Search - Puccini, Domingo, Malfitano :: Tosca

Admirable but not a first recommendation

J. Buxton | Waltham, MA United States | 08/07/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"As mentioned in the Gramophone review this recording was made in conjunction with the filming in Rome on the actual historical locations connected to the libretto. It is a good effort and there is much here to enjoy. Domingo is in fine form, with more characterization in his phrasing than his earlier recording with Mehta (RCA with Leontyne Price as Tosca). Some of the entrances to certain scenes are awkward (either too loud or too soft) and this is most likely the result of the coordination of studio and on-site recording venues. The Scarpia of Raimondi is also well sung and strongly characterized, although his voice is more unsteady than, say Gobbi on EMI's classic set with Callas, or Wixell on the Philips set with Colin Davis. His voice is showing its age. Malfitano as Tosca is my biggest reservation of the main characters. I feel the vibrato in her voice becomes a bit annoying and she also shows signs of unsteadiness in a few spots. "Vissi d'arte" doesn't have the impact of Callas or Caballe, or Price for that matter. It seems to me her voice is not ideal for this role. It lacks a certain dark quality, and when she kills Scarpia I wanted to hear more emotion in her voice. The radio orchestra of Rome plays beautifully and are captured very well. The sound is full and atmospheric and Mehta directs a vivid account of the score. The smaller roles are performed adequately, but nothing more. I should mention the libretto is very well done and is quite thorough in its commentary about the origin of the opera. I would put several other versions in front of this one including the Callas/De Sabata set on EMI, Carreras/Caballe/Davis on Philips, Leontyne Price/Di Stefano/Karajan on Decca, and Price/Domingo/Mehta on RCA."