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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
CALLAS CARRIES THE SHOW,
By
This review is from: Ponchielli: La Gioconda (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Fiorenza Cossotto, Antonino Votto, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan (Audio CD)
This recording was done in September, 1959, when Callas was right in the middle of the marital quadrangle with Aristotle Onasis. She had just ended her marriage and was all over the front pages of the newspapers. It is amazing, that in the midst of all of this media frenzy, Callas was able to go into La Scala and record such a performance as that heard here. Callas is in thrilling vocal condition here, and she creates a vivid and compelling characterization of the tormented street singer. There are actually a few instances when her top notes are more secure than they were on her earlier 1952 recording (!) Unfortunately, Callas had to carry much of this performance by herself. Fiorenza Cossotto, certainly a great mezzo, is heard at the very beginning of her career, and the power and authority she later acquired is not very evident here, though she certainly sings well. Also, an equally youthful Piero Cappuccilli provides a somewhat non-menacing Barnaba, though the potential of his voice is certainly obvious (like Cossotto, he also went on to a great career in Europe). Ivo Vinco is a sonorous Alvise. The real weakness in this cast, however, is the tenor Pier Miranda Ferraro, who never really "made it". His singing is merely adequate, but in the company of Callas and even the very young Cossotto and Cappuccilli, it comes off as less than even that.
The stereo sound here is very good, and the sound balances are excellent. I cannot give this recording an unqualified rave (due to the weakness of the tenor, and to a lesser extent, the work of Cossotto and Cappuccilli, both for whom the best work was still in the future), but Callas' performance is so outstanding, and her singing so persuasive that it washes away all else.
22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Gioconda and a deaf fan from S.F. ! ! !,
By
This review is from: Ponchielli: La Gioconda (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Fiorenza Cossotto, Antonino Votto, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan (Audio CD)
Callas, was the first and more splendid Gioconda. The role of Gioconda needs a great low notes, colorature for the last act, and great expression. In Callas all this requisites are completed. Nobody other soprano sing this role as Callas. I am really surprised for the fan of San Francisco. He is deaf ! ! ! All the passion and tragedy are insuperables with Callas. The Gioconda was not a great role of Renata Scotto (Great Lucia and Butterfly). All the musical critics in the world recognize this interpretation as the most complete. The Caballe and Milanov (great voices) had very weak low notes and low expressivity.The other singers of the cast are very suitables (in special mode Cossotto and Cappucilli). The only disaster here is the fan of San Francisco ! ! !
17 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A STUPENDOUS FAREWELL,
By GEORGE RANNIE "GWRJWMCL" (DENVER, COLORADO United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER) (REAL NAME)
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This review is from: Ponchielli: La Gioconda (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Fiorenza Cossotto, Antonino Votto, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan (Audio CD)
In 1960, I purchased this wonderful recording on vinyl. At that time, there were those that were saying Callas was "loosing her voice." In this recording Maria certainly refuted that opinion. Maria was in spectacular voice for this recording of "La Giaconda" sounding as if she had not done the huge amount of very "heavy-duty" singing she had done during the decade preceding this recording in order to establish herself as the leading Prima Donna of the age (as it turns out, of all ages). Along with being in astoundly "good voice" for this recording, her interpretive skills are at their peak! She makes the heroine a living, breathing creature NOT just an "operatic heroine". Therefore, I, in my youth, could not understand why some individuals thought that Maria Callas' art (voice) was deteriorating. Sadly, I lived through Maria's "crash and burn"-always hoping "for the miracle" that never came. Anyway this is a fantastic recording capturing "La Divina" at her very best. Perhaps this recording does indeed give credence to the saying "Before the candle flickers out, it flares for one more magnificent moment" as was so succulently phrased by a previous reviewer. Maria is truly magnificent in this recording.
After so many years, it is most moving, for me, to return to this recording in this wonderful format. EMI has done a spectacular job of restoring and/or enhancing this glorious recording. This time around, I'm just not overwhelmed with Callas alone (as previously); Cossoto and Cappuccilli are spectacular with Votto conducting the hell out of the score. Once again, this recording has "moved" me down to my soul. In retrospect along with the knowledge of what happened in the years that followed this recording, I find this recording to be one of the most emotionally moving experiences of my life.
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