This Tosca preserves the soundtrack of the first opera telecast in Australia. Collier is a great Tosca, singing Puccini's elegant music with color and passion, and then unafraid of tearing up the stage with Tosca's jealousy and desperation. The murder scene is terrifying and the discovery of Mario's death blood-curdling.She has terrific support in Donald Smith who perhaps because of his Anglo-Saxon name never really got the acclaim he deserved. His is a mellifluous tenor with a ringing top. He also throws himself into the drama with a will, emitting some very convincing groans in the torture scene. Gobbi inspires the rest of the cast to his level. He sings a vicious, power-hungry lecher and one cheers Tosca for killing him. Cillario has his hands full with a less than first-class orchestra, but leads his cast in an exciting performance. The filler is Smith singing the big Puccini tenor moments with piano. Since he sings the Butterfly duet as a solo one wonders if these recordings were made for his personal study and use. There is a soprano in the "O soave fanciulla", but she has deserted him by the time he gets to Japan. The final selection is the big ensemble from Act Two of Rondine. That must have been unusual for the time. Smith was a great singer.Tosca lovers need this!

It is nice recording of Tosca. I liked Marie Collier. She is vulnerable, gentle and humane Tosca. The other reason for buying this CD was Donald Smith, which is nice Cavaradossi, however (for my taste) his voice is a little bit weak in Vittoria, Vittoria. Gobbi is great in the role of villain Scarpia. Orchestra is good. Sound is ok.