“Especially notable: Sgura’s thrilling Scarpia, who made evil sound so perniciously quotidian, and the playing of an orchestra that lives and breathes this music.” (Operatraveller.com) In the unique atmosphere of the Sferisterio, a huge neoclassical arena erected in the 1820s, Argentinean director Valentina Carrasco stages her Tosca in a 1950s film set, thus corresponding to Puccini’s cinematographic compositional style. The cinematic realization of this recording underlines the cinematic character of the production. “Valentina Carrasco set up a real fictional machine, with all the bolts put in the right place, aided by an impeccable set design by Samal Blak, which would have been half as good without Peter van Praet’s essential lighting play” (Vivere fermo). Claudio Sgura’s Scarpia is “incredibly well sung” (Operatraveller.com). Long applause also for maestro Donato Renzetti, the festival’s new musical director.