original Tosca poster
illustration by Adolfo Hohenstein
Today is the birthday of Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini aka Puccini, the composer of some of the greatest operas ever.
As my tribute to Puccini (link below) I've selected my favorite opera by him, Tosca, sung by my favorite soprano, Leontyne Price (link below).
Tosca premiered at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on the Victorien Sardou, 1887 French-language dramatic play, La Tosca, is a melodramatic piece set in Rome in June 1800, with the Kingdom of Naples control of Rome threatened by the Napoleonic invasion of Italy. It contains depictions of torture, murder and suicide, as well as some of Puccini's best-known lyrical arias.
With one exception, which will come later, this entry does not focus on the composer, the music, the singers nor
the qualities of the recording but rather the album itself. It is an
issue of excellent quality that has rarely been surpassed.
The records come in a textured box with embossed gold ink. Included is a full color, soft cover, 12" x 12" book with historical information along with photos and libretto. The art work and album design was by Rita Thermes.
The records come in a textured box with embossed gold ink. Included is a full color, soft cover, 12" x 12" book with historical information along with photos and libretto. The art work and album design was by Rita Thermes.
The book includes a reproduction of the original poster by Adolfo Hohenstein for the opera (below and above): Tosca standing over
Scarpia's body, about to lay a crucifix on his chest. The text reads:
"Tosca: libretto di V Sardou, L Illica, G Giacosa. Musica di G Puccini.
Riccardi & C. editori"
The album is part of the Soria Series set up by Dorle J. Soria with her husband. Soria was a journalist, writer and publicist, born December 14, 1900; died July 7, 2002.
Here is the exception. The two big "Hits" from Tosca are Vissi d'arte (link below), sung by Tosca in act two, scene one, and E lucevan le stelle (link below), sung by her lover, Mario Cavaradossi, in act three, scene one. Both
arias are without a doubt incredibly beautiful, I don't deny that. But
for me the gem of the opera is sung by the villain of Tosca, Baron Scarpia, at the finale of the first act. Va Tosca (link below) is sung during the Te Deum of a mass being performed in the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle with the congregation praising the Lord while Scarpia
sings of his lust for Tosca and his plans to kill her lover. The sheer
sacrilege of this action is astounding when considering the opera was written in
the 1800's when the Roman Catholic Church was still all powerful in Italy.
I've only seen Tosca once and the San Francisco Opera production I saw showcased the raw power of Scarpia's
bold baritone voice in rutting heat counterpointed by the sincere and
fervent devotional chorus of the congregation, white both are
accompanied by a pipe organ, the bells in the church ringing out the mass and cannons firing in the square!
It was absolutely breathtaking! It's a scene only out done by the Temple of Vulcan scene in act one, scene two of Verdi's, magnificent opera, Aida (link below).
It was absolutely breathtaking! It's a scene only out done by the Temple of Vulcan scene in act one, scene two of Verdi's, magnificent opera, Aida (link below).
Inside the church of Sant'Andrea della Valle
set design by Adolfo Hohenstein
The Te Deum scene which concludes act 1.
Go, Tosca!
Now Scarpia digs a nest within your heart!
Go, Tosca! Scarpia now sets loose
the soaring falcon of your jealousy!
How great a promise in your quick suspicions!
Now Scarpia digs a nest within your heart!
Go, Tosca!
(Scarpia kneels and prays as the cardinal passes.)
CHORUS
Adjutorum nostrum in nomine Domini
qui fecit coelum et terram.
Sit nomen Domini benedictum
et hoc nunc et usque in saeculum.
SCARPIA
My will takes aim now at a double target,
nor is the rebel's head the bigger prize...
Ah, to see the flame of those imperious eyes
grow faint and languid with passion...
For him, the rope,
and for her, my arms...
CHORUS
Te Deum laudamus:
Te Dominum confitemur!
(The sacred chant from the back of the church
startles Scarpia, as though awakening him from a
dream. He collects himself, makes the Sign of the
Cross.)
