Verdi: La Traviata (Complete opera); Maria Callas; Alfredo Kraus

Maria Callas (Performer), Giuseppe Verdi (Performer), Franco Ghione (Orchestra), Alfredo Kraus (Artist), Mario Sereni (Artist), Laura Zanini (Artist), Maria Cristina de Castro (Artist), Piero de Palma (Artist), Lisbon National Theatre Orchestra & Chorus of San Carlos (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Maria Callas, Giuseppe Verdi
• Orchestra: Franco Ghione
• Audio CD (August 19, 1997)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002RY7
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #203,467 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #35 in Music > Classical > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Callas, Maria

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. La Traviata, opera: Preludio

2. La Traviata, opera: Act I: Dell'invito trascorsa č giŕ l'ora

3. La Traviata, opera: Act I: Libiamo, ne' lieti calici

4. La Traviata, opera: Act I: Che č ciň?

5. La Traviata, opera: Act I: Un di felice, eterea

6. La Traviata, opera: Act I: Ebben? Che diavol fate?

7. La Traviata, opera: Act I: Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora

8. La Traviata, opera: Act I: Č strano! Č strano!

9. La Traviata, opera: Act I: Ah, fors'č lui che l'anima

10. La Traviata, opera: Act I: Follie! follie! Delirio vano č questo

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 2: Avram lieta di maschere la notte

2. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 2: Noi siamo zingarelle

3. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 2: Di Madride noi siam mattadori

4. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 2: Alfredo! Voi!

5. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 2: Invitato a qui seguirmi

6. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 2: Ogni suo aver tal femmina

7. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 2: Di sprezzo degno sé stesso rende

8. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 2: Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core

9. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 3: Preludio

10. La Traviata, opera: Act II, Scene 3: Annina? ... Comandate?

See all 19 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The ONLY Other Traviata, April 30, 2005

By 

The Cultural Observer - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Verdi: La Traviata (Complete opera); Maria Callas; Alfredo Kraus (Audio CD)

When people mention the opera La Traviata, this recording usually comes up first in the opera conoisseur's list of Traviatas for sound, quality, and cast. Violetta, being Maria Callas' favorite role after Norma, allows her to explore the intricacies of her voice along with her dramatic prowess on stage. Although you can listen to the great La Scala Traviata of 1955 (inarguably the year of her prime), this Traviata has a lot to offer which that Traviata won't. First of all, this recording boasts excellent sound, something which you can't get from the recordings of that period. Second, the cast here is stronger than that of the first recording. While Giuseppe di Stefano and Ettore Bastianini were great partners, and Giulini was a great Verdian conductor, Ghione was great it in his own respect. Plus, the sound is infinitely better. You can hear every detail of Maria's Violetta in this recording. Alfredo Kraus is a more graceful Alfredo, and I believe Mario Sereni as Giorgio Germont is amazing as well. Alfredo's voice is more ideal for the role of...Alfredo! Callas' feel for the role has also developed, and I think she gives a much better performance here than she did in La Scala, the lighter quality of her voice favored for Violetta's condition as a moribundo. And, Maria follows everything in the score while giving this a lot of dramatic truth. Maria can do a triple piano, something only VERY VERY FEW sopranos can do. She truly is the Violetta of this century. Listen to the letter scene and Addio del Passato, which I believe are the most heart-breaking versions of the aria and recitativo I've ever heard. There's no arguing here that Callas is Violetta. Lovely coloratura, amazing pianissimo, great interpretation, beautiful woman, great looks, great stage presence rolled in one amazing package. As for the music, Ghione conducts the performance wonderfully, although I still like Giulini's handling of Verdi's score. This is THE Traviata to own.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best all-around Callas Traviata, March 9, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Verdi: La Traviata (Complete opera); Maria Callas; Alfredo Kraus (Audio CD)

This live Lisbon performance was originally released in 1980; it was EMI's way of finally getting a Callas Traviata into their catalogues (there was never an EMI studio recording of the Callas Traviata). Now remastered, and in the new Callas Edition, the sound has been greatly improved, which is very fortunate, since this Traviata is quite good. Callas, a few strident top notes aside, is in great shape. Her final scene is enough to remind people why Callas was Callas. Alfredo Kraus, at the beginning of his career, sounds teriffic, and Mario Sereni is a certainly acceptable Germont. The conducting is not outstanding, but it suffices. The important thing here is that Callas' Violetta is here enshrined in a way that it can be heard and appreciated, in acceptable sound.

25 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Listen to Act IV!, January 18, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Verdi: La Traviata (Complete opera); Maria Callas; Alfredo Kraus (Audio CD)

How she manages to convey Violetta's illness and despair by using vocal colours only... You can hear sobs from the audience... Simply gorgeous and beautiful! Also, in act III, the "Alfredo, Alfredo" using floating pianissimi... The most outstanding Violetta! But there are other great Traviatas too: The studio-rec with Moffo + the one with Sills.