Melody Moore, Stefan Pop, Lester Lynch, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin & Carlo Montanaro - Puccini: Tosca (2023)

The Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin and conductor Carlo Montanaro present a powerful interpretation of Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, together with a cast of soloists including Melody Moore (Tosca), Ștefan Pop (Cavaradossi) and Lester Lynch (Scarpia). Tosca has been an audience favourite from the onset. Premiered in 1900, it marks the beginning of twentieth- century opera, in which sex, violence and the uncanny abysses of the human psyche would be explored, inspiring composers to expand the musical means of expression in all thinkable ways. Until today, Tosca has lost none of its expressive power, and Puccini’s intricate score deserves to be taken seriously. Its symphonic qualities are fully brought out by the inspired playing of the Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin, led by the seasoned maestro Carlo Montanaro. Melody Moore, Ștefan Pop and Lester Lynch bring the passionate, electrifying score to life with performances of dazzling power. The splendid cast is completed by Kevin Short (Angelotti), Alexander Köpeczi (Un Sagrestano), Colin Judson (Spoletta), Georg Streuber (Sciarrone), Axel Scheidig (Un Carceriere), and Lean Miray Yüksel (Un Pastore). The members of Rundfunkchor Berlin and Kinderchor der Deutschen Oper Berlin add their marvelous choral sound to the recording, culminating in the famous Te Deum.

Melody Moore and Lester Lynch both have a vast Pentatone discography, including complete opera recordings as well as solo recitals. The Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin also has a long history with the label, having recorded multiple orchestral works, as well as Wagner’s ten mature operas, often in collaboration with the Rundfunkchor Berlin. Ștefan Pop makes his Pentatone debut.

Tracklist
01. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Ah! Finalmente!
02. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: E sempre lava!
03. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Dammi I colori!
04. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Recondita armonia
05. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Gente là dentro!
06. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Mario! Mario! Mario!
07. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Ah, quegli occhi!
08. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Mia gelosa! Sì, lo sento
09. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: È buona la mia Tosca
10. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Sommo giubilo, Eccelenza!
11. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Un tal baccano in chiesa!
12. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Or tutto è chiaro
13. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Ed io venivo a lui tutta dogliosa
14. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act I: Te Deum - Tre sbirri… Una carozza…
15. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Tosca è un buon falco!
16. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Ha più forte sapore la conquista violenta
17. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Meno male!
18. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Dov'è Angelotti?
19. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Ed or fra noi parliam da buoni amici
20. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Sciarrone, che dice il Cavalier?
21. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Orsù, Tosca, parlate
22. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Nel pozzo nel giardino…
23. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Floria! Amore…
24. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Nel pozzo del giardino. Va, Spoletta!
25. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Se la giurata fede debbo tradir
26. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Vissi d'arte
27. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Vedi… le man giunte io stendo a te
28. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: E qual via scegliete?
29. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act II: Tosca, finalmente mia!
30. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: Introduction Io de' sospiri
31. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: Mario Cavaradossi? A voi.
32. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: Intermezzo
33. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: E lucevan le stelle…
34. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: Ah! Franchigia a Floria Tosca…
35. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: O dolci mani
36. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: Senti, l'ora è vicina
37. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: Amaro sol per te
38. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: E non giungono…
39. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: L'ora! Son pronto!
40. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: Come è lunga l'attesa!
41. Puccini: Tosca, SC 69, Act III: Presto, su! Mario! Mario!