What is your opinion of the opera Tosca and composer Giacomo Puccini in general?

An interesting quote from Benjamin Britten considering many a critic has aimed similar barbs at his own operas.

But to answer your question, first about Puccini’s music in general: Puccini was at times musically lazy (and it shows up in the operas he composed music for that are rarely performed these days) and at other times his brilliance was both obvious and inspired. That he was a known playboy and your basic hedonist type has been well documented and perhaps this explains a lot of the less inspired efforts. Even so, when he was in the grove few composers of opera compare. Like with the over-performed but greatly loved La Boheme there is not one wasted note, not one frivolous, excessive passage that does not move the story along.

As to Tosca: First, being a serious writer myself, I judge opera, good or bad or average, as much by the libretto as by the music itself (which is why I find a cartoonish libretto like that for Wagner's Rings so off-putting). A few catchy tunes and some crowd pleasing arias might make for a pleasant day at the opera, but not great opera. It takes both well composed music and well-crafted dialogue to pull that off..

From Tosca: About seven minutes into the First Act:

Cavaradossi (on explaining the model that inspired his painting):

Art, with a spell of magic,

makes the two seem like one

to the beholder.

My art knows many faces,

but my heart never changes:

I have vowed my love to you,

Tosca, only you!

Sacristan’s Reply (as an aside):

It’s this one or another.

They all presume

to rival the Holy Mother.

What a stench of damnation!

Here we have two characters speaking in true character: expressing themselves as such a person would in real life. One an idealistic, educated, articulate artist: the other a cynical servant. This is inspired writing and throughout the opera it remains so. The characters stay in character, stay realistically portrayed. Coupled with the background music: music at times powerfully moving, at times subtly understated, blended near perfectly with it’s first-rate work of literature.

Tosca, in my humble opinion, was Puccini at his musical apex and easily rates as great opera.

NOTE: You might really get into Verdi's Rigoletto, which, in my opinion, has no peers when it comes an opera that explores fate, the often muddled definitions of good and evil, the consequences of misguided passions and parental protection, personal sacrifice and destiny, on so many profoundly psychological levels.

I don't think you can decide by what one artist thinks of another. For instance, Debussy disliked Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, which everyone knows is beautiful, because he judged it by his aesthetic standard. It really tells you more about that artist's way of thinking than the work.

I've only listened to a couple of operas myself. Based on my experience I can recommend "The Marriage of Figaro". Every aria is a winner, and the characters are very well done. The Countess is sad, the count is a bad boy, Susanna is practical, ... It's like a novel or a movie.

I'm not familiar with Tosca, though. I can recommend one aria by Callas that is like an opera in itself: "Ebben?" from La Wally.

I was introduced to Puccini's operas many years ago. I very much enjoy his music and operatic productions. "La Boheme" was the first opera that I attended. I don't agree with the quote from Benjamin Britten.

Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to hear and/or study "Tosca". I have only heard one or

two arias from this work.

Decided to list this aria from "Tosca", sung by Angela Gheorghiu...quite lovely!

Here is what I think of Puccini:

■ Puccini is able to write pleasant melodies without following the foursquare pattern--a rare talent indeed.

■ Puccini is able to harmonize without falling into the rink-chink-chink pattern.

■ Puccini is able to make both the vocal line and the orchestra interesting at the same time.

■ Puccini is able to keep the story moving at a reasonable pace.

■ Puccini can work the lacrimal glands like no other composer can.

Tosca is one of my favorite operas. Great heroine, great villian (I saw Samuel Ramey play Scarpia). Puccini's operas are a delight. I am aware of the criticism, but there are great arias and always entertainment.

For my money, he ranks right along with the greatest of operatic composers: Verdi, Wagner, Mozart, .......are there any others?

"Tosca" IMHO, though one of his better, ranks not amongst his BEST (so, blow me away - "to each, his own").

I would give the 1st Act a grade of 'B'; the 2nd, an 'A+'; but the 3rd.......maybe a 'C-': it just falls flat for me. As far as Maria Callas is concerned, I can take her, or leave her: mostly, leave her.

GOD, I sound awfully judgmental, don't I? Oh, well!

Alberich