I have read some posts and thought about the subject now for some time and
have to admit that I've (partially) changed my mind.  I still think that
the whole thing is a little bit tasteless and the first Ahime is ridiculous
but then the real disgusting thing about torture is not the pain but the
despair the victim has to suffer.  And this despair comes out perfectly
clear in the opera (if not in Cavaradossi, then the more in Tosca).  BTW,
I am a novice in opera BUYING.  I've bought the Callas/Gobbi Tosca and like
it very much (although I miss Gobbi screaming when being stabbed - well, I
certainly would scream...).  My idea is to have at least two versions of
each opera (at least of the core repertoire).  At the moment there is the
Freni/Pavarotti/Milnes Tosca in a store here in Aachen, pretty cheap.  Is
it worth a buy? Help me developing my collection and taste and at the same
time save my money...

PS I still think, REALLY think that Robert is no name for a torturer...

Robert Peters
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