Great Opera Recordings: Tosca by Puccini.

Maria Callas, Guiseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi. Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, Milan, conducted by Victor de Sabata.

Naxos ADD 8.110256-57.

MARK Obert-Thorn is one of the most respected transfer artistes/engineers, and has worked for many specialist labels.

He has done many re-recordings for Naxos and has done a wonderful job with this performance of Puccini's Tosca.

The cast is one of the most famous ever assembled with, Maria Callas singing the role of Floria Tosca, Guiseppe di Stefano as Mario Carvaradossi and the wonderful Tito Gobbi as Baron Scarpia.

The characters in this opera, the lovers Callas and di Stefano and Gobbi as the evil Baron Scarpia seem to revel in their roles; it must have been fantastic to hear them singing in the actual performance.

Callas was reported to have prepared extensively and it is obvious, since she is reputed to have disliked this opera.

At no time did she fail to be an excellent performer; she was held with some reverence by opera lovers.

The baritone voice of Gobbi is redolent with evil and disquiet, perfect for this role.

This performance was recorded in 1953, long before the technical wizardry that we take for granted now and Obert-Thorn listened and re-recorded from 10 LP copies of the original recording to achieve an excellent completion for his project.

If you are an opera fan you should add this to your collection as it is held to be the standard for other Toscas to meet.