Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. "Ah! Finalmente!" - Samuel Ramey, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
2. "E sempre lava!" - "Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariae" - "Che fai?" - José Carreras, Domenico Trimarchi, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
3. "Dammi i colori!" - José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
4. "Recondita armonia" - José Carreras, Domenico Trimarchi, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
5. "Gente là dentro!" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Samuel Ramey, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
6. "Mario! Mario! Mario!" "Son qui!" - "Non la sospiri la nostra casetta" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
7. "Ah, quegli occhi..." - "Qual occhio al mondo può star di paro" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
8. "Mia gelosa!" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
9. "E buona la mia Tosca" - "Siam soli?" - José Carreras, Samuel Ramey, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
10. "Sommo giubilo, Eccelenza!" - Domenico Trimarchi, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
11. "Un tal baccano in chiesa! Bel rispetto!" - Ingvar Wixell, Piero de Palma, Domenico Trimarchi, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
12. "Or tutto è chiaro..." - "Mario?! Mario?!" - Montserrat Caballé, Ingvar Wixell, Domenico Trimarchi, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
13. "Ed io venivo a lui tutta dogliosa" - Montserrat Caballé, Ingvar Wixell, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
14. "Tre sbirri... Una carozza... Presto" - Te Deum - Ingvar Wixell, Piero de Palma, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
15. "Tosca è un buon falco!" - Ingvar Wixell, William Elvin, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
16. "Ha più forte sapore" - "Spoletta è giunto" - Ingvar Wixell, Piero de Palma, William Elvin, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
17. "Meno male!" - "Egli è là" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Ingvar Wixell, Piero de Palma, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
18. "Ov'è Angelotti?" - "Mario, tu qui?!" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Ingvar Wixell, Piero de Palma, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
19. "Ed or fra noi parliam da buoni amici" - Montserrat Caballé, Ingvar Wixell, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
20. "Sciarrone: che dice il cavalier?" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Ingvar Wixell, William Elvin, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
21. "Orsù, Tosca, parlate." - "Mario, consenti ch'io parli?" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Ingvar Wixell, Piero de Palma, William Elvin, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis

Disc 2:

1. "Floria..." - "Amore..." - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
2. "Nel pozzo del giardino. Va, Spoletta!" - "Eccelenza, quali nuove!" - "Vittoria!" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Ingvar Wixell, William Elvin, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
3. "Se la giurata fede" - Montserrat Caballé, Ingvar Wixell, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
4. "Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore" - Montserrat Caballé, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
5. "Vedi, le man giunte" - Montserrat Caballé, Ingvar Wixell, Piero de Palma, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
6. "E qual via scegliete?" - Montserrat Caballé, Ingvar Wixell, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
7. "Tosca, finalmente mia!" - Montserrat Caballé, Ingvar Wixell, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
8. Prelude - "Io de' sospiri" - Ann Murray, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
9. "Mario Cavaradossi?" - "A voi" - José Carreras, William Elvin, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
10. Introduzione all' aria - Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
11. "E lucevan le stelle" - José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
12. "Franchigia a Floria Tosca" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
13. "O dolci mani" - José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
14. "Senti... l'ora è vicina" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
15. "Amaro sol per te m'era il morire" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
16. "E non giungono" - "Trionfal di nova speme" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
17. "L'ora!" - "Son pronto" - Montserrat Caballé, José Carreras, William Elvin, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
18. "Come è lunga l'attesta!" - Montserrat Caballé, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis
19. "Presto, su! Mario!" - Montserrat Caballé, Piero de Palma, William Elvin, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Colin Davis

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #213170 in Music
• Released on: 2001-03-12
• Number of discs: 2
• Format: Box set
• Running time: 118 minutes

BBC Music Magazine
Though recorded 25 years ago, this is still one of the best performances of Tosca on disc. Montserrat Caballe may not have been the most convincing of Floria Toscas on stage, but here her beautiful voice, intelligent phrasing and wide range of vocal colour, helped no doubt by the sympathetic conducting of Colin Davis, combine to produce a thoroughly believable characterisation. Carreras captivates with his then glorious vocal timbre and impeccable legato line, while Ingvar Wixell's Scarpia is both powerful and subtle. Supporting roles are well cast and characterised, with the young Samuel Ramey a strong Angelotti. Colin Davis conducts an exciting performance. But even more desirable are Callas, di Stefano and the incomparable Tito Gobbi under the dramatically forceful Victor de Sabata.

Performance *****
Sound ****

© BBC Music Magazine 2001

Customer Reviews

One of the top recordings ever
Just listen to caballe's vissi d'arte and enjoy the most clear, light and beautiful voice of the past century.

Ok caballe on the stage is probably not the best choice for romantic and "veriste" heroins, but on cd i prefer her to any other one, including the worshiped Callas od the de Sabata '53 version