Track Listing

1. Adriana Lecouvreur, opera: Ecco: respiro appena. Io son l'umile ancella
2. Adriana Lecouvreur, opera: Poveri fiori
3. Andrea Ch�nier, opera: La mamma morta
4. La Wally, opera (dramma musicale) in 4 acts: Ebben? ne andr� lontana
5. Mefistofele, opera in prologue, 4 acts & epilogue: L'altra notte in fondo al mare
6. Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), opera: Un voce poco fa
7. Dinorah (Le pardon de Plo�rmel), comic opera in 3 acts: Ombra leggiera
8. Lakm�, opera: Dov'� l'indiana bruna?
9. I Vespri siciliani, opera (Les v�pres siciliennes): Merc�, dilette amiche

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #442186 in Music
• Released on: 1998-01-20
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

The Ultimate Callas Recital
Whomever doubted Callas' abilities can now be silenced with the brilliance of her voice in this great great recording from her "big voice" era. Her seamless, and beautiful coloratura, paired with some of the greatest arias of opera along with the masterful insight injected into conducting by Maestro Tullio Serafin. From the tragic La Mamma Morta to the soulful Ebben ne Andro Lontana to her Una Voce Poco Fa to her great I Vespri Siciliani arias, every single one of these treasures must be sampled and indulged by any lover of opera. She has always had an inherent ability to color the phrases of each aria she sings so well that you cannot pass out on this voix du secle. Listen to her Bell Song. It may not be in the original French language in which it was written, but oh what an amazing spectacle of singing it was! It sounded as if Lakme were retelling the story of the Bell Legend of India! Of course, her coloratura may not impress you like Joan Sutherland's amazing Lakme could, but the sheer drama of her voice is enough to make this recording a necessity. Listen to her Una Voce Poco Fa. What a great voice it was that could easily ascend and descend the scales as if she were an elevator! This was the beginning of Callas' illustrious career! At this point of her career, she could still play with her voice however way she wanted to. Don't hesitate to buy this. You won't be disappointed.

DIVINA, DIVINA, DIVINA, my favourite Callas recital !!!!!
This recital is one of the first two that Maria Callas recorded for EMI in September of 1954, when her voice and vocal capabilities were at her peak. The other one is the Puccini Arias, equally beautiful (these two recitals were recorded only in one week!!!!!!) The first five arias of this collection (lyrical arias) were considered "reserved territory" for Renata Tebaldi at that time. But I don't want compare Tebaldi with her (she also is one of my favourites!!!!).

I only want to say that the first five arias are sung with all her characteristic dramatic force, feeling and inspiration that only Callas had... They are unique, specially "La mamma morta" from Andrea Chènier (an opera she sang on stage in 1955 and soundtrack of the film "Philadelphia") and "Ebben?... Ne andró lontana" from La Wally.

The last four arias are coloratura style. Despite Callas was not a coloratura soprano (she was this rarest kind of soprano that only comes once in a century: soprano "drammatica d'agilitá), these arias are sang in amazing form, with an stupendous agility... To prove it, only hear "the answers of the shadow" in the shadow song of Dinorah, or listen to the magnificent "Bell song" from Lakmé, or the incomparable "Bolero" from I vespri Siciliani, both crowned with a powerful high E natural at the end (an E natural is a semitone above the E flat and only a few coloratura sopranos can reach it)... Can you say me which other soprano has a similar range and ability?? Can her voice be compared with the weak voices of today?? You have to hear this record!!!!

PERFECTION!
This CD demonstrates Maria Callas' unbelievable technique. She cannot be compared with the weak voices of today. No one has her range, strength or flexiblity anymore. Fabulous high E to close the CD out! THIS IS A MUST!