Book123

    Free register and download UseNet downloader, then you can FREE Download from UseNet.

    Download without Limit " Lyrics & Music MARIA CALLAS - TITO GOBBI : TOSCA / Act II, Covent Garden 1964, FILM (Puccini; Zeffirelli) " from UseNet for FREE!

More

MARIA CALLAS - TITO GOBBI : TOSCA / Act II, Covent Garden 1964, FILM (Puccini; Zeffirelli)

Another ARCH FAMOUS visual document: The celebrated Tosca Act II, with Maria Callas and Tito Gobbi, part of the February 9th 1964, Covent Garden performance in a production by Franco Zeffirelli. Not pretty much to add here, the precious film is too well known. Suffice to say that this is the only realy relevant document we have on Maria Callas in a performance and, although we are grateful for that, we can only lament not possesing anything comparable for her Norma, Lucia, Traviata or Medea. Even if by 1964 Callas' carrer was practically over, even if her voice was reduced to a fragile thread, the performance is sensationnal. She is much helped by her partner Gobbi, also in mediocre voice, but a towring, insurpassable Scarpia, as good actor/singer, as perfect trooper as she is. And also by Zeffirelli's "baroque" direction, giving them ample space to show their amazing talents. Callas' "Quanto? Il prezzo!", Gobbi's harrasment of Tosca with a feather pen, "Mi dicon venal" and "Vissi d'arte" perfectly framed as parts of the drama and not show-stopping numbers, Scarpia's "crucifixion/rape" scene or the glance Tosca gives the knife before deciding herself, the "Muori dannato" cry, unfortunately while the camera stops on dying Scarpia, all , yes ALL, must be given as exemple of what Opera is and should be: sung drama. Gobbi's wife described thus, in her diary, the January 21st, 1964 performance: "...The second act was unbelievable: two giants, and they bowed to one another before the curtain like two gallant oponents. The stage was inavaded after the endless ovation. I have seen for myself the self-controlled english people go mad, take off their coats, scarves or whatever and wave them in ethusiasm. Tito was great and it was wonderful to see the perfect reactions of the pair. Maria gave a big shake-up to the caracter of Tosca, making her much more extrovert and human. This can be done only by her. Anyone trying to imitate: Beware!..." [Tito Gobbi, My Life, ed Macdonald, London 1979, pp 99-100]

NO COVERS IN THE UP: USE THIS ONE (copy-paste) but note that the 1962 recital is NOT INCUDED

Buy Book at Lowest Price on Amazon

Rating:
2.5 out of 5 by Book123