Puccini: Tosca
Toscahas been well-served on CD, with excellent stereo versions byRenata TebaldiandLeontyne Price, as well as the definitive monophonicMaria Callas interpretationon EMI. What lifts this newToscafrom the pack of also-rans is Angela Gheorghiu's intense portrait of the heroine. She sings with sweep and passion, convincing you of Tosca's varied emotional states, from love and jealousy to honor and desperation. Her stabbing scene is chilling; she spits out the repeated word "Mouri" (die) with terrifying power. Only in a slightly bumpy "Vissi d'arte" does she fall ever-so-slightly short, wanting the fullness of a true spinto voice to fill out Puccini's arching line. Roberto Alagna is a convincing Cavaradossi, singing better than he has in some of his recent recordings. Only occasionally does he sound strained, and he lets loose some thrilling high notes. As Scarpia, Ruggero Raimondi is a nasty villain. Antonio Pappano leads a swift-moving, dramatic performance. This nicely packaged set is billed as the soundtrack of a movie version of the opera, but it stands on its own as a dramatic performance of a dramatic opera.--Dan Davis