or
Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering.
 
 
Express Checkout with PayPhrase
What's this? | Create PayPhrase
More Buying Choices
31 used & new from $8.94

Have one to sell? Sell yours here
 
   
Available to Download Now
 
Buy the MP3 album for $9.49
 
 
 
 
Puccini: Tosca (1953) with Callas, di Stefano, Gobbi, cond. by de Sabata
 
See larger image and other views
 

Puccini: Tosca (1953) with Callas, di Stefano, Gobbi, cond. by de Sabata [ORIGINAL RECORDING REMASTERED]

Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Victor de Sabata (Conductor), La Scala Theater Orchestra (Orchestra), Maria Callas (Performer), Alvaro Cordova (Performer), Angelo Mercuriali (Performer), Dario Caselli (Performer), Franco Calabrese (Performer), Giuseppe Stefano (Performer), Melchiorre Luise (Performer), Tito Gobbi (Performer)
5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews) More about this product

List Price: $13.98
Price: $12.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
You Save: $0.99 (7%)
  Special Offers Available
o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o o
In Stock.
Ships from and sold by Amazon.com. Gift-wrap available.

Want it delivered Monday, November 16? Choose One-Day Shipping at checkout. Details
26 new from $8.98 5 used from $8.94
Buy the MP3 album for $9.49 at the Amazon MP3 Downloads store.


Frequently Bought Together

Customers buy this album with Puccini - La Bohème / Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood, Ghiaurov, Karajan ~ Giacomo Puccini

Puccini: Tosca (1953) with Callas, di Stefano, Gobbi, cond. by de Sabata + Puccini - La Bohème / Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood, Ghiaurov, Karajan
  • This item: Puccini: Tosca (1953) with Callas, di Stefano, Gobbi, cond. by de Sabata ~ Giacomo Puccini

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    Eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details

  • Puccini - La Bohème / Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood, Ghiaurov, Karajan ~ Giacomo Puccini

    In Stock.
    Ships from and sold by Amazon.com.
    This item ships for FREE with Super Saver Shipping. Details


Special Offers and Product Promotions

  • Get $1 worth of MP3 downloads from Amazon MP3 after you order your item. Here's how (restrictions apply)

Customers Who Bought This Item Also Bought

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tullio Serafin

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Tito Gobbi, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tullio Serafin

~ Gaetano Donizetti
4.3 out of 5 stars (11)  $13.98
Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana & Leoncavallo: Pagliacci (complete operas) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

Mascagni: Cavalleria Rusticana & Leoncavallo: Pagliacci (complete operas) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Tullio Serafin, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

~ Ruggero Leoncavallo
5.0 out of 5 stars (4)  $13.98
Verdi - Rigoletto / Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, LSO, Bonynge

Verdi - Rigoletto / Sutherland, Pavarotti, Milnes, LSO, Bonynge

~ Giuseppe Verdi
4.7 out of 5 stars (63)  $30.49
Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Carlo Maria Giulini, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan

Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Carlo Maria Giulini, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan

~ Giuseppe Verdi
4.5 out of 5 stars (75)  $18.99
Verdi: Il Trovatore

Verdi: Il Trovatore

~ Giuseppe Verdi
5.0 out of 5 stars (2)  $10.99
Explore similar items

Product Details

  • Performer: Maria Callas, Alvaro Cordova, Angelo Mercuriali, Dario Caselli, Franco Calabrese, et al.
  • Orchestra: La Scala Theater Orchestra
  • Conductor: Victor de Sabata
  • Composer: Giacomo Puccini
  • Audio CD (December 2, 2003)
  • SPARS Code: ADD
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Format: Original recording remastered
  • Label: EMI Classics
  • ASIN: B0000E3HM3
  • In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,552 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Disc: 1
1. Tosca, opera: Act 1. Ah! Finalmente!
2. Tosca, opera: Act 1. E sempre lava!
3. Tosca, opera: Act 1. Sante ampolle! Il suo ritratto!
4. Tosca, opera: Act 1. Dammi i colori...Recondita armonia
5. Tosca, opera: Act 1. Gente là dentro!
6. Tosca, opera: Act 1. Mario!...Mario!...Mario!...Son qui!
7. Tosca, opera: Act 1. Ora stammi a sentir
8. Tosca, opera: Act 1. Or lasciami al lavoro
9. Tosca, opera: Act 1. Ah, quegli occhi...Quale occhio al mondo
10. Tosca, opera: Act 1. Mia gelosa!
See all 16 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Tosca è un buon falco!
2. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Ha più forte sapore
3. Tosca, opera: Act 2. O galantuomo, come andò la caccia?
4. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Meno male!
5. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Ov'è Angelotti?
6. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Ed or fra noi parliam da buoni amici
7. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Sciarrone, che dice il Cavalier?
8. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Orsù, Tosca, parlate
9. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Floria!...Amore
10. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Salvatelo!...Io?...Voi!
See all 26 tracks on this disc


