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Puccini: Tosca / Price, Corelli, MacNeil, Adler, Metropolitan Opera


Release Date: 01/25/2011 
Label:  Sony   Catalog #: 80468  
Composer:  Giacomo Puccini
Performer:  Leontyne Price,  Franco Corelli,  Cornell MacNeil
Conductor:  Kurt Adler
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Metropolitan Opera Chorus,  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Number of Discs: 2 
Recorded in: Stereo 
Length: 1 Hours 55 Mins. 

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Notes and Editorial Reviews

The finest recorded Tosca remains the Callas/di Stefano/Gobbi on EMI, but if you won't miss Callas' multi-layered insights, di Stefano's youthful passion and beautiful (for the most part) strain-free sound, Gobbi's audible sneer and epically snide cruelty, and de Sabata's whip-smart conducting, then this new Sony release is the one for you.

Recorded at the Metropolitan Opera during the matinee of April 2, 1962, it features the most impressive singing of any Tosca on disc. Both Leontyne Price and Franco Corelli had made their sensational Met debuts the previous season, and what we hear is big, exciting voices--the kind, I'm sorry to say, we really don't have any more--in their prime. Price lightens her tone when needed and Read more unleashes waves of gorgeous, expressive sound, and Corelli was still a fearless tenor, with dark, baritonal low and middle tones and high notes of tempered steel (which he was not ashamed to hold on to). Cornell MacNeil, a fine baritone, was still peaking at this point as well, and his singing is filled with malice, insinuation, and just pure, Italianate sound.

The rest of the cast is good, and Kurt Adler, a perfectly fine Kapellmeister, is happy listening to and following his singers. The orchestra's brass is not above some bloopers, but who cares? This is a thrilling ride, and the 1962 sound is far better than acceptable. Sony's packaging is minimal--just track listings, synopsis, and cast list.

--Robert Levine, ClassicsToday.com
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Works on This Recording

1. Tosca by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:  Leontyne Price (Soprano), Franco Corelli (Tenor), Cornell MacNeil (Baritone)
Conductor:  Kurt Adler
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Metropolitan Opera Chorus,  Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
Period: Romantic 
Written: 1900; Italy 
 Date of Recording: 04/07/1962 
Venue:  Metropolitan Opera, New York 

Sound Samples

Act I: Ah!..Finalmente!
Dammi i colori!...Recondita armonia
Ma con quei cani...Eccelenza
Mario! Mario! Mario!
Or lasciami al lavoro
Qual'occhio al mondo
È buona la mia Tosca
Un tal baccano in chiesa!
Or tutto è chiaro
Ed io venivo a lui tutta dogliosa
Tre sbirri... Una carrozza
Act II: Tosca è un buon falco!
Ha più forte sapore
Meno male!
Ov'è Angelotti?
Sciarrone: che dice il Cavalier?
Orsù, Tosca, parlate
Floria!...Vittoria! Vittoria! L'alba vindice appar
Quanto?...Quanto?...Il prezzo?
Vissi d'arte
Vedi, le man giunte io stendo a te!
Io tenni la promessa
Or gli perdono!
Act III: Introduction...Io de' sospiri
Mario Cavaradossi? A voi
E lucevan le stelle
Ah! Franchigia a Floria Tosca
O dolci mani mansuete e pure
E non giungono
Come è lunge l'attesa!

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