Monserrat Caballe, Jose Carreras, Sir Colin Davis, ROH – Puccini: Tosca (1976) [Reissue 2006] {SACD-R + FLAC 24-88.2}

Caballé’s Tosca is one of the most ravishingly on record, with scarcely a less than beautiful note throughout, save where an occasional phrase lies a touch low for her. She doesn’t quite have the ‘prima donna’ (in quotes, mind) temperament for the part (the coquettish malice of ‘but make her eyes black!’, as Tosca forgives Cavaradossi for using a blonde stranger as model for his altarpiece of the Magdalen, isn’t in Caballé’s armoury; either that or she knows that her voice would sound arch attempting it), but her portrayal is much more than a display of lovely sounds. She’s precise with words, takes minute care over phrasing, and she knows to a split second where dead-centre precise pitching becomes crucial. Carreras’s Cavaradossi is one of his best recorded performances: the voice untarnished, the line ample, and if he’s tempted at times to over-sing one forgives the fault for the sake of his poetic ardour. José Carreras recorded Tosca twice in the 1970s–his best years–but his voice was much better for Colin Davis when recording this set in 1976 than it was for Herbert von Karajan’s 1979 interpretation. Wixell is the fly in the ointment: a capable actor and an intelligent artist, but his gritty timbre lacks centre and thus the necessary dangerous suavity. Davis’s direction is flexible but dramatic and finely detailed, and the secondary singers are all very good. The recording, despite some rather unconvincing sound effects, still sounds very well, with space around the voices and a natural balance between them and the orchestra.

Tracklist:
Disc1 #01. Ah! Finalmente (Angelotti)
Disc1 #02. E sempre lava! (Sagrestano)
Disc1 #03. Dammi i colori! (Cavaradossi)
Disc1 #04. Recondita armonia(Cavaradossi)
Disc1 #05. Gente là dentro (Cavaradossi)
Disc1 #06. Mario! Mario! Mario! (Tosca)
Disc1 #07. Ah, quegli ochi… (Tosca)
Disc1 #08. Mia gelosa (Cavaradossi)
Disc1 #09. È buona la mia Tosca (Cavaradossi)
Disc1 #10. Sommo giubilo, Eccellenza! (Sagrestano)
Disc1 #11. Un tal baccano in chiesa! (Scarpia)
Disc1 #12. Or tutto è chiaro… (Scarpia)
Disc1 #13. Ed io venivo (Tosca)
Disc1 #14. Tre sbirri, una carrozza (Scarpia)

Disc2 #01. Tosca è un buon falco (Scarpia)
Disc2 #02. Ha più forte sapore (Scarpia)
Disc2 #03. Meno male! (Scarpia)
Disc2 #04. Ov’è Angelotti? (Scarpia)
Disc2 #05. Ed or fra noi parliam da buoni amici (Scarpia)
Disc2 #06. Sciarrone, che dice il Cavalier? (Scarpia)
Disc2 #07. Orsù, Tosca, parlate (Scarpia)
Disc2 #08. Floria… Amore… (Cavaradossi, Tosca)
Disc2 #09. Nel pozzo del giardino (Scarpia)
Disc2 #10. Se la giurata fede (Scarpia)
Disc2 #11. Vissi d’arte (Tosca)
Disc2 #12. Vedi, le man giunte (Tosca)
Disc2 #13. E qual via scegliete (Scarpia)
Disc2 #14. Tosca, finalmente mia! (Scarpia)
Disc2 #15. Io de’ sospiri (Un pastore)
Disc2 #16. Mario Cavaradossi? (Carceriere)
Disc2 #17. Introduzione a:
Disc2 #18. E lucevan le stelle (Cavaradossi)
Disc2 #19. «Franchigia a Floria Tosca…» (Cavaradossi)
Disc2 #20. O dolci mani (Cavaradossi)
Disc2 #21. Senti… l’ora è vicina (Tosca)
Disc2 #22. Amaro sol per te m’era il morire (Cavaradossi)
Disc2 #23. E non giungono…(Tosca)
Disc2 #24. L’ora! (Carceriere)
Disc2 #25. Come è lunga l’attesa! (Tosca)
Disc2 #26. Presto, su! Mario! Mario! (Tosca)

Produced by Eric Smith
Balance Engineer: Hans Lauterslager
Remastering: Jean-Marie Geijsen

Performers
Monserrat Caballé (Floria Tosca)
José Carreras (Mario Cavaradossi)
Ingvar Wixell (Scarpia)
Samuel Ramey (Cesare Angelotti)
Domenico Trimarchi (Il Sagrestano)
Piero de Palma (Spoletta)
William Elvin (Sciarrone/Un carceriere)
Ann Murray (Un pastore)
Chorus and Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Sir Colin Davis – Conductor
Richard Amner – Chorus Master

SACD-R