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Little can be added to what's been written about this landmark recording, except that Walter Legge's 1953 mono production yields nothing to modern Tosca recordings for vivacity and theatrical impact--especially Maria Callas's. The miraculous Victor de Sabata conjures up a vibrant, inspiring orchestral canvas that enables Callas and her stellar cohorts to work their magic. Tito Gobbi and Callas spur each other on to heights in which the characters take over from the singers in the listener's mind. Giuseppe Di Stefano is on his best behavior, and in fresher voice than on his fine Leontyne Price-Herbert von Karajan remake. On this set, EMI includes texts, translations, and notes that discuss this recording in the context of Callas's mercurial career. --Jed Distler

Tags Customers Associate with This Product

 (What's this?)
Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
 
(12)

Your tags: Add your first tag
 

 

Customer Reviews

10 Reviews
5 star:
 (10)
4 star:    (0)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:    (0)
1 star:    (0)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
5.0 out of 5 stars (10 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews

 
63 of 63 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Wow Wow Wow Wow Wow!!!!, March 15, 2004
This is my first Callas recording. I was curious about her, of course, but I was always put off by descriptions of more or less horrendous audio problems on the famous recordings. Used to modern recordings, I didn't know how I'd react to such bad sound, so I put off trying.

No more! This is a new (12/03) EMI Remaster of the famous de Sabata "Tosca" -- yes, THE definitive "Tosca" starring Callas, Di Stefano, and Gobbi. And I can tell you it sounds WONDERFUL!

Why is this set so affordable, then? I have no idea! There is no libretto included, only a slim booklet with a track list, a short synopsis of the action for each track, and one article about the opera and this performance. There is no cardboard case, and only a simple 2-part jewelcase, not the hefty one often provided with opera CD sets.

But it's enough!! It's more than enough! I'd buy these disks if they were sold loose in a paper bag. I am totally, permanently won over. This performance is simply electrifying! The music leaps out of the speakers and grabs you. Callas as Tosca had me in tears! Scarpia scared me! It's too good to believe it happened several decades ago.

All I can say is, Buy this now before they realize what a gem this is and raise the price! You won't regret it.

Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars The Tosca of the century, May 16, 2004
By Emma de Soleil "I moved to the UK for another... (On a holiday In Ibiza, then back to the UK for studies) - See all my reviews
This recording has been showered with accolades and praise by critics, operafans, reviewers etc. etc. And listening to it a whole world comes to life. In a time when Puccini's masterpieces are destroyed by arrogant "directors" this golden age recording is like a breath of fresh air. Callas is in her prime, sounding fresh, loving, passionate and fascinating. She became Tosca, all her jealousies, passions, moods, fears are so real, so sublime and natural that you'll forget that you're listening to a recording. She cleared Tosca of those veristic, fish-wife tears after "Egli ved ch'io piango!" and her tears and agony are heard through her voice alone. Listen to Tosca's ardent "A come la sai bene l'arte di farti amare!" ... She sounds so gorgeous, so lucid and passionate, it'll warm your heart. Then there is act II with the never equalled clash between Tosca and the evil Scarpia sung and acted to perfection by Callas (Whose high Cs will chill you!) and Gobbi. (The only Scarpia) Listen to Callas' tearful, beautiful "Vissi d'arte" sung with exquisite legato, velvety warmth and most tearful colours. Pleading "Why, oh lord dost thou repay me thus?" she will break your heart! The chilling murder of Scarpia with Callas/Tosca ROARING "M'ai assai TORTURATO!!!!!" is too thrilling to describe. And the final duet sung with di Stefano and Tosca's suicide are portrayed hauntingly. Di Stefano, her favourite partner and part of the greatest operatic trio of the century (Callas, di Stefano, Gobbi) sounds sunny, charming and passionate. In short: It's the best Tosca ever recorded.
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)



