tosca has killed the evil baron for Mario's sake. With bloody hands and loving promises she arrived, after a beautiful "lucevan le stelle' to warn Mario about the fake execution. They never really met in this production, she sings over him in a kind of balcony. At the moment of the execution itself, the TV director CUT OFF all the Tosca's lines and screams!!!! Why??? It's only a few moments of music although very significant ones! Nadja Michael is perfectly capable to delivery it! What hapenned? I'm shure for the live audience the scene was there! Why not in video, handicapping a strong performance? Shame, shame, shame!"

Worst Tosca Ever!

J. Shaver | Hot Springs, VA USA | 03/01/2009

(1 out of 5 stars)

"It's not just the bizarre staging and the hideous costumes and the fact that we are constantly prevented from being even remotely involved by the camera jumping into four black and white scenes from time to time. But it is poorly sung and conducted. The worst Tosca and Caravadosi and Scarpia on CD or DVD. I never made through Act One. Thank the operatic gods I just rented and didn't buy this turkey."