operamusicfan (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

Because after Karajan's death his favorites were overlooked by everyone since Karajan wasn't very loved. Quite an idiotic thing, if you ask me.

Orfeus80 (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

With Gheorghiu I feel there is often more breath than tone coming out of her chords. As if I need her to support the tone a bit more. Her Tosca on video works well but in London the audience complained she couldn't be heard over the orchestra. Great persona but what about the voice? Recordings can be misleading and we've all learned to judge singers based on the records but we have to hear them on stage to fully understand if the role suits them vocally. Cheers

Orfeus80 (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

With Gheorghiu I feel there is often more breath than tone coming out of her chords. As if I need her to support the tone a bit more. Her Tosca on video works well but in London the audience complained she couldn't be heard over the orchestra. Great persona but what about the voice? Recordings can be misleading and we've all learned to judge singers based on the records but we have to hear them on stage to fully understand if the role suits them vocally. Cheers

Orfeus80 (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

For example someone like Freni had what I mean by a firm full voice and strong enough to be heard over a puccini orchestra. Dessi in her prime was as good as Freni. Tebaldi in her prime could sound both fragile in fragile roles like Mimi and had plenty of power for Tosca so I don't necessarily link strong voices only with strong characters. A gifted singer can scale down her voice. As for strong characters, Puccini's girls are no Lady Macbeth but they have their own will.

carullo47 (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

I respect your tast but, sincerely, I d'nt understand: Are Puccini female characters particulary strong? Liù in Turandot, Mimì in Boheme? Butterfly itself? Dramatic characters,surely, but not so strong! Please, enjoy "Tosca", also in DVD, by Gheorghiu, Alagna, Raimondi, directed by Pappano.

Orfeus80 (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

I like full, firm, strong voices in Puccini. Angela acts beautifully but her voice is way too weak for my taste.

carullo47 (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

excellent soprano Anna Tomowa-Sintow, indeed. But, please, for example, consider the excellent roumanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu

68bobsport (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

I am a HUGE fan of this singer, but I had never seen this video before. Thanks for posting it. Examplary legato, and her voice just oozes pathos. She was a great Verdi-Strauss-Mozart soprano (...I think she's unrivalled as Ariadne, Amelia (Ballo) and the Rosekavalier Countess...), but in an interview she once said Puccini was her favourite. Seeing this video, I can see she put her heart and soul into it.

scarpia1965 (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

Excellent!

benjaminvox (January 1, 1970 at 7:29 am)

thank you for posting this, from the bottom of my heart. Tomowa-Sintow is and always will be my favorite soprano. her technique is superb in the way she can color that huge voice of hers, and she always sings with her heart. it's the best of both worlds. it's so sad that her career isn't better documented in recordings.