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Puccini: Madama Butterfly (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Lucia Danieli, Nicolai Gedda, Herbert von Karajan, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
from: EMI Classics
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Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor / Callas, di Stefano, Panerai, Zaccaria; Karajan
: essential recording:Lucia was another one of Callas's signature roles; in fact, one might argue that she made people listen to it in a manner they had neglected since its inception. Long the territory of canary-like high sopranos with no interest in drama (e.g., Lily Pons), Callas brought the role into the same dramatic focus it had been created for. At its premiere in 1835, members of the audience wept audibly at Lucia's lunacy. With her darker tone and psychological probing, Callas made us hear what was in the poor girl's soul--she was ...
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Rossini: The Barber Of Seville with Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Alceo Galliera, Philharmonia Orchestra & Chorus
: essential recording:Maria Callas surprised some fans when this recording appeared in 1958 by singing some of Rosina's music in the mezzo-soprano range. Originally used by Rossini, the mezzo range helped Callas in characterizing Rosina not as a bird-brained, twittering, helpless ingenue but as a crafty, intelligent woman, smarter than any of the men around her (even the resourceful Figaro). Callas's Rosina knew exactly what she wanted and how she would get it. It is a brilliant performance, made even more enjoyable by the first-class contributions of Tito Gobbi, Luigi Alva, and Alceo ...
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Puccini: Madama Butterfly / Leinsdorf, Moffo, Valletti, Elias
: essential recording:Maria Callas surprised some fans when this recording appeared in 1958 by singing some of Rosina's music in the mezzo-soprano range. Originally used by Rossini, the mezzo range helped Callas in characterizing Rosina not as a bird-brained, twittering, helpless ingenue but as a crafty, intelligent woman, smarter than any of the men around her (even the resourceful Figaro). Callas's Rosina knew exactly what she wanted and how she would get it. It is a brilliant performance, made even more enjoyable by the first-class contributions of Tito Gobbi, Luigi Alva, and Alceo ...
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Verdi: La Traviata / Sills, Gedda, Panerai; Ceccato
: essential recording:Maria Callas surprised some fans when this recording appeared in 1958 by singing some of Rosina's music in the mezzo-soprano range. Originally used by Rossini, the mezzo range helped Callas in characterizing Rosina not as a bird-brained, twittering, helpless ingenue but as a crafty, intelligent woman, smarter than any of the men around her (even the resourceful Figaro). Callas's Rosina knew exactly what she wanted and how she would get it. It is a brilliant performance, made even more enjoyable by the first-class contributions of Tito Gobbi, Luigi Alva, and Alceo ...
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Verdi: Aida
: :Here's a prime-1950s cast in good monophonic sound, and it delivers the vocal thrills to keep its place high among the preferred recordings of Aida. The first voice you hear is the rich, rumbling bass of Boris Christoff and that immediately lets you know this will be no ordinary Aida. Bjorling's 'Celeste Aida' is gold- standard, with gorgeous timbre, firm line, and a haunting mezza voce. From there, he just gets better. Zinka Milanov's Ethiopian princess is outstanding, full of marvelous touches and ravishing pianissimos--as well as a few minor rough spots. Fedora ...
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Maria Callas Live
from: EMI Classics
: :Here's a prime-1950s cast in good monophonic sound, and it delivers the vocal thrills to keep its place high among the preferred recordings of Aida. The first voice you hear is the rich, rumbling bass of Boris Christoff and that immediately lets you know this will be no ordinary Aida. Bjorling's 'Celeste Aida' is gold- standard, with gorgeous timbre, firm line, and a haunting mezza voce. From there, he just gets better. Zinka Milanov's Ethiopian princess is outstanding, full of marvelous touches and ravishing pianissimos--as well as a few minor rough spots. Fedora ...
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Giacomo Puccini: Madama Butterfly
from: EMI Classics
:Album Description:In this collection of releases in the Greatest Recording's of the Century series, we celebrate a series of historical opera/vocal recordings featuring Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Victoria de Los Ángeles, Enrico Caruso, Janet Baker, and more in some of their finest performances. Orchestral/Instrumental releases include such musical luminaries as Samson François, Adolph Busch, Sir John Barbirolli, and others. The series has a high-quality, distinctive design, with original LP sleeves and the ART logo reproduced on the front covers, and critical endorsements from Gramophone on the back inlays. The substantial booklets offer newly-ommissioned, ...
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Puccini: Turandot
from: Melodram
:Album Description:In this collection of releases in the Greatest Recording's of the Century series, we celebrate a series of historical opera/vocal recordings featuring Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Victoria de Los Ángeles, Enrico Caruso, Janet Baker, and more in some of their finest performances. Orchestral/Instrumental releases include such musical luminaries as Samson François, Adolph Busch, Sir John Barbirolli, and others. The series has a high-quality, distinctive design, with original LP sleeves and the ART logo reproduced on the front covers, and critical endorsements from Gramophone on the back inlays. The substantial booklets offer newly-ommissioned, ...
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Giordano: Andrea Chenier (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Mario del Monaco, Antonino Votto, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan
:Album Description:In this collection of releases in the Greatest Recording's of the Century series, we celebrate a series of historical opera/vocal recordings featuring Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Victoria de Los Ángeles, Enrico Caruso, Janet Baker, and more in some of their finest performances. Orchestral/Instrumental releases include such musical luminaries as Samson François, Adolph Busch, Sir John Barbirolli, and others. The series has a high-quality, distinctive design, with original LP sleeves and the ART logo reproduced on the front covers, and critical endorsements from Gramophone on the back inlays. The substantial booklets offer newly-ommissioned, ...
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