Thought the same. The whole scenery, including dresses, is great! I love traditional operas and especially Tosca should be played in the settings and in the times of Tosca. Because there is an exact date where this opera plays. In 1800. At the day of the Battle of Marengo. ON 14th July 1800. That's great about Tosca. The reality.
@CuteMCBeauty. You are aware the MET had a 1965 Callas/Corelli/Gobbi cast for a Tosca production. That was a spectacular performance. For those who were there, it did not diasappoint. For me, the regret is that they could never put the Callas/Di Stefano/Gobbi Tosca on stage. Their 53 recording was spectacular.
I believe, that Raimondi and Gobbi are the best Scarpia's we had and have! They are great, although they interprete the role in very different ways. It is true that Raimondi always changes his interpretation, but that is what is great about him. I really love him as Scarpia and I can only recommend him. Go, everyone, and see him live on stage!
The most impressive thing on this whole Act is the focus of the singers, mainly (and of course) Gobbi and Callas. There is not a single moment of "relaxation", "lost glances", especially on the vocal silences. With the exeption of Gobbi, when Maria says "Assassino"... and Gobbi open his eyes really wide. After she gets close and he says "portatelo qui", he murmurs a BRAVA to her. Have you guys noticed it? Gobbi himself calls the attention for this in books and interviews.
Ruggero Raimondi is a renowned Scarpia and has been ever since he first performed the part under Karajan in 1982. Raimondi and Gobbi have different perspectives on Scarpia's character. Gobbi's Scarpia is an haughty, contemptuous aristocrat whose attitude is full of mockery. Raimondi's Scarpias are always different, but they all possess Raimondi's own inner sensualness. Raimondi's Scarpia is never just haughty or intimidating, he's a very complex person with a palette of different feelings.
I'm not taking away Tito Gobbi's greatness but Raimondi is unanimously considered to be the best interpreter of Scarpia in the last 2 decades. These two singers both shone as Scarpia, each in his own right. And why can't Raimondi sing both King Philip and Scarpia if his range allows him to? He's a bass-baritone, they can take both bass and baritone parts.
Scarpia... you are a BASTARD!!!!! I LOVE Callas's Tosca... but seriously, I would have just LOVED to see Mario's Role played by Corelli... THAT, would have been HARDCORE!!!
ok that one scarpia is one of the most well known scarpias of all time (titto Gobbi) i mean if you know opera you will find that baritono as one of the most famouse once....
@Arashi110 Unanimously? By who? When was this poll taken? I doubt this claim highly. I, for one, find Raimondi completely bland vocally. He's not really a bass, he's not really a baritone--and he lacks the grandeur of the former and the excitement of the latter. If one wants a thrilling bass-baritone, George London is the standards. As for modern Scarpias, I'd take a host of real baritones over Raimondi any day.
I'm actually thankful for the subtitles. I don't speak italian, so this really helped me.
Thought the same. The whole scenery, including dresses, is great! I love traditional operas and especially Tosca should be played in the settings and in the times of Tosca. Because there is an exact date where this opera plays. In 1800. At the day of the Battle of Marengo. ON 14th July 1800. That's great about Tosca. The reality.
They were wonderful!
@CuteMCBeauty. You are aware the MET had a 1965 Callas/Corelli/Gobbi cast for a Tosca production. That was a spectacular performance. For those who were there, it did not diasappoint. For me, the regret is that they could never put the Callas/Di Stefano/Gobbi Tosca on stage. Their 53 recording was spectacular.
Tito Gobbi...Magnifico!
uno Scarpia viscido e sensuale come non ho visto mai!
Callas...non ha bisogno di essere commentata: è Perfetta!
I know this recording, it was the first of Tosca that I have heard and it is great. Very passionate. Good recommendation. ^^
I didn't know he had one! Thank you for posting this!
Люблю во веки веков. Подкиньте полную запись, ЛЮДИ!
I have this hole second act vith them, And they are great during all the time.
I believe, that Raimondi and Gobbi are the best Scarpia's we had and have! They are great, although they interprete the role in very different ways. It is true that Raimondi always changes his interpretation, but that is what is great about him. I really love him as Scarpia and I can only recommend him. Go, everyone, and see him live on stage!
The most impressive thing on this whole Act is the focus of the singers, mainly (and of course) Gobbi and Callas. There is not a single moment of "relaxation", "lost glances", especially on the vocal silences. With the exeption of Gobbi, when Maria says "Assassino"... and Gobbi open his eyes really wide. After she gets close and he says "portatelo qui", he murmurs a BRAVA to her. Have you guys noticed it? Gobbi himself calls the attention for this in books and interviews.
Sooooo intense.... she's the BEST Tosca... I would have killed to see her do this role with Franco Corelli as Mario. Now THAT'S hardcore for you!!!!
Ruggero Raimondi is a renowned Scarpia and has been ever since he first performed the part under Karajan in
1982. Raimondi and Gobbi have different perspectives on Scarpia's character. Gobbi's Scarpia is an haughty, contemptuous aristocrat whose attitude is full of mockery. Raimondi's Scarpias are always different, but they all possess Raimondi's own inner sensualness. Raimondi's Scarpia is never just haughty or intimidating, he's a very complex person with a palette of different feelings.
damn you Scarpia =/ you scare the hell out of me. . . . . this has to be the best Tosca ever :D
There's an equally powerful performance by Gobbi and Callas available on CD, from the Scala with De Sabata conducting.
Fabulous baritone by Gobbi, his voice sounds better the harder he hits it.
Люблю.
I'm not taking away Tito Gobbi's greatness but Raimondi is unanimously considered to be the best interpreter of Scarpia in the last 2 decades. These two singers both shone as Scarpia, each in his own right. And why can't Raimondi sing both King Philip and Scarpia if his range allows him to? He's a bass-baritone, they can take both bass and baritone parts.
Scarpia... you are a BASTARD!!!!!
I LOVE Callas's Tosca... but seriously, I would have just LOVED to see Mario's Role played by Corelli... THAT, would have been HARDCORE!!!
ok that one scarpia is one of the most well known scarpias of all time (titto Gobbi) i mean if you know opera you will find that baritono as one of the most famouse once....
Ніхто й ніколи не повторить "Тоску" так..
Not strictly relevant I guess, but what a beautiful stage set!
At 3:25 Tosca apparently feels nauseated LOL
"But I hate you! -So what?" :)
Seems like Puccini wrote this opera for Callas and Gobbi.
@Arashi110 Unanimously? By who? When was this poll taken? I doubt this claim highly. I, for one, find Raimondi completely bland vocally. He's not really a bass, he's not really a baritone--and he lacks the grandeur of the former and the excitement of the latter. If one wants a thrilling bass-baritone, George London is the standards. As for modern Scarpias, I'd take a host of real baritones over Raimondi any day.
desgraciado Scarpia, quiere aprovecharse del dolor de Tosca por Mario!!!
Unlike that foolishness running at the Met now...
@Arashi110 Speak for yourself on that unanimous idea...
Yeah, but the Met is the Met xD Many people will still like it :/