Puccini - Tosca

The scenary was majestic being in the actual places the Puccini wanted it, and at the correct time of day for each of the acts.

If you are an old fan of Opera or just starting to explore it, you cannot go wrong with this version, it is pure magic!


THE 'Tosca'!   February 17, 2001
Angelo O. Mercado (USA)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful

Placido Domingo as Mario Cavaradossi, Catherine Malfitano as Floria Tosca, Ruggero Raimondi as Scarpia, et al.; Zubin Mehta conducting the RAI Orchestra Sinfonica and Coro di Roma; cinematography by Vittorio Storaro; directed by Giuseppe Patroni Griffi. 1992.

It is rather unfortunate that this video is not so easy to come by. This version of Giacomo Puccini's historically based opera "Tosca" is simply electric. The vocal and acting performances are excellent. This film, undoubtedly a logistic tour-de-force, was recorded in 'real time' at various locations throughout Rome. My sole reservation concerns the distracting sequences between acts. I wholeheartedly recommend this version released on compact disc, also by Teldec.

Respectfully submitted.


If only this performance was available on DVD!   August 10, 2002
Peter Yee (Mountain View, CA United States)
9 out of 11 found this review helpful

I love this performance of Tosca, one of my favorite operas. Outside of the odd material between acts (already noted in another review), this is an excellent presentation.

Alas, it's on VHS tape. If it was on DVD, it would be perfect. As it is, the tape quality isn't bad, but I'm spoiled by how much better DVDs look. Perhaps someday this performance will be licensed for DVD and I can buy it again!


The Ultimate Tosca   March 29, 2001
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

This is the most perfect performance of Tosca I have ever seen. And it really is basically a live performance, as opposed to an opera movie. The scenery consists of the real locations where the opera took place, and the costumes are authentic and beautiful. But the best part of all is the performers. Catherine Malfitano, Placido Domingo, and Ruggero Raimondi are all not only wonderful singers but extremely good-looking people. As for their acting skills, Domingo is more than adequate, and Malfitano and Raimondi are outstanding. The only part of the film I didn't like was the helicopter noises between acts. The director apparently felt it was necessary to remind us of the present; I didn't agree with him.


Domingo and Raimondi on fire, Malfitano rather wet.   August 22, 2002
Maria (Canada)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful

Buy this video for Domingo and Raimondi. They are fabulous! Catherine Malfitano, I thought, wasn't so great. She sang pretty well, but I've heard better Tosca's than she. My biggest complaint with her is her extremely exaggerated facial expressions. She seems to be going cross-eyed in "vissi d'arte". They are frequent, annoying and just serve to ruin the wonderful atmosphere that Domingo and Raimondi have created.
Aside from her, there is some very strange blue lighting at the end of act 2 that is supposed to be darkness, but only covers half the room, leaving the bottom half dark and blue and the upper half bright and sunny. But Domingo and Raimondi are very good.