The potential buyer or listener to
Puccini's
Tosca, one of the most performed operas in the repertory since its premiere in 1900, has many recordings to choose from, including those by the greats of the 20th century. Yet this 2023 studio release, a product of a promising collaboration between the
San Francisco Classical Recording Company, the
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, and
Deutschlandfunk Kulture, can hold its own with others on the market. Part of the draw is the presence of two singers who are not quite household names but are hitting their creative peaks, soprano
Melody Moore as Floria Tosca and baritone
Lester Lynch as the villainous Scarpia, with tenor
Stefan Pop as the sensitive artist Cavaradossi not far behind. The famous tunes all sound great, with
Moore's "Vissi d'arte" in Act II a standout. She is a
Puccini specialist who has total confidence in the role and the ability to put it across dramatically. Perhaps the most important creative force here is the conductor,
Carlo Montanaro, leading the
Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin. He is an Italian opera veteran who has not recorded much, but this release makes one want to hear him on recordings more often; he keeps the action moving, catching the economical, action-packed quality that has made this opera perennially popular despite its highbrow detractors. However, he knows when to slow down and let the singers bloom. The
PentaTone label's sound is another draw; it is rare enough to hear a full-scale studio opera recording these days, and the singers are both clear and close-up, never overwhelming. A fine choice for operatic listening during the winter of 2023-2024 or at any other time. ~ James Manheim
