Puccini: Arias

Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Tullio Serafin (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra), Maria Callas (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Maria Callas
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra of London
• Conductor: Tullio Serafin
• Composer: Giacomo Puccini
• Audio CD (January 20, 1998)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002SA2
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #235,172 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #46 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Callas, Maria

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best Callas Recitals, December 13, 2000

By 

Tommy Nielsen (Kolding Denmark) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puccini: Arias (Audio CD)

This is surely one of the best Callas recitals ever committed to disc. The voice is firm and secure throughout. In fact most of the items are better sung here than in her recordings of the complete operas. This is noticeable especially in "In Questa Reggia" which - Eva Turner set a part - is the best recording (ever) of the piece and which shows why this opera suited Callas so well in the early stages of her career. By 1957 when she recorded the complete opera her voice was far less secure and a distinctive wobble creeps in here and there.

This disc also confirms Callas' supremacy in comedy. "O mio Babbino Caro" is one of the best ever conveyed on to disc - to set beside Victoria de los Angeles'.

The overall favorable impression of this recital is naturally enhanced by the ever secure hand of Tullio Serafin's.

If you do not know Callas well and want to learn this disc is definitely the one to start with. Here are all the famous Puccini arias with this outstanding artist, in her prime, conducted by one of the best opera conductors of this century - and in excellent technical standard (signed W. Legge - of course).

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A nice CD!, December 2, 2001

By 

Adele (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puccini: Arias (Audio CD)

Any one who likes Maria Callas and or Puccini will love this CD! I reguet this is the only Maria CD that I have, but I have one more coming for Christmas. (2 CD set) and "Tosca" with Maria Callas in it as well. Maria Callas is my idol. I am 14, I sing opera, and I hope that I can be just like her one day! E-mail me if you have any questions about this review! Thank you!

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brava Ms. Callas, August 31, 2001

By 

Trevor Gillespie "sol_man" (San Jose, California United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Puccini: Arias (Audio CD)

This compilation includes the great arias from many of Puccini's most popular operas. The program was recorded in the 50's but EMI has used its Abbey Road Technology to digitally remaster the album resulting in an incredible sounding album. Hiss is very minimal, the orchestra doesn't sound so far back as in some mono recordings, and the voice is captured excellently. These arias are the ones that make us cry, send shivers down our arms, and remind us of why we like opera. I'm a new listener to Marie Callas, but I am easily able to see why she still has such a devoted fan base in the opera community. Her voice really is quite lovely, and her delivery of the arias is so passionate. This album is definitely a recommended one.