Raimondi is Spectacular as Scarpia.

It's often been said that operatic baritone Tito Gobbi was the ultimate anti hero in Puccini's

famous opera Tosca, playing the role of Baron Scarpia, Chief of Police. But for me it

would have to be Italian bass baritone Ruggero Raimondi. It was a role that he was born to play.

In this short clip above in a powerful climax at the end of Act 1 we see Raimondi contorting

his face with anger, passion, jealousy and revenge. It's clear now that Raimondi as Scarpia

is going to have Floria Tosca's lover Mario executed so that he can have Tosca for himself,

crying out his final words at the end of Act 1, 'Tosca you make me forget my God.'

Raimondi is spectacular in this closing scene.

Video kindly uploaded to youtube by

melmoth