Puccini: Tosca

Alongside Luciano Pavarotti and Placido Domingo, José Carreras was recognised worldwide from the 1990s onward as one of The Three Tenors. But before the trio’s extraordinary rise to stardom, Carreras enjoyed a reputation for having one of the most beautiful tenor voices of the 20th century. This recording of Puccini’s Tosca, conducted by Sir Colin Davis, sees Carreras at his operatic best, his portrayal of the painter Cavaradossi full of lyricism and passion. Try the Act I aria “Recondita armonia” or, from Act III, the even finer “E lucevan le stelle”, the perfect showcase for his sheer vocal and dramatic power. Equal to Carreras in this legendary recording is the great soprano Montserrat Caballé, who brings a fiery defiance to her role as Tosca.