Puccini - Tosca / Kabaivanska, Domingo, Milnes, Luccardi, Mariotti, Bartoletti

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Opera is an inherently theatrical medium that does not lend itself readily to the realism of film treatment. The shining exception is Puccini's Tosca, an action-packed melodrama that unfolds in three taut and gripping acts like the meatiest of Hollywood films noir. And unlike most operas, these three acts are set in three very specific Roman locales. Thus this 1976 film takes place in the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle (Act 1), the Palazzo Farnese (Act 2), and the Castel Sant'Angelo (Act 3). The evocative settings, however, would be mere window-dressing if the cast wasn't just right. Fortunately Plácido Domingo is at his virile peak in the heroic tenor role of Cavaradossi; Raina Kabaivanska is a sultry, vocally beautiful Tosca; and a more infamous and domineering Scarpia than that of Sherrill Milnes can hardly be imagined. Bruno Bartoletti and the New Philharmonia Orchestra give lustily dramatic support. Here the music and vocals are prerecorded and the singers mime to the playback. Occasionally the result is a little unnatural, but overall the cast members are good enough actors to bring off the conceit even in the close-ups. It all pays off triumphantly with the gripping realism of the rooftop finale, the one place where film can improve on stage. With the authenticity of the settings assured and such distinguished leads singing so well, this is an almost ideal filmed Tosca. --Mark Walker

Customer Reviews:

Real drama!.......2006-07-29

In this production, the villians are really villians, the lovers oh so much in love and the real settings amplify the drama. The performances are outstanding and the direction subtle or in your face as and when it needs to be. I am marginally disappointed with the quality of the sound but prehaps I need to explore some settings on my system.

OUTSTANDING!.......2006-06-03

This is the best "Tosca" in movie. Actually, the other video recordings available are of less quality, v.g., that insipid movie with the "satin doll" Gheorgiu and her anodyne and boring screamer-husband. There is also a Corelli's Tosca, which is not awful because of the singer, but because they substituted (I think for esthetical reasons) La Caniglia for an actress, for she was old and fat at that time (end of her career).
Well, this is a wonderful, really amazing movie. Kabaivanska is just fantastic, deliveryng powerful drama from the beginning to the end. Domingo is an excelent, totally convincing Cavaradossi, and his singing send chills down the spine...
Milnes is a great surprise, for I was not very fond of his somewhat "barking" sounds. However, judging for this recording, I have to say that he is dramatically and technically convincing.
Well, the rest of the cast is very good as well, the Sacrestano is a very good singer.
Buy it! You will not regret.

Disappointing.......2005-10-11

I was hoping for the performance from Italy sung in 24hrs at the actual locations. I did not look closely enough into the detail and was mistaken in assuming from the cover that it was the DVD I wanted. I shall certainly look more carefully next time. This is a very insipid performance compared to the one I was expecting.

Drama and passion in natural inviroments.......2005-09-13

This opera-movie combine the excellent music of Puccini with acting in the enviroments of old Rome. The scenes and costumes are realistic, the acting is good and singing is excellent. Domingo is very good as Cavaradossi (of course), Milnes does a great Scarpia, and Kabaivanska performs an outstanding Tosca. The final scene in act 1 is powerful, and the final scene tragic and great. I will recommend this persformance strongly if you dont mind dubbing and opera as a movie.

From 1975: The Best Toca On Film.......2005-09-04

Deutsche Grammophone has outdone themselves with the release of this 1975 Tosca starring Placido Domingo, Raina Kabaivanska and Sherill Milnes. It is largely considered the greatest opera film ever made. The singing/music was recorded in a studio and then transferred on to the film to synchronize with the action of the film. The cinematography is top-notch, authentic Napoleon Era costumes are used and the film is shot on location in the settings Puccini wrote for in the opera- Act 1 The Church of San Adrea De La Valle, Act 2 Scarpia's Palace Farnese and Act 3 The Tower/Rooftop of the Castel San Angelo in Rome. Visually and acting-wise, it looks brilliant. There are tiny things I noted that do disturb me but they can be overlooked once you realize we are treated to great opera by singers who know their stuff and provide passionate portrayals.

