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This is a precious collector's item, the only video disc that brings together two of the most important opera stars of the mid-20th century. Tosca and Scarpia were key roles for Renata Tebaldi and George London; they performed them with easy mastery, they worked well together, and this 1961 video captured them both near the pinnacle of their careers. Tebaldi was primarily a singer, but she learned enough tricks of the trade to convey the basic dramatic points in this and other roles. London was outstanding both as a singer and as an actor, and the role of Scarpia gave him material for an outstanding performance. The supporting cast is capable (particularly tenor Eugene Tobin as Cavaradossi), but never quite at the level of London and Tebaldi. The sound is not digital or stereo but is powerful and well defined. The images are black and white--but then, so are the plot and characters in Tosca. --Joe McLellan
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