tosca

....sorry for the huge mistake Puccini's opera

Luca

Do a search there was a recent post on this, Supposedly the most exciting in the early Maria Callas with diStephano. Another friend told me there was an early 60s recording with another woman, and now my adled brain just can't remember who it was. Said the singing was much more beautiful. I think I'm full up on operas right now.

Only two worth considering.

Maria Callas on EMI, with Victor de Sabata conducting the La Scala forces. It's a mono recording from 1953, but that doesn't matter.

If you must have stereo, get the Leontyne Price Decca set with von Karajan/VPO from around 1960.

Ideally, buy both and laugh at all subsequent attempts.

Desite all recent technology, we just don't have the singers or orchestras or engineers to match what was going on 50/60 years ago. That's why the classical record industry is f*cked these days.

Graham

therer are so mant ways to consider tosca

the orchestration demands a great orchestra

or you can focus on the soprano


for me only callas

or the tenor

pav always dose very well

so the

Puccini: Tosca (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Victor de Sabata, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

is the best for me

calla gobbi wonderful

my 2ps worth

try the cd dept of your local public libray that s where i learned about opera although it was vinyl (nostalgia moment)

apols for the spelling alcohol related and now tosca related as callas sings in the headphones

regards

mike

graham I think it was the Price recording that my friend mentioned as beautifully sung, Isn't she matched with Domingo? In his prime, tho still a great voice, when he was young he was incredible, as was she. I have her in AIDA.

glenn

Wolf, she's not partnered with Domingo on the Decca recording, maybe before his time. Di Stefano sings on both the de Sabata (Callas) and von Karajan (Price) recordings, which is a great achievement. Neither has ever really been surpassed, although the earlier is the better.

Graham

Yes it was Callas' triumph, a friend has the second and cheaper one, both very dramatic even if not beautifully sung by some standards. I have her in Norma.