The key to this film may be that it is really just a by-product of the much praised, audio recording: a bit like a promotional video for a pop record. Antonio Pappano gives a sumptuous reading of the score and, in black and white, we see brief excerpts from the recording session with Pappano conducting the orchestra and chorus of Covent Garden. The film that has been tagged onto this recording is quite a low budget affair that is very obviously studio-bound. The few external shots are in grainy sepia.
Angela Gheorghiu's Tosca ranks amongst the greatest interpretations of this role. Her voice has a soothing timbre, it is beautifully controlled and it sounds effortless. It also looks effortless but that, of course is because she is miming to her studio recording. The most convincing scenes are the sizzling love duets in the first and third acts, with Roberto Alagna as Cavaradossi. They really do make a sexy couple. Alagna's light tenor is quite successful in this role but he is ill-served by the artificial ambiance for his big arias. Both Recondite Armonia, set in a church, and E Lucevan Le Stella set on the castle ramparts have too much added echo, making him sound like a crossover artist.
The best acting performance comes from Ruggero Raimondi as a very understated villain Scarpia. He sings with quiet menace which, unfortunately, makes it all too obvious that he is miming. The triumphant procession into church is omitted in this film, presumably for reasons of economy. Scarpia's anguished cry of "Tosca, you make me forget God", is, in this production, just a whimper.
A special word for Ms Gheorghiu's stunt double: he looks very fetching in his red robe as he leaps over the ramparts.
Angela Gheorghiu's Tosca ranks amongst the greatest interpretations of this role. Her voice has a soothing timbre, it is beautifully controlled and it sounds effortless. It also looks effortless but that, of course is because she is miming to her studio recording. The most convincing scenes are the sizzling love duets in the first and third acts, with Roberto Alagna as Cavaradossi. They really do make a sexy couple. Alagna's light tenor is quite successful in this role but he is ill-served by the artificial ambiance for his big arias. Both Recondite Armonia, set in a church, and E Lucevan Le Stella set on the castle ramparts have too much added echo, making him sound like a crossover artist.
The best acting performance comes from Ruggero Raimondi as a very understated villain Scarpia. He sings with quiet menace which, unfortunately, makes it all too obvious that he is miming. The triumphant procession into church is omitted in this film, presumably for reasons of economy. Scarpia's anguished cry of "Tosca, you make me forget God", is, in this production, just a whimper.
A special word for Ms Gheorghiu's stunt double: he looks very fetching in his red robe as he leaps over the ramparts.