Tosca

Lovers of Puccini's ever-popular opera about the diva who kills the lascivious police chief Scarpia—in hopes of saving the life of her condemned lover, the painter Cavaradossi—will want to check out this 2010 production from Genoa's Teatro Carlo Felice for the nigh-irresistible reason that the sets are based on Adolf Hohenstein's design for the Roman premiere of 1900. Veteran Daniela Dessì certainly benefits from her experience in singing Tosca, but her voice is no longer as supple, and she exhibits more power than control. But while the same might be said of Fabio Armiliato as Caravadossi, the enthusiastic audience nevertheless demands encores of their most famous arias—Tosca's “Vissi d'arte” and Cavaradossi's “E lucevan le stelle.” Claudio Sgura's Scarpia is both well sung and interestingly interpreted in that it is not as sinister (indeed, Sgura brings an unaccustomed degree of sympathy to the character), while the lesser roles are solid. Under Marco Boemi's baton, the choral and orchestral work is also fine. In short, while this Tosca may not be superb, the distinctive aesthetic element makes it well worth the watch. Presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 and PCM stereo on DVD, and DTS-HD 5.1 and LPCM stereo on Blu-ray, this is recommended. (F. Swietek)