Freedom Versus Tyranny
Donald considers how Puccini's adaptation of Tosca turned Victorien Sardou's play, originally a vehicle for the actress Sarah Bernhardt, into an operatic tour de force.
While on the one hand, a controversial subject matter and the musical merits of Puccini's "Tosca" would continue to divide opinion for years after its premiere in 1900, on the other, the strength of its dramatic impact immediately struck a chord with audiences. Today Donald Macleod considers how Puccini's masterful adaptation turned Victorien Sardou's play, originally a vehicle for the actress Sarah Bernhardt, into an operatic tour de force.
Last on
Music Played
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts extract
Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Singer: Angelo Veccia. Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli. Singer: Placido (Son) Domingo.- DG : 431-775 2.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 2.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca, Act I : Ah! Finalmente!
Performer: Maurizio Muraro (Angelotti) Performer: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Performer: Antonio Pappano
- EMI: CDS 557 1732.
- 1.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts extract
Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Singer: Angelo Veccia. Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli. Singer: Placido (Son) Domingo.- DG : 431-775 2.
- Deutsche Grammophon.
- 2.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts - extract
Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Singer: Angela Gheorghiu. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Singer: Roberto Alagna.- EMI:CDS 557 1732.
- EMI.
- 30.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca, Act I : Recondita harmonia
Performer: Placido Domingo (Cavaradossi) Performer: Angelo Veccia (Sagrestano) Performer: Philharmonia Orchestra Conductor: Giuseppe Sinopoli
- DG 431 775-2.
- 1.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts - extract
Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Singer: Angela Gheorghiu. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Singer: Roberto Alagna.- EMI:CDS 557 1732.
- EMI.
- 30.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts - Act 1; Mario!
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Singer: Giuseppe Di Stefano. Singer: Leontyne Price. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.- DECCA : 476-7522.
- DECCA.
- 5.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca, Act I : Mario! Mario!
Performer: Leontyne Price (Tosca) Performer: Giuseppe di Stefano (Cavaradossi) Performer: Vienna Philharmonic Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
- Decca 476 752-2.
- 5.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts - Act 1; Mario!
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Singer: Giuseppe Di Stefano. Singer: Leontyne Price. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan.- DECCA : 476-7522.
- DECCA.
- 5.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 - Acts ct 1; Tre sbirri - Te Deum
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Singer: Giuseppe Taddei. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Choir: Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor.- DECCA : 476-7522.
- DECCA.
- 10.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca, Act I : Tre sbirri, una carrozza
Performer: Giuseppe Taddei (Scarpia) Performer: Vienna State Opera Chorus Performer: Vienna Philharmonic Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
- Decca 476 752-2.
- 10.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 - Acts ct 1; Tre sbirri - Te Deum
Orchestra: Vienna Philharmonic. Singer: Giuseppe Taddei. Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Choir: Konzertvereinigung Wiener Staatsopernchor.- DECCA : 476-7522.
- DECCA.
- 10.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts - extract
Singer: Giuseppe Di Stefano. Orchestra: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Tito Gobbi. Conductor: Victor de Sabata.- Tosca.
- EMI.
- 13.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca, Act II : finale
Performer: Maria Callas (Tosca) Performer: Giuseppe di Stefano (Cavaradossi) Performer: Tito Gobbi (Scarpia) Performer: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan Conductor: Victor de Sabata
- EMI 215894-2.
- 13.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts - extract
Singer: Giuseppe Di Stefano. Orchestra: Orchestra of La Scala, Milan. Singer: Maria Callas. Singer: Tito Gobbi. Conductor: Victor de Sabata.- Tosca.
- EMI.
- 13.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts - extract
Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Singer: Maurizio Muraro.- EMI : CDS 5-57173 2.
- EMI.
- 2.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca, Act III : finale
Performer: Roberto Alagna (Cavaradossi) Performer: Angela Gheorghiu (Tosca) Performer: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House Conductor; Antonio Pappano
- EMI CDS 557 1732.
- 30.
-
![]()
Giacomo Puccini
Tosca - Opera In 3 Acts - extract
Conductor: Sir Antonio Pappano. Orchestra: Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. Singer: Maurizio Muraro.- EMI : CDS 5-57173 2.
- EMI.
- 2.
Broadcasts
- Wed 3 Apr 2013 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Wed 3 Apr 2013 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
- Wed 1 Jul 2015 12:00大象传媒 Radio 3
- Wed 1 Jul 2015 18:30大象传媒 Radio 3
Vaughan Williams Today
Programmes, concerts and features celebrating Vaughan Williams's 150th anniversary.
Beethoven Unleashed 鈥� the box set
The complete set of Radio 3 Beethoven Unleashed podcasts, with Donald Macleod.
What was really wrong with Beethoven?
Georgia Mann and neurosurgeon Henry Marsh examine the composer's numerous health problems
Composers A to Z
Visit the extensive audio archive of Radio 3 programmes about Composers and their works.
Who knew? Five eye-opening stories from Composer of the Week
The production team reflects on 5 of Donald Macleod鈥檚 best stories from the last 20 years
Five reasons why we love Parry's Jerusalem
What is the strange power of Jerusalem which makes strong men weep?
A man out of time 鈥� why Parry's music and ideas were at odds with his image...
The composer of Jerusalem was very far from the conservative figure his image suggests.
Composer Help Page
Find resources and contacts for composers from within the classical music industry.