Now playing: Plácido Domingo, Raina Kabaivanska - Puccini: Tosca, Act I: "Ah, quegli occhi" by Deutsche Grammophon - DG. Paused, Muted
Plácido Domingo, Raina Kabaivanska - Puccini: Tosca, Act I: "Ah, quegli occhi"
In Act I of Tosca, Floria Tosca has just spotted the blue eyes in Mario Cavaradossi's portrait and is instantly jealous. When she exclaims, "Ah, quegli occhi…", he reassures her playfully, trying to calm the suspicion of the woman he loves.
What follows is not a formal aria but a wonderfully theatrical exchange that grows into a duet, conversation that blossoms naturally into melody. It is teasing, affectionate, and already edged with possessiveness; we see Tosca's volatility and Cavaradossi's