Search - Giacomo Puccini, Berislav Klobucar, Josef Krips :: Puccini: Tosca

Sena Jurinac: Tosca All The Way

Rudy Avila | Lennox, Ca United States | 11/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 1967 Vienna State Opera live recording stars the sublime Sena Jurinac as Tosca. Oncina and Cesare Bardelli star as Cavaradossi and Scarpia. For fans of Sena Jurinac, this is a document of her career. Sena for the most part remains a lesser orbit next to the reigning divas of her generation- the immediate Post World War II period- 50's and 60's. Jurinac scored immense success in her native Europe, mostly in Austria where she was a frequent figure in the Salzburg Festivals and at the Vienna State Opera. Her Tosca is ravishing. Vocally she is at her best. Far from being a challenge for this once Mozartian specialist (she sang superb Countesses, Cherubinos, Fiordiligis, Dona Anas, Dona Elviras, etc) she has a voice that can reach dramatic heights and she doesn't stoop to using growling lower registers for some of the lines, though she does still sound dramatically precise. Tenor Oncina (who ?) does only a serviceable Cavaradossi, with no real impressive qualities. The same goes for Bardelli's Scarpia. But no matter, it is Sena Jurinac's Tosca that is the highlight. Her Act 1 singing is especially striking, for the lyrical parts full of femininity is well done. She is the most elegant and most feminine Tosca I have ever seen. While many would prefer a rougher and darker voice, I think Jurinac had it right. Tosca is still a "delicate creature" who prays, brings flowers to the Madonna and loves her Mario. A great performance."