How to describe such a piece? (Tosca Final Scene-Leontyne Price)

[SKYIO]

I especially like the first 2 minutes and 30 seconds


http://www.youtube.com/v/BoPXsVSWodY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoPXsVSWodY


The shift in intensity, the dramaticism. I really love it and haven't found anything quite like it. Does anyone have some recommendations?

[mc ukrneal]

I especially like the first 2 minutes and 30 seconds


http://www.youtube.com/v/BoPXsVSWodY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoPXsVSWodY


The shift in intensity, the dramaticism. I really love it and haven't found anything quite like it. Does anyone have some recommendations?

She's great in this role. I have her with Di Stefano (under Karajan) and that is my favorite version of the opera. But it has been well served and there are quite a few excellent versions. There doesn't seem to be much distortion in the one you linked, which is good in a highly dynamic opera such as this.

[Tsaraslondon]

There are quite a few excellent versions of the opera out there, including the one you detailed above conducted by Karajan with Price as Tosca, Di Stefano as Cavaradossi and Taddei as Scarpia.

That said, the Callas/Di Stefano/Gobbi/De Sabata recording has long been conisdered one of the greatest opera recordings of all time. It's mono, but the sound is remarkably good, especially in its recent Warner transfer.

.

Callas and Gobbi are the quintessential Tosca and Scarpia and Di Stefano was in fresher voice than when he recorded it for Karajan. De Sabata's conducting of the La Scala Orchestra and Chorus is quite exceptional, his sense of rubato and masterly control of his forces unparalleled. It really has to be heard.

[André]

A vote for this version:



With your favourite tenor  . Joke apart, I like this version for Vishnevskaya's vocal colouring and dramatic involvement. She certainly makes a formidable foil to Scarpia. And Rostro conducts powerfully. Less refined musically than the Callas/de Sabata version, but the histrionics suit the opera. Not a first choice then, but one that I always find interesting to hear.