Puccini: Arias

Giacomo Puccini (Composer), Tullio Serafin (Conductor), Philharmonia Orchestra of London (Orchestra), Maria Callas (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Maria Callas
• Orchestra: Philharmonia Orchestra of London
• Conductor: Tullio Serafin
• Composer: Giacomo Puccini
• Audio CD (January 20, 1998)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: EMI Classics
• ASIN: B000002SA2
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #164,766 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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  Music > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Callas, Maria

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

Though Puccini is one of the composers most associated with Callas, he was not the one closest to her heart. Even the title role of Tosca that showcased her talents so brilliantly (including during her vocal decline) didn't figure among her favorites. You'd never know, though, from this aria collection recorded in 1954--Callas's vocal prime--that was inexplicably overshadowed by her complete opera recordings. Even among the best of singers, aria collections take on a certain vocal sameness; Callas often has a different voice for every character. Her Mimi in La Boheme is all lightness and ingenuousness; the timbre of her Suor Angelica (which she sang onstage only once) has a similar but distinctly different lightness, also conveying a sheltered life. Once in a while one hears signs of vocal fatique, but generally, the flapping vibrato that afflicted Callas's high notes only a few years later is well under control, as she's guided through these selections by her longtime mentor, Tullio Serafin. --David Patrick Stearns

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 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 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

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 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.