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Right now I'm reading Murder at the Opera by Margaret Truman. The story is set against the backdrop of preparations for a performance of Tosca. The narrative gives lots of details and a synopsis of the story of Tosca. My interest to hear the opera, and to once again try to get into opera has been re-awakened.I love Classical and Jazz music, but Opera has never hit the right buttons to transport me the way that they can. I would appreciate a reccomendation of a great performance of Tosca, so I can once again try to find the right angle into the world of Opera.
Many thanks in advance to those who will respond.
Follow Ups:
I don't know how anyone could get 'hooked on opera' without attending a live performance. Of course, you could say that about any unfamiliar genre but opera is drama accompanied by music; not the reverse.One of the best Tosca's I ever heard was at Oberlin by a student ensemble. The Sacristan was absolutely marvelous and so I was drawn into the entire performance with a very good Scarpia and great Tosca even though Mario had a lesser voice and chewed the scenery.
I would recommend you seek out a nearby college with a decent music school and attend a performance to get 'hooked'.
"...In research as in life one is far more likely to find what one looks for than what one neglects."
-The Modern Researcher; Jacques Barzun & Henry Graff
Harcourt Brace Jovanovitch, Inc. third edition 1977
By all means, go to a live performance. I didn't think I liked opera until I saw a live performance of The Marriage of Figaro.
..."La Tosca", with Monica Vitti as Tosca, and Vittorio Gassman as Scarpia, which is worth viewing if you can find it, as it follows the Sardou drama, albeit with more than a touch of irony...And, once you know the plot well, there are some excellent Toscas in the market: two by Callas, the mono version being the best; one by Caballé with Carreras, with Colin Davis conducting, which is very good, with an excellent recording, are the ones I´d recommend.
Regards
The Callas/de Sabata Tosca is in mono only, and that might prove distracting, although it doesn't bother me. An unjustly neglected early stereo version by Milanov/Björling/Warren/Leinsdorf on RCA could be added to the list of recommendations. I've had this on vinyl for about 40 years and wore it out, and so was very pleased a few weeks ago to find a pristine vinyl pressing in a charity shop.And late Puccini is "hard to handle." ????????????? Only when you compare it to The Sound of Music.
If you are intrigued by Tosca, by all means go for it as an intro. There is some great music in Tosca, even if the drama is at times, shall we say, melodramatic. There is one of the most famous of all arias in Tosca, "Vissi d'arte" , but somewhat ironically, it interrupts the flow of the story, which is otherwise very tightly drawn. For me, the first act of Tosca is brilliant, and also the beginning of the third act.The classic recording of Tosca is the Callas/Di Stefano/Gobbi with Victor de Sabata conducting. While mono, the sound is solid and lifelike. I've been listening to the SACD reissue on Pentatone of the Carreras/Caballe/Wixell/Davis, which is good but doesn't grab me like the de Sabata. Some listeners are put off by the vagaries of Callas' voice, but for me she characterizes Tosca in a way that I've not heard equaled - I feel the same about her Turandot, by the way.
Some might consider that other operas are better places to start - Marriage of Figaro, La Boheme, Carmen, La Traviata, Barber of Seville, Das Rheingold (OK, I'm kidding there)might all be "normal" places to start, but really, Tosca is very representative of Puccini's music, and Puccini is one of the great operatic masters, and if you like it, or at least like some of the music, you will be embarking on an adventure in music that could change your life.
Have fun,
Tom
Sinopoli and Freni all the way for modern. Karajan and Price on RCA Soria if you're an lp kinda guy.
differs from that of Mr. Brines. "Tosca" is the setting and that should be the opera you seek. And I feel Verdi is much heavier and tougher than Puccini in some ways.My suggestion would be to get a tape or DVD of Tosca. Your local library, perhaps? Since opera is a visual as well as audio medium, it would be a good way to wet your whistle. I, too, love classical music, but much prefer individual arias to listening to a whole opera. No shame in that. But you are more likely to be captured by the opera by seeing it.
I'd go for a performance by Pavarotti or Domingo. Carrera wouldn't be a personal choice.
Personal opinion only, "Tosca" is not the right point to jump into opera. Classical is an awfully broad catagory, but if you like Mozart/Beethoven/Schubert, then start with "Marriage of Figaro" or "Barber of Seville", then go to Verdi and work your way up to Puccini. Again, personal opinion only, late Puccini is a bit hard to handle.
nt
all the best,
mrh
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