Tosca - Puccini details
| Format: | Ex DVD |
|---|---|
| Starring: | Roberto Alagna, Angela Gheorghiu, Royal Opera Chorus, Ruggero Raimondi, Royal Opera House Orchestra |
| Director: | Benoit Jacquot |
| Genres: | Music/Musical - Music - Classical, Opera/Operetta, World Cinema - Italian |
| Studio: | OPUS ARTE MEDIA PRODUCTIONS |
| Name | Discs | |
|---|---|---|
Tosca - Puccini |
Ex Feature |
DVD Information
| Run time: | 2 hours 21 minutes |
|---|---|
| Rental release: | Not available for rental |
| Main languages: | Italian |
| Subtitles: | English |
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Most helpful review
A Tosca to die for flawed by gimmicks
By milnerv from Dorset , 23 Oct 2005[Highly rated reviewer]
This Tosca is almost perfect, wonderful singing, great orchestral playing, fine production. Unfortunately it is flawed because of a director who states he does not know why he was asked to direct the film, says he does not understand opera and who seems to have no aesthetic feeling for film.
Georghiu is simply superb as Tosca, I am a tremendous fan and this is the greatest performance I have ever seen from her. Then the wonderful chemistry with her husband Alagna as Cavarodossi, these actors and the characters are really in love with each other.
Raimondi as Scarpia is a revelation, no melodrama here, real menace and threat and evil dominating everything he does, the conflict with Tosca in Act 11 is terrifying.
With all this perfection something as basic as film exposure is too contrasty and highlights are burnt out to a pure white, for no known reason black and white excerpts (once again with burnt out highlights) from the audio recording sessions are intercut. Worst of all on two occasions the singing is moved to the background and the singers speak the lines voice over. Fortunately the DTS soundtrack is excellent.
The flaws are a tragedy as this was probably a unique opportunity for Georghiu and Alagna to film Tosca with all the freshness they bring to this performance.- Was this review helpful to you?
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(16)Angela Gheorghiu Amazing
By Saffron1066 (2 reviews) , 07 Jan 2012Just sat watching it for the second time, love it. Wish it was in English but didn't diminish it at all. Will now be dragging my husband to see it. I am new to Opera and this was a wonderful intro- Was this review helpful to you?
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Beware-Watch Online Tosca is a different production
By a customer , 09 Dec 2011I prepared to watch Tosca on the Watch Online on TV service, but found that, although it was advertised as the above ROH Gheorghiu & Alagna production, the online version is one filmed in Holland conducted by Riccardo Chailly. Terfel is Scarpia, and he's great, but it's not the same as Raimondi!- Was this review helpful to you?
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The finest ingredients but the cake fails to rise
By Sleat (77 reviews) , 24 Nov 2011[Highly rated reviewer]
This film version of Tosca appeals to the intellect rather than the emotions.
Yes, the basic ingredients are absolutely superb. Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna sound and look stunning together, Ruggero Raimondi is a truly menacing presence as Scarpia with the malevolence underpinned by that voice. And his lackey looks the part. Almost the entire film is in close-up - you're never this close to a staged production, and it makes great demands on the acting (and lip-synching) techniques of the singers, which they rise to almost flawlessly. The differences are interesting - but not inspiring.
I did miss the reaction of a live audience, and - much more importantly - the device of occasionally cutting in black and white footage of the sound studio recording is a big mistake, breaking the spell. It's at its very worst at the denouement. Oh dear, I just can't agree with Angela Gheorghiu (in an interview in the extras) on the director's 'special finale'. It's no emotive denouement, but a big fat deflation, as we cut from Tosca flinging herself off the battlements to the singer relaxing her face and saying 'oo!'
Boo boo Benoit.- Was this review helpful to you?
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Highly recommended
By a customer , 22 Oct 2011An excellent perfomance, and although the black and white interludes do not work, they do no spoil it Highly recommended.- Was this review helpful to you?
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A stunning production
By a customer from The Welsh Marches , 11 Feb 2011It is difficult to find fault with this stunning production. With the aid of a good synopsis and subtitles plus the wonderful music the story came fully alive. The singing and acting could not be faulted. The period costumes and superb locations in Rome made for a memorable experience. The use of black and white inserts to show the orchestra and performers when not in period costume eg during rehearsal rather took away from the atmosphere.- Was this review helpful to you?
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