James Conlon's In-Depth Look at 'Tosca'

[posvibeeminator]

These videos are amazing. Thank you so much for creating these and sharing them. I feel that I get so much more out of each performance thanks to these primers. The editing is really well done.

[PBXVIILY]

I saw James Conlon’s Tosca in 1978 at the Metropolitan Ooera with MacNeil Pavarotti the best conducting of this opera. Beautiful! Great conductor!
My favorite performance!

[Paolo]

Finally! This is the 1st source I've come across to recognize the "circular well" and "Spoletta" leitmotivs and point out how the 2nd, 3rd and 5th of those 5 chords are the Scarpia motive chords; and like the Scarpia motive: they consist of 5 Major triads who's roots descend in whole tones in the bass, and the rest in opposite motion; ascending. But why is it called "circular well"? weren't most garden wells circular? I'd call it "the well" or "Hiding place" motive, and the other one ""mock" execution". I used to call them "Secrets" motives; as Angelotti's hiding place is a secret, and Spoletta's motive is only heard when planning the "mock" execution that is actually and secretly real, and is only heard again at the end. They are both secrets either from or by Scarpia and both use the same Major triads with two more, separated by descending whole tones playing the root of those chords in the bass clef and all other notes in the treble clef in opposite motion; ascending in different inversions (even if they're technically in root position since the lowest line in the bass clef is always playing the root of each chord).

You have no idea how vindicating it feels to have known this for 45 years to finally discover someone actually document these leitmotivs, and I thank you very much for finally making a comprehensive analysis of Tosca's Leitmotivs, especially identifying the "circular well" and "Spoletta" ("mock" execution) leitmotivs. BTW I remember seeing you conduct Tosca in 1978 "Live at the Met" (3 hours later in Vancouver) w Shriley Verrett, Cornel McNiel and Pavarotti, directed by Tito Gobbi. Thanks again and Cheers!

[MaestroWenarto]

wow now this movie is approved by YouTube, great