This Tosca won't challenge any of your favorites, but it's always fun to add another interpretation to the mix, especially one by a soprano not previously associated with this repertoire. Tinsley is one of those singers who always sing as if what they're singing about really matters. Her Tosca is extremely well sung and, of course, passionately acted. Her hysteria at the end of the opera should be a lesson to all prospective Toscas - go for it, don't try to be subtle! This isn't Cosi fan tutte after all. Mauro brings glamour and a fine voice to Cavaradossi. If you only remember what he sounded like in the late 80's you're in for a pleasant surprise; it's very clear why he had so much work, also why he never rose above a certain level on the opera scene. Cassel is a good Scarpia, but one whose interpretation is better experienced elsewhere. The sound does him no favors. There are tape glitches throughout as Andy notes above, but they're worth enduring for the sake of Tinsley.The filler is Tinsley in Elettra's first two arias from Idomeneo - where's "D'oreste", Elettra's final, fiery aria? Surely Mackerras didn't cut it. Maybe the original tape is missing or defective.If you love Tosca, get this!

Had this recording been made in a studio, it would have been one of the most dramatic and exciting Tosca's ever. I have been very fortunate in my life to have seen Miss Tinsley many times but as far as I know she did not sing Tosca in Great Britain....what a shame.I wish I could have seen this performance but thanks to Opera Depot at least I can hear and envisage it. Miss Tinsley is superb and I also enjoyed Ermanno Mauro and Walter Cassel. The sound was not as bad as I was expecting and as mentioned in the previous review one filters out the rough patches to concentrate on the good. Highly recommended.

Hard for me to assess this because as far as I am cooncerned, to have yet another rarity of Tinsley warrants a 5*. However to be realistic the sound is pretty bad really but one tunes into it and tunes out the bad while listening to the good.Hi-Fi Digital Stereo Surround Sound it is not, but who cares! It is Tinsley. I will take anything of Tinsley whatever the sound quality. This is good.