Excellent recording. Sound good throughout

If you've heard Vishnevskaya's 1977 studio performance of Tosca on DG and were disappointed by her rather worn voice and stagy manner, you must hear this Russian language performance. Six years earlier the voice is fresher and quite beautiful. What came off as hammy in the studio really works on stage, especially in the singers' native tongue. As was her wont, Vishnevskaya makes every moment count. She snarls so balefully at Scarpia that she hardly needs a knife to kill him. Her "Vissi d'arte" is slowly and exquisitely spun out. Her discovery of Mario's death will have the neighbors calling the police. In Italian she had to think about everything; in Russian the emotions pour out naturally.Virgilius Noreika has a strong, ringing tenor that he uses to caress all of Cavaradossi's phrases. He is no pretty boy wooing a prima donna, but a rebel who perseveres against all odds. I especially liked his disgust at the idea of Scarpia showing mercy in the third act. Vladimir Valaitis portrays a sadistic Scarpia who fully enjoys the pain he causes, rather like an operatic Bela Lugosi. The supporting singers are all just as good. Mark Ermler conducts with incredible passion and is always at one with his cast.There are a few minor musical gaffes along the way, but they mean nothing in this context. The missing 90 seconds Andy mentions unfortunately include almost all of the Jailor's part. If all of this weren't enough, the sound is excellent stereo. A must for Tosca lovers!