SCARPIA
Tosca, you make me forget God!
(He kneels and prays devoutly.)
CHORUS, SCARPIA
Te aeternum
Patrem omnis terra veneratur!
Front cover of the original 1899 libretto
selected libretto pages
Vinyl LP, side 1
Vinyl LP, side 2
Vinyl LP, side 3
Vinyl LP, side 4
Tracklist:
Side 1:
A1 - Act I (Part 1)
Side 2:
B1 - Act I (Concluded)
B2 - Act II (Part 1)
Side 3:
C1 - Act II (Concluded)
Side 4:
D1 - Act III
Credits:
Artwork [Cover Painting] – Rita Thermes
Baritone Vocals, Performer [Baron Scarpia] – Giuseppe Taddei
Bass Vocals, Performer [Cesare Angelotti] – Carlo Cava
Bass Vocals, Performer [Kerkermeister] – Alfredo Mariotti
Bass Vocals, Performer [Mesner] – Fernando Corena
Bass Vocals, Performer [Sciarrone] – Leonardo Monreale
Chorus – Wiener Staatsopern-Chor*
Chorus Master – Roberto Benaglio
Composed By – Giacomo Puccini
Conductor – Herbert Von Karajan
Libretto By – Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica
Orchestra – Wiener Philharmoniker
Soprano Vocals, Performer [Floria Tosca] – Leontyne Price
Soprano Vocals, Performer [Hirtenknabe] – Herbert Weiss
Tenor Vocals, Performer [Mario Cavaradossi] – Giuseppe Di Stefano
Tenor Vocals, Performer [Spoletta] – Piero Di Palma*
Notes:
Textured box with embossed gold ink. Full color booklet with historical information along with photos and libretto.
Leontyne Price / Giuseppe Di Stefano / Giuseppe Taddei / Herbert Von Karajan – Puccini - Tosca
Label: RCA Victor Red Seal – LDS 7022
Series: Soria Series –
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Box Set
Country: US
Released: 1964
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera
Side 1:
A1 - Act I (Part 1)
Side 2:
B1 - Act I (Concluded)
B2 - Act II (Part 1)
Side 3:
C1 - Act II (Concluded)
Side 4:
D1 - Act III
Credits:
Artwork [Cover Painting] – Rita Thermes
Baritone Vocals, Performer [Baron Scarpia] – Giuseppe Taddei
Bass Vocals, Performer [Cesare Angelotti] – Carlo Cava
Bass Vocals, Performer [Kerkermeister] – Alfredo Mariotti
Bass Vocals, Performer [Mesner] – Fernando Corena
Bass Vocals, Performer [Sciarrone] – Leonardo Monreale
Chorus – Wiener Staatsopern-Chor*
Chorus Master – Roberto Benaglio
Composed By – Giacomo Puccini
Conductor – Herbert Von Karajan
Libretto By – Giuseppe Giacosa, Luigi Illica
Orchestra – Wiener Philharmoniker
Soprano Vocals, Performer [Floria Tosca] – Leontyne Price
Soprano Vocals, Performer [Hirtenknabe] – Herbert Weiss
Tenor Vocals, Performer [Mario Cavaradossi] – Giuseppe Di Stefano
Tenor Vocals, Performer [Spoletta] – Piero Di Palma*
Notes:
Textured box with embossed gold ink. Full color booklet with historical information along with photos and libretto.
Leontyne Price / Giuseppe Di Stefano / Giuseppe Taddei / Herbert Von Karajan – Puccini - Tosca
Label: RCA Victor Red Seal – LDS 7022
Series: Soria Series –
Format: 2 × Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo
Box Set
Country: US
Released: 1964
Genre: Classical
Style: Opera
Net links:
YouTube links:
Leontyne Price ~ Vissi D´arte
Giuseppe di Stefano - E lucevan le stelle
Ruggero Raimondi - Tosca - Va, Tosca (Te Deum)
"Tosca, you make me forget God!"
~ Baron Scarpia
Styrous® ~ Saturday, December 22, 2018
