Puccini.Tosca.Act II.Quanto?Il Prezzo...Vissi d´Arte

[IrishClaudius]

Compare the BBC filmed production of the same scene with Sarpa played by Bryn Trefel you can see that the opera is meant for the stage but filmed on stage by excllent editing - you get the best of both worlds - see video response Tosca London 2011.

[TheVaughan5]

Vissi d'arte has seldom been so wonderfully sung as this! Pappano's conducting throughout the opera is simply the best ever! This film has many flaws but it's worth seeing for some truly memorable moments.

[truvianni]

@TheVaughan5 I am but a fan of opera yet could you please tell me what you see as a flaw in this film. Actually I am interested in your opinion, I have even written a book on the subject called "New York's Opera Society" my name is "Gianni Truvianni" and I even write many articles on the subject of opera and am always looking to hear different points of view and would be thankful if you could share yours with me

[TheVaughan5]

@truvianni Opera is seldom, if ever, convincing on film, this is a good attempt but the producer messed up the drama by trying to be clever in the Te Deum scene. Roberto Alagna is ok but not strong enough for the role of Cavaradossi. Raimondi may have lost some power in the voice but is a wonderful Scarpia and Angela Gheorghiu is in my opinion the finest Tosca since Callas. So as you see, a mixed bag which could have been better but has some really wonderful moments. Hope this helps.

[truvianni]

@TheVaughan5 I do agree with you on your points about opera not being overly convingcing in film yet that is of film in general as oposed to this particular film. As for Alagna, well of course his is not the strenght of a Pavarotti or a Domingo and I would have a agree that his voice is pasable but then again this is not so much a flaw of the film but of Alagna.Im a huge Gheorghiu fan so I would say also agree there.In short I agree with most of what you say but feel that the flaw is not in

[truvianni]

@TheVaughan5 this particular film though Te Deum perhaps had some of its drama stolen from it by the camera trickery but in opera films as a whole. Actually for an opera film this film in my opinion is very good definately better than others I have seen such as his Carmen which despite its having Domingo disapointed me. I also want to thank you for sharing your point of view with me and yes on the whole I agree with what you are saying with regards to this film.

[ElisabettaVS]

I love the whole opera and this is one of my favourite productions, of course only because of Raimondi! ;)) 5 stars definitively.

[truvianni]

@ElisabettaVS in my opinion Angela Gheorghiu is great as Tosca as she apart from the voice has the jealous and even cunning temperament for this role though I would say that Alagna's voice does not really have the power this role requieres and is nowhere near as good as Domingo as for as the role of Cavaradossi is concerned. Of course I am but an afficionado of opera yet I do see where Raimondi is a great baritone as well as actor.

[JasonDavis1969]

I love this part of the opera.

Thanks for posting.