Maria Callas: The Greatest Arias

Read About This Recording

"The adoration of Maria Callas is similar to a cult and how could it be any different? She has performed the roles of priestess, magician, sorceress and vestal virgin!" wrote Toronto's opera director Alfred Caron. Callas, who belongs to the pantheon of the greatest singing personalities in the history of vocal art, is the epitome of the opera diva in the classic sense. She may very well be the last in a long ling of prima donnas that includes Melba, Lind and Patti. A legend in her own lifetime, her fame pushed her name beyond the opera stage and, even today, people know of her and her magnificent vocal abilities. Her influence is so enduring that, in 2006, Opera News wrote, "Nearly thirty years after her death, she's still the definition of the diva as artist — and still one of classical music's best-selling vocalists."

Though she was born in New York, Callas returned to her ancestral home in Greece and began to develop and train her voice, particularly with bel canto. She made her debut in Athens in 1941, but returned to the United States by 1946 and at first had a hard time breaking into professional circles. She finally got her lucky break when she came under the tutelage of conductor Tullio Serafin, who not only recognized this diamond in the rough but became her guide and mentor. By 1951, her standing was established at La Scala when she sang the role of Elena in Verdi's I Vespri Siciliani. A quick study, she acquired the position of "assoluta" — capable of playing any role — and her legion of fans. She always pointed to her versatility, great acting talent and consistent register of three octaves as the basis of her success.

Here on two CDs are the best-known arias from the opera stage, all sung by Maria Callas, whose remarkable musical and dramatic talents led to her being hailed as La Divina. Included here are arias from Tosca, Norma, Madame Butterfly, Rigoletto and more — 22 tracks in all. This is a great collection showcasing the art of Maria Callas.

Quotes

"I don't know what happens to me on stage. Something else seems to take over." -Maria Callas

Contents

Imported from Europe!

Remastered!

CD 1 (TT: 50:24): Bellini: Norma: Ah, Rendetemi la Speme...Qui la Voce Sua Soave; I Puritani: Vien, Diletto, È in Ciel La Luna; Verdi: Nabucco: Ben Io T'Invenni, O Fatal Scritto; Anch'io Dischiuso un Giorno; Rigoletto: Gualtier Maldé!...Caro Nome; I Vespri Siciliani: Mercè, Dilette Amiche; MacBeth: La Luce Langue; Ponchielli: La Gioconda: Suicido!...In Questi Fieri Momenti; Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana: Voi lo Sapete, O Mamma; Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor: Regnava nel Silenzio...Quando Rapito in Estasi.

CD 2 (TT: 56:32): Puccini: Tosca: Vissi d'Arte; Manon Lescaut: In Quelle Trine Morbide; La Bohème: Sì, Mi Chiamano Mimì; Turandot: Tu Che Di Gel Sei Cinta; Madama Butterfly: Che Tua Madre Dovrà; Con Onor Muore; Rossini: Il Turco in Italia: Non Si Dà Follia Maggiore; Verdi: La Forza del Destino: Sono Giunta! Grazie, O Dio!...Madre, Pietosa Vergine; La Traviata: Addio, Del Passato; Bellini: Norma: Casta Diva; In Mia Man Alfin Tu Sei...Ah, Crudele! In Sen Del Padre; Leoncavallo: Pagliacci: So Ben Che Lo Scemo Contorto Son Io.

Orchestra della Rai di Torino; Orchestra del Teatro San Carlo di Napoli; Orquestra del Palaccio de las Bellas Artes Mexico City; Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino; Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala Milano; Philharmonia Orchestra; Arturo Basile, Vittorio Gui, Erich Kleiber, Victor de Sabata, Antonino Votto, Tullio Serafin, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Herbert von Karajan, Conductors.

Includes 32-page book.