 
28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding De Sabata! Most famous and controversial Tosca! , August 7, 2004
By Armindo (Greece) - See all my reviews


This is one of the few recordings in which the conductor attracted my attention more than the singers. This is not to dismiss the singers but De Sabata's conducting makes this the most idiomatic Tosca recording I've ever heard.

All three protagonists are heard here in their short-lived prime. Callas in firm voice is a capricious, nervous and furious Tosca. Many accuse her of overacting but here she controls herself and most outbreaks sound sincere. You won't hear the grandness, dignity and beauty of Tebaldi's Tosca but Callas' Tosca is a unique creation. No need to argue which one is better, they both are legendary and besides, tastes differ.

Di Stefano is all ardour and tenderness in this most beloved tenor role. I can already hear the manners that eventually ruined his instrument but he nevertheless is a memorable Mario. Gobbi's Scarpia frightens Tosca not because of what he is but because of what he can do. Gobbi doesn't have the huge voice that made Bastianini or London so scary but he uses his to great effect and creates a sinister Baron Scarpia. Luise's Sagristano is most convincing.

One of the greatest virtues of this old Tosca recording is its vitality and chemistry between the performers. No wonder that since its release it's impossible to make and accurate historical evaluation of Puccini's Tosca without taking it into account. Finally released at budget price!
Comment Comment | Permalink | Was this review helpful to you? Yes No (Report this)


Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
 
 
 
Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous Opera
Maria Callas is at her best singing the part of Tosca. Every aria is performed at an expert level epitomizing the passion and drama that Puccini wanted to create. Read more
Published 4 months ago by Anne-maree Cantwell

5.0 out of 5 stars I am NOT a fan of Madame Callas...........
...if you are, and don't want to be offended/mad, stop here [but note the five stars]. Blessed with massive God-given talent, she had a defective technique that she wouldn't... Read more
Published 13 months ago by Robert C. Hufford

5.0 out of 5 stars Opera as Drama
NOTE: While all my remarks are valid for this CD incarnation, the remastering is generally regarded as poor. Read more
Published 19 months ago by John Bratincevic

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing quality - amazing opera!
I bought this CD after the attendance of the opera and recommendation by a good friend. While I was initially hesitant because of the age of the recording, the remastering worked... Read more
Published 20 months ago by MT

5.0 out of 5 stars a must own
If you are a Callas fan, you have no excuse for not owning this. If you are new to Callas or if you have only a mild interest in her art, this is one of three Callas cds you... Read more
Published on August 23, 2007 by C. Godwin

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the great recordings of all time.
I was a freshman in college when this record came on the market with Puritani as a pair from EMI. Callas and Gobbi in this version changed my view of what is possible in musical... Read more
Published on August 9, 2007 by C. Doughton

5.0 out of 5 stars Why 5... Find Out!
When I first got this recording, it was my first Tosca. As such, I didn't know what to listen to (or what to listen for) and really at the time the only other soprano I had heard... Read more
Published on October 12, 2006 by D. Faulk.

Only search this product's reviews



Customer Discussions

This product's forum
Discussion Replies Latest Post
No discussions yet

Ask questions, Share opinions, Gain insight
Start a new discussion
Topic:
First post:
Prompts for sign-in
 


Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
Search all Amazon discussions
   




SoundUnwound Says...

Learn more about Tosca opens new browser window

Go explore the super-connected music universe at SoundUnwound.com opens new browser window - the new music site from IMDb and Amazon.

SoundUnwound Logo

What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?



Look for Similar Items by Category


Look for Similar Items by Subject

Search Music by subject:







i.e., each title must be in subject 1 AND subject 2 AND ...
 

Feedback

If you need help or have a question for Customer Service, contact us.
 Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
Is there any other feedback you would like to provide?

Your comments can help make our site better for everyone.


Your Recent History

 (What's this?)

After viewing product detail pages or search results, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in.