Puccini: Manon Lescaut (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

Giacomo Puccini (Orchestra), Maria Callas (Artist), Fiorenza Cossotto (Artist), Giulio Fioravanti (Artist), Carlo Forti (Artist), Giuseppe di Stefano (Artist), Tullio Serafin (Artist), Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala Theatre - Milan (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Giacomo Puccini
• Audio CD (August 19, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002RXY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,253 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #24 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Callas, Maria

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A masterpiece of a recording!, June 2, 2000

By 

Rod Tierman - See all my reviews

This review is from: Puccini: Manon Lescaut (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan (Audio CD)

Manon Lescaut has always been, to me, (along with La Boheme and Tosca) the ultimate Puccini experience, and this recording, in this reviewer's ears, is the ultimate Manon Lescaut. Madame Callas is, quite simply put, breathtaking. Her singing in the first act is fresh and lyric, while her performance in the last act is stupendous, realizing a pathos and tragedy seldom matched by anyone. As great as La Divina was, let us not overlook the Tenor of this recording, Guiseppe Di Stefano. Di Stefano is in brilliant voice here. His "Tra Voi Belle" and "Donna non vidi Mai" display a lyric vibrancy and intensity that Di Stefano became world renowned for (the best Tenor in the role of the Puccini des Grieux on record, next to Jussi Bjoerling). Di Stefano's "Ah Manon mi Tradisce" will leave you sitting on the edge of your seat. What exciting singing and passion the great Sicilian displays here. The conducting is in the always capable hands of Tullio Serafin, who does an exemplary in this recording. Since both the Bjoerling/Albanese and the Del Monaco/Tebaldi recordings appear to be out of print, you simply MUST own this one. This is a truly great recording of the Puccini masterpiece and with the deletions of the afore mentioned recordings, this CD becomes even greater. Treat yourself to real Italian opera at its finest and purchase this recording. A priceless gem!

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A HEARTBREAKING ACCOUNT OF 'MANON LESCAUT", June 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Puccini: Manon Lescaut (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan (Audio CD)

This is a wonderful recording. Callas never appeared as Manon Lescaut on the stage (a diva who specialized in such roles as Norma, Sonnambula, Lucia, Anna Bolena and Medea would be quite unlikely to appear on stage in a role that almost any other soprano could sing), she made this recording in 1957, and proved that even without stage experience in a role, she was capable of producing some amazing results. To begin with, there are some Callas vocal problems here ----- top notes are not as secure or as steady as they still could be at this time in her career, and there are a couple of top C's that wobble pretty badly. But this is nothing when set against what Callas accomplishes with the role. She characterizes by exemplary phrasing and vocal coloration. Never have I heard the final scene of this opera come across with the impact that it does here. Giuseppe di Stefano is in very good shape here, singing ardently and lyrically. His was a great one, and it is a pity that he choose to push it into roles completely unsuitable for him. Tullio Serafin, with Callas and di Stefano in his midst, conducts with fire and a real sense of involvement. This recording may not be considered to be one of Callas' most famous recordings, but it has a good claim to be one of the best versions of this opera ever recorded.Callas fans will probably already own it, but anyone interested in Puccini and his beautiful opera should give this recording a listen. They won't be sorry.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marvellous Manon, July 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Puccini: Manon Lescaut (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan (Audio CD)

This recording is simply wonderful.The voices are clear and the orchestra never drowns them out. Callas makes a wonderful Manon and it is a pity that she never performed it on the stage for I am sure she could have given a brilliant interpretation.Apart from a few unsure high notes this is an excellent portrayal. The role of Des Grieux is the hardest that Puccini wrote. It has the tenor of La Boheme singing over the orchestration of Wagner.Also he must sing for a lot of the opera and pretty high up too.Compare this to Cavaradossi's twenty minutes!Di Stefano makes a wonderful Des Grieux, both ardent and lyrical.I believe that he had the most beautiful voice of the century and thank God that we have a huge amount of recordings from him. The orchestra plays well under Serafin and all in all this is an excellent recording.Go buy it!