Giordano: Andrea Chenier (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Mario del Monaco, Antonino Votto, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan [Live, Original recording remastered]

Maria Callas (Artist), Giordano (Artist), Votto (Conductor), La Scala Theater Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: La Scala Theater Orchestra
• Conductor: Votto
• Audio CD (November 5, 2002)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Live, Original recording remastered
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000069V80
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #248,026 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not just ofr Callas die-hards, April 7, 2003

By 

Ali Kashani "kashania" (Toronto, ON Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Mario del Monaco, Antonino Votto, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan (Audio CD)

This is as electrifying a performance of ANDREA CHENIER as one could imagine.

Mario del Monaco and Maria Callas are both in top form. And the crowd goes beserk for them both.

The sound is not great (as one would be expect from a live 1955 recording). But this is history. A great night at Italy's most famed opera house, with two legendary singers. What more could one want?

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Who cares about the sound?, January 1, 2003

A Kid's Review

This review is from: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Mario del Monaco, Antonino Votto, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan (Audio CD)

This recording stunned me. If you have read the wonderful book "Opera: The Rough Guide," you might know that this recording is mentioned as being amazingly hard to find but extraordinarily good. I found it, and I was amazed. Del Monaco is a thrilling, forceful Chenier whose tone is sheer gold. His "Un di" is rivalled only by Franco Corelli. Maria Callas is an impressive Maddalena: touching, but never losing the edge that makes Callas so distinct. The Gerard and the rest of the cast is just OK, and the sound quality IS poor (it's live from the 1950's), but who cares? The singing makes up for it!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrible sound but the best, June 13, 2006

By 

Exequiel Pitargue - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Giordano: Andrea Chenier (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Mario del Monaco, Antonino Votto, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan (Audio CD)

I agree it is one of the most terrible records in terms of sound quality. Especially I am into SACD and DVD audio. This is the only reason why you might not want to purchase this recording.But the performance of the La Divina is enough compensation for the very bad quality of the recording.This opera was not in Callas's repertoire but, to everyone's surprise, she agreed to the change and learned the part of Maddalena in five days. The result is a performance that was unforgettable . Callas proved that in spite of her preference for the operas of Verdi and the bel canto composers like Bellini and Donizetti, she was equally at home in verismo repertoire. My question to everyone; Should you miss out this recording despite a very terrible sound ?