3/5 Awesome production - but DVD quality... could be better
  by S. Avalos
FINALLY!!!

I am commenting on the Tosca disc of this three disc set only. I (and others) have waited many, many years for this to come out on DVD. When originally broadcast, this "Tosca, In the Settings and at the Times", blew me away. It still does. As a feat of engineering, it is a marvel to behold. The production and voices are great and it is an assemblage of people in front and behind the camera that are near the top of their game.

It is for this reason that, while I'm thrilled to finally have it on DVD, I am disappointed that the transfer is not perfect. I waited 15 years for this. While sonically fine, it should look better! It looks as if it came from a third generation down-converted transfer. There must be a decent master. Come on! This is an incredible production and moment in television. Why so shoddy? Go back to the original videotape and do it again. Please.

Picture issues aside, in terms of the production, there are a few nit-picky faults that can be found - but considering that it is essentially a 'live' performance, they should be forgiven. I write 'essentially' because there were evidently a couple shots replaced (Domingo tripped and nearly took a header in the first act. This was replaced with a rehearsal shot). Evidently a camera man got caught front and center in another shot. This too was fixed. That is not to say that one can't see the occasional shadows moving -- and the game of "spot the steadicam operator" is also not without its rewards. Also, for a production that goes for such "authenticity", Scarpia suffers an absolutely bloodless death (and blinks a couple times in closeup no less). Ah well...

Esthetically, there are arguments about the return to modern Rome between acts. Not really a bother to me, however they could and should have given more breathing space at the end of the acts. What's the rush, felllas? Don't you know we're all trying to catch our breaths and maybe cover some tears?

No matter what the minor imperfections, there are moments of staggering awe -- and the more one knows about opera, the voice and also - television production -- the more awing they become. The ending of the first act being a perfect example. Every piston fires at full blast as Scarpia perversely joins the oncoming mass at the Sant'Andrea della Valle -- Tre Sbirri... Una Carrozza. That... is the stuff of great moments in opera and film/television!