Puccini - Tosca
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DVD Cover Information Actor: Bryn Terfel, Catherine Malfitano, Mario Lupari, Riccardo Chailly, Richard Margison Director: Nikolaus Lehnhoff Brand: Universal Studios DVD: Region Code 0 Audio: English (Unknown); English (Subtitled); French (Subtitled); German (Subtitled); Spanish (Subtitled); Chinese (Subtitled); English (Original Language); English (Published) Format: Digital Sound, Dolby, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen Picture Format: 1.78:1 Running Time: 137 minutes DVD Release Date: 2007-11-13 Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Studio: Decca |
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Movie Reviews of Puccini - Tosca
Movie Review: AeroFloria
Summary: 3 Stars
When I saw it, my heart sank. If you're reading this, you've seen it too: The picture of a screeeeaaaaaming Catherine Malfitano, Bryn Terfel lying sleeveless beneath her, and, looming over them, a large...airplane propellor. Hmmm...Could this be another instance of the (Euro)trashing of a classic? Actually no, thank goodness. The production's pretty stylish and interesting; not traditional, by any means, but dramatic and visually arresting. And that propellor? It's not nearly as ridiculous as the sight of Malfitano and her Cavaradossi, Richard Margison, rolling around the floor together. Honestly, I've never seen a more mismatched pair in my life, certainly not on the operatic stage. They're like an artsy, aging Hippie couple in some small town in America -- you know the ones I mean, who run the "art gallery" in the mall, who embarrassingly think they're bringing a bit of Bohemia to the Bible Belt? They're certainly not the type of Floria and Mario we're used to seeing. And that would be OK if their characterizations were more in keeping with the actual libretto. In my mind Tosca is regal and proud, passionate and strong. Malfitano's neurotic and just downright crazy from her first entrance, a cross between Theda Bara at her most melodramatic and Mad Margaret from "Ruddigore." And there couldn't be a tenor with less charisma than Margison; he's lumpish and lethargic, the male Jane Eaglen. To be absolutely fair about it, both sound terrific, but there are plenty of other "Tosca"s on DVD, sung as well -- or better -- with leads that are more the romantic ideal.
Terfel, on the other hand, is one of the best Scarpia's I've ever seen; perhaps in some ways the best. The voice, of course, is magnificent, and what I love about the performance is that he barely breaks a sweat. This is one cool cannoli, not the snarling, mustache-twister we've all seen one too many times -- and yet he remains a scary, menacing presence. He's really the main reason to purchase this DVD. But if he pops up in some other version one day (with Gheorghiu, please), I can't imagine coming back to this one.