Customer Reviews

Bellini: Norma (Live Recordings, London 1952)

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The product being offered here is the glorious and memorable London 1952 live recording of Norma on the MELODRAM label. For this performance the cast is as follows:
Norma: Maria Callas, Adalgisa: Ebe Stignani, Clotilde: Joan Sutherland, Pollione: Mirto Picchi, Oroveso: Giacomo Vaghi, Flavio: Paul Asciak, Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, conducted by Vittorio Gui.

The audio samples wrongly offered above correspond to yet another live recording of Norma: the superb and legendary Milan 1955 live performance conducted by Antonino Votto, with the Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala. For this performance the cast is as follows:
Norma: Maria Callas, Adalgisa: Giulietta Simionato, Clotilde: Gabriela Carturan, Pollione: Mario del Monaco, Oroveso: Nicola Zaccaria, and Flavio: Giuseppe Zampieri.

If you are interested in listening to the audio samples that really correspond to the 1952 London performance, please visit:
http://www.amazon.com/Bellini-complete-Callas-Vittorio-Orchestra/dp/B0000BWTK9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1209833164&sr=1-1

Callas is simply perfect as Norma. And her partnership with Simionato is unsurpassed. Caballe is just ridiculous as Norma. She has no voice and delivers the embelishments as a singer student in the Conservatory! Callas IS Norma!

I know Callas' Norma has always been highly acclaimed. I do not deny that Callas is magnificent in this recording (watch out: recorded live! The sound is passable, but do not expect it to be flawless). Yet, there is no Norma like Monserrat Cabelle.