Passionate Rendition of Puccini’s Electrifying Score

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).

The album is Exclusively Available in Stereo and 5 Channel Surround Sound DSD 256, DSD 128 and Stereo DSD 512 from Native DSD Music.

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.

A Note From The Producer 

Having the opportunity, as a recording producer, to make a studio-recording of Tosca, one of Puccini’s most fascinating operas, is of course fantastic. But the beginning was a little more complicated than expected.

On the morning of the first rehearsal, we got the message that the contracted conductor got ill and was not able to join us. But we were lucky to find Carlo Montanaro willing to step in although there was a little problem: he was in Sydney, Australia.

But two days later he started to work with us and immediately had a fantastic relationship with our singers, orchestra and choirs. The result is a recording I am very proud of. I hope everybody likes this production with Melody Moore as Tosca, Stefan Pop as Cavaradossi, and Lester Lynch as Scarpia.

– Job Maarse, Recording Producer, San Francisco Classical Recording Company

Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester Berlin
Carlo Montanaro, Conductor
Melody Moore, Soprano
Stefan Pop, Tenor
Lester Lunch, Baritone