Puccini: Tosca - Tebaldi, Di Stefano, Bastianini, Zaccaria; Gavazzeni. La Scala (on tour in Brussels), 1958

$8.95

Listen to a Sample:

Tosca will probably always be regarded as a vehicle for a great prima donna, but this performance shows that if you throw in a great tenor and a great baritone this "shabby shocker" can be great theater. It is almost a given that Renata Tebaldi and Giuseppe Di Stefano sing gloriously. What is fun is to listen how they play off of each other throughout especially in their duet. They seem to be connecting both as humans and as artists. Ettore Bastianini is a near perfect Scarpia. His voice is stunning, but it also has a black color which he uses to great affect especially in his arias. The sound is very good in this true Italian performance.

OD 10269-2