Musically, the production is more than solid. Act 3 was also quite moving, even when you know what is going to happen. Tosca and Scarpia's confrontation sears, if not quite explodes, in intensity, Scarpia here is snake-like incarnate but it is not taken to extremes. Tosca and Cavaradossi actually look as if they are in love and their chemistry is tender and passionate. In fact his direction here is very intelligent if perhaps not innovative with compelling character interaction and bringing the best dramatically out of the singers by exploring a vast majority of what makes the characters so vivid. McVicar's direction has none of the distaste seen in the Luc Bondy Met production. Tosca's dresses, particularly her Act 2 one, are truly sumptuous.
Visually, the production is a handsome and elegant traditional one, with the sets modelled on the real life settings of each act with a touch of Expressionism in particularly Act 1. There was also the odd out of sync moment between orchestra and singers, "E Lucevan E Le Stelle" being a notable example, and Vittorio Grigolo's singing, while hugely impressive in sound, is not very musical (exceptions being some beautiful soft singing in the Act 3 duet) and has a lot of unsubtle phrasing (particularly in his more exposed music). If the production is revived, as it deserves, and as she and Grigolo grow into their roles (Lucic is an experienced Scarpia) this will most likely grow as they get more comfortable. Occasionally, characterisation is slightly under-explored, in particular there could have been more of the diva-ish side of Tosca which was slightly lost amongst McVicar's very admirable emphasis on a more youthful Tosca. Perhaps not the best or most emotionally complex productions of 'Tosca' but considering its troubled behind the scenes, with Zeljko Lucic replacing original Scarpia Bryn Terfel and Emmanuelle Villaume replacing Andris Nelsons and then disgraced James Levine as conductor, this is mighty impressive. Generally it is a powerful performance with enough tension, passion and poignancy, with hardly any problems but could have gone even further.
Directed by David McVicar, for me this was a very good production and the best HD Met production of the 2017-2018 season thus far, all four productions seen so far of the season have been of a high standard.
The music is magnificent with timeless arias and one of the greatest Act 2's in opera (in music and drama), a powerful story and vivid characterisations including the iconic title character and one of opera's most complex yet irredeemably evil villains in Scarpia. 'Tosca' is my favourite Puccini opera and one of my favourite operas in general.
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