Puccini’s Tosca was recorded for video last year at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in a production by Massimo Popolizio.  It’s set in the 1930s but other than sets and costumes appropriate to that period it’s played dead straight.  Although there’s some kind of mafia/fascisti vibe it’s not really explored and one really experiences it as a “traditional” Tosca.  The 30s aesthetic though certainly suits Vanessa Goikoetxea who comes over as very glamorous.

Which means it’s all about the performances and they are pretty good though, of course, the competition is fierce.  Goikoetxea is a very good Tosca.  Vocally she’s got the chops and her characterisation is nicely balanced.  She brings out Tosca’s fiery side without overdoing it and, wisely in my view, brings out the pathos of “Vissi d’arte” with lovely nuanced singing rather than vocal or physical histrionics.  Piero Pretti is a good match as Cavaradossi.  He’s always solid and occasionally has that rare Italian tenor frisson that makes the hairs on your neck stand up.  I did feel though that his “E lucevan le stelle” was a little undercharacterised.  Alexey Markov is a very satisfactory workman-like Scarpia.  He’s evil all right but doesn’t quite have the panache of, say, Bryn Terfel.  The  minor roles are fine and the chorus and orchestra are excellent with Daniele Gatti giving a full blooded reading of the score.

This is all helped by really vivid sound; a tiny but noticeable cut above Blu-ray average (It’s the usual choice of hi-res stereo or DTS-HD surround).  The video direction by Matteo Ricchetti is unobtrusive  and is backed up by a good picture that copes well with some dark scenes.  The booklet has an interview with the director and a track listing.  Subtitle options are Italian, English, French, German, Spanish, Korean and Japanese.

There are a lot of really good videos of Tosca out there so why buy this one?  I’d say it’s an opportunity to see young(ish) Puccini singers who we may see a lot more of in the future.  If that’s not enough, the best (IMO) traditional Tosca out there is the ROH recording with Gheorghiu, Kaufmann and Terfel.  For something more Regie there are two recordings both featuring Kristine Opolais in the title role that explore different takes on authoritarianism in the libretto.  Both the 2017 Baden-Baden recording and the 2022 Theater an der Wien production are worth a look for the inquisitive.

Catalogue information: Dynamic Blu-ray DYN58057