Tosca Finalmente Mia!

When I was growing up in NY, the bass Lorenzo Alvary had a radio program on WNYC called Opera Topics. Because of the length of the program it was usually excerpts although sometimes he fit in a complete opera recording (occasionally split over two programs). This program introduced me to Verdi's Il Corsaro (long before I'd heard many of his other greater works), when the Philips recording was released and also a recording of Tosca made shortly after her defection by Galina Vishnevskaya and conducted by her husband, Mstislav Rostropovich. I've long had great affection for this recording, have had in on LP for years and at long last, it has been released on CD (although this cover looks a lot more like Carmen than Tosca. The original LP cover with a regal and fierce Vishnevskaya was much more appropriate.)

It does not in anyway displace Callas/DiStefano/Gobbi/DeSabata in my affections, but it is nonetheless an exciting recording and well worth a listen (those with iTunes can get it there for USD 11.99). At this late date, Vishnevskaya's voice is rather steely and somewhat wobbly, but she is fiercely committed in her portrayal. Hers was never really a beautiful voice, but it has a plangency and dramatic fire that work for me in this role. Matteo Manuguerra is a baritone who I have always thought was underrated (he is a wonderful Nabucco in the Muti-lead recording of that opera) and I think he makes a wonderful subtle, yet beautifully sung, Scarpia. Subtle was never a term that described Franco Bonisolli's singing, but it is a beautifully sung Cavaradossi. His voice is very individual, powerful and with a secure top (it's a shame his personality was somewhat less secure). Rostropovich's conducting is individual but always vital.

Speaking of Vishnevskaya, her autobiography is for me the one truly indespensible singer biography. It is fascinating from cover-to-cover and one of the few such books to which I return regularly.

Update: vilaine fille expounds much more eloquently than I can on this subject and more.