The Hungarian diva Raina Kabaivanska is known as the soprano who sang the most number of Toscas in her career. She knew the role down to a "t." She is in her best voice in this performance and her acting is convincingly intense and emotional. She has genuine chemistry with Placido Domingo, who makes the best Mario Cavaradossi in that he provides the role with passion and idealisic spirit. Domingo knows that Mario is not only an artist but a lover of liberty (though a blind one since he believes that Napoleon is pro-liberty). Likewise, Kabaivanska subdues the diva-esque character of Tosca, making her a woman who is real and experiencing real intense feelings in diverse situations - unreasonable jealousy in Act 1, torture, horror and murderous rage in Act 2, love and suicidal despair in Act 3. Sherill Milnes' Scarpia is a little too weak for me. I prefer a more in-your-face Scarpia, a real nasty piece of work so I have preferred the interpretations of Tito Gobbi, Justino Diaz, Cornell McNeill and Samuel Ramey. Vocally, Sherill Milnes is superb. He captures the character's wickedness, power and lust with flair. He even acts the part well, but for the reason that I still feel nothing when seeing him as I do with the other baritones I mentioned I cannot praise Milnes. Milnes has worked a lot with Domingo on record for the RCA label - Aida,Otello, Trovatore, Tosca and Forza Del Destino. Milnes is a top ranking baritone but in this production his Scarpia is very bland to me. I would have liked it if Justino Diaz had been cast (Diaz has done other opera films including the Grace Bumbry/Karajan Carmen, and the Domingo/Ricciarelli/Zefferelli Otello.

Little things that bothered me were some of the things perhaps people rarely notice. In certain scenes, when I NEEDED, JUST NEEDED to see faces or close-ups to see reactions, I got nothing. In the infamous scene in which Tosca stabs Scarpia, we mostly get Scarpia's perspective camera-wise, and are seeing Tosca through his eyes. It is filmed with graphic intensity and the blood on her hands is a little too much. Further, in the end of Act 1 during the Te Deum Procession Scene, a brief glimpse of ceremonial guests reveal what appear to be men in Ku Klux Klan white robes and hoods! What was that ? Does anyone know who those men are ? What do they have to do with the Te Deum Scene ? When Tosca throws herself from the Castel San Angelo tower in the finale, we see her limp body bleeding in the street and steps below. Not a pretty sight. This film intended to shock as I can see. Also, the little annoyances included the looks of the characters and or their costumes. Raina Kabaivanska is a beautiful woman and quite young in this film, but her modern haircut is not to my liking and feel she comes off as a modern woman from the 70's stepping back in time to the 1800's for a visit. Placido Domingo, usually a well-dressed, shaven and handsome looks absolutely grisly in this film. He is chubby, hairy (hairy chest) and bearded. He does not make the same romantic impression he would later do in the 1982 Zefferelli La Traviata or even the Trovatore conducted by Karajan and also starring Kabaivanska. He would lose weight and take on dashing leads in the 80's but in this film he is just not doing it for me as Cavaradossi. But other than these things, the film is a must have. It leaves you breathless, has a dramatic impact and is musically excellent.

Giacomo Puccini - Tosca / Bruno Bartoletti, Raina Kabaivanska, Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes [Region 2]

Average customer rating:

Real drama!
OUTSTANDING!
Disappointing
Drama and passion in natural inviroments
From 1975: The Best Toca On Film

Giacomo Puccini - Tosca / Bruno Bartoletti, Raina Kabaivanska, Placido Domingo, Sherrill Milnes [Region 2]
Starring: Raina Kabaivanska , Plácido Domingo , Sherrill Milnes , Giancarlo Luccardi , and Alfredo Mariotti
Director: Gianfranco De Bosio
Manufacturer: Umvd Labels
ProductGroup: DVD
Binding: DVD

( G ) | Titles | Features | DVD | Video

ASIN: B00005Q66Z
Release Date: 2002-01-29

Amazon.com

Here the music and vocals are prerecorded and the singers mime to the playback. Occasionally the result is a little unnatural, but overall the cast members are good enough actors to bring off the conceit even in the close-ups. It all pays off triumphantly with the gripping realism of the rooftop finale, the one place where film can improve on stage. With the authenticity of the settings assured and such distinguished leads singing so well, this is an almost ideal filmed Tosca. --Mark Walker

Description

In this classic production of Tosca, Placido Domingo is joined by dramatically gifted Bulgarian soprano Raina Kabaivanska. The opera's celebrated love triangle is completed by the imposing American baritone Sherrill Milnes. Also includes a rare scene of Domingo's young son, Placido Domingo Jr. in the role of the shepherd boy, Pastore. Beautifully shot on location in Rome by Gianfranco de Bosio, it features the very buildings and interiors specified in Puccini's libretto. A treat for the eye as well as the ear.

Raina Kabaivanska: Tosca
Plácido Domingo: Mario Cavaradossi
Mario Ferrara: Spoletta
Bruno Grella: Sciarrone
Giancarlo Luccardi: Angelotti
Alfredo Mariotti: Sagrestano
Domenico Medici: Carceriero
Sherrill Milnes: Scarpia
Salvatore Billa
Plácido Domingo Jr.
Bruno Bartoletti conducting New Philharmonia Orchestra and Ambrosian Singers