Opera

Released in 1997, Opera is the debut full-length from Tosca, the duo of Richard Dorfmeister and Rupert Huber. Following Dorfmeister's global success with Kruder & Dorfmeister, this album established Tosca as a primary force in the Austrian electronic scene. Unlike the more dance-oriented trip-hop coming out of Bristol at the time, Opera leaned into a more 'lounge' and 'ambient' aesthetic, characterized by its extreme patience and high-fidelity analog warmth. The album features the iconic 'Chocolate Elvis,' a track that became a staple of chillout compilations worldwide. Sonically, the record is defined by its use of the 'dub' philosophy - stripping tracks down to their essential rhythmic and melodic components and using the studio as an instrument to create vast, echoing spaces. It was recorded during the peak of the Vienna downtempo movement and remains its most cohesive and influential statement, praised by critics for its sophisticated blend of abstract electronics and soulful, jazz-tinged atmospheres.