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

Giuseppe Verdi (Artist), Orchestra e coro del Teatro alla Scala (Artist), Carlo Maria Giulini (Artist), Maria Callas (Artist), Giuseppe di Stefano (Artist), Ettore Bastianini (Artist), Silvio Maionica (Artist), Luisa Mandelli (Artist), Arturo La Porta (Artist)
4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews) More about this product

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Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Carlo Maria Giulini, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan + Puccini: Tosca (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Victor de Sabata, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan + Puccini: Madama Butterfly (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Lucia Danieli, Nicolai Gedda, Herbert von Karajan, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
Price For All Three: $77.97

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Product Details

  • Audio CD (March 17, 1998)
  • SPARS Code: ADD
  • Number of Discs: 2
  • Label: EMI Classics
  • ASIN: B00000630Y
  • In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
  • Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (75 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #45,671 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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    #13 in  Music > Opera & Vocal > Divas > Callas, Maria

Disc: 1
1. La Traviata, opera: Preludio
2. La Traviata, opera: Act One: Dell'invito trascorsa è già l'ora
3. La Traviata, opera: Act One: Libiamo, ne' lieti calici
4. La Traviata, opera: Act One: Che è ciò?
5. La Traviata, opera: Act One: Un di felice, eterea
6. La Traviata, opera: Act One: Ebben? Che diavol fate?
7. La Traviata, opera: Act One: Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora
8. La Traviata, opera: Act One: È strano! È strano!
9. La Traviata, opera: Act One: Ah, fors'è lui che l'anima
10. La Traviata, opera: Act One: Follie! follie! Delirio vano è questo!
See all 24 tracks on this disc
Disc: 2
1. La Traviata, opera: Act Two - Scene Two: Avram lieta di maschere la notte
2. La Traviata, opera: Act Two - Scene Two: Noi siamo zingarelle
3. La Traviata, opera: Act Two - Scene Two: Di Madride noi siam mattadori
4. La Traviata, opera: Act Two - Scene Two: Alfredo! Voi!
5. La Traviata, opera: Act Two - Scene Two: Invitato a qui seguirmi
6. La Traviata, opera: Act Two - Scene Two: Ogni suo aver tal femmina
7. La Traviata, opera: Act Two - Scene Two: Di sprezzo degno sé stesso rende
8. La Traviata, opera: Act Two - Scene Two: Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core
9. La Traviata, opera: Act Three: Preludio
10. La Traviata, opera: Act Three: Annina/...Comandate?
See all 19 tracks on this disc


Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

This live recording of the 1955 Visconti production at La Scala is the best of the available Maria Callas Traviatas. Aside from a minor pitch problem or two, she's in great voice, coloring phrases to reveal character and investing the coloratura with variety and passion. Her "Addio del passato" is heart-breaking. She fully captures Violetta's pride and vulnerability in the scene with Germont, though her partner, Ettore Bastianini, sings insensitively, if beautifully. Giuseppe Di Stefano is all one could ask for as Alfredo. Carlo Giulini conducts a performance that delivers all the lyricism and drama of the score. The recorded sound is primitive, but in EMI's latest transfer you can listen through it to a wondrous performance. --Dan Davis

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75 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.5 out of 5 stars (75 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This is what opera is all about!, February 13, 2003
By John P. (Kennett Square, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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If ever the was an opera recording that deserved the highest praise despite its technical deficiencies, this is it. Many reviewers below complain about this recording's sonics -- it is a live, mono recording from 1955. But focusing on sonic problems in the face of Callas's magnificent performance is like deprecating the *Mona Lisa* because there are a few cracks in the paint. Callas gives here the ultimate opera performance: she not only has complete command of the music, but she works within it to create a living, breathing character who develops during the course of, and as a result of, the drama. What she does is better than acting while singing; it is acting *by means of* singing. (And, I should add, the other principals are excellent.)

If you have not yet listened to a lot of opera, or if you just want a recording that will sound pretty in the background, then you will probably not appreciate this set. As your tastes become more educated, however, return to this. You will be blown away.

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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars THE BEST TRAVIATA, November 5, 2000
By anonymous (san francisco, ca United States) - See all my reviews
This was one of Callas's signature rolls. I have many recordings of Callas performing Traviata ('51,'52,'53,'55,'56,'58 Lisbon, '58 Covent Garden), but this is the best. The sound quality is a problem -- but not THAT big a problem. It's not in the realm of historical document; it's a recording that can easily be enjoyed just for pleasure. (The '51 Mexico is a BAD recording.) The '55 has it over on the others for several reasons: 1) Callas was in her best voice -- the first few years after her weight loss; so she has the distinct Callas sound, and at its strongest. 2) Her attack on the role is fierce and hair-raising in its passion and depth of feeling. Listen to her saying goodbye to Alfredo. Then compare that moment to anyone else's recording. No one, with the exception of Alagna's wife (her name escapes me) comes CLOSE. The Lisbon recording has better sound but slightly weaker passion, and this La Scala recording also has the advantage of de Stefano as Alfredo. Do not miss this.
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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful but..., November 10, 2002
By Mr. Jeffrey Belcher "Sam" (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) - See all my reviews
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No one seems to deny that Callas is a definitive Violetta but there seems to be some arguement about the sound quality of her recordings of Traviata which are, unfortunately, all live.

On this 1955 set, for me, the terrible recording quality of the third act does undermine my full enjoyment. I would advise a person new to Callas, Traviata or Opera in general to only purchase this version as a second or third supporting set to a set they already know & love.

Altho also a live recording, the Callas 1958 Lisbon set is much improved (but not perfect) on the above 1955 set in terms of recording quality. I also like Te Kanawa's version from the early 1990's if you want to go stereo & digital. There are numerous others of great quality, by great singers depending on the style of singing & acting you like.

Once you have another set to fall back on when you are not in the mood for the extremely poor sound mentioned above, then buy this 1955 Callas set & sit back and enjoy Callas's extremely moving virtuoso performance. It is worth it for that.

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Most Recent Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Monumental (In spite of the sound)
EMI's recording of "La Traviata" with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, and Ettore Bastianini is that of a historical production that any operaphile would want in his or her... Read more
Published 5 months ago by M. Hall

5.0 out of 5 stars Thank heavens for La Scala's opening night recordings.
Along with Armeda, Anna Bolena, here is a jewel from the past. Maria is wonderful. The supporting cast was very good for the time, but what a difference today with standards and... Read more
Published 11 months ago by C. Doughton

5.0 out of 5 stars Short review down to the point!
No one should consider doing a performance of Traviata without checking in with this recording first. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Brooklyn GV

5.0 out of 5 stars opera lover
Love opera. Sodoes mom. Perfect Mother's Day gift for her. Sent her several operas that i purchased online. This one was missing a cd. I had to return it. Read more
Published 17 months ago by John Devine

2.0 out of 5 stars Not a good first version for your library
Due to its' age this recording's quality is spotty. Sometimes the chorus may as well have been in another state. Read more
Published on November 1, 2007 by Gary L. Thompson

4.0 out of 5 stars A historic performance
A historic performance, with Maria Callas in her best moment. Very good work in the orchestra, too. Warning: the quality of the recording is below the standard, as a label in the... Read more
Published on October 28, 2007 by J. Domingo

5.0 out of 5 stars Verdi: Opera LaTraviata
Enjoyable recording,singers Maria Callas, DiStefano,Bastianini surperb. Clarity as if recently recorded. Orchestra and chorus fantastic.
Published on July 3, 2007 by Joan A. Jones

5.0 out of 5 stars The Sound is very listenable
Don't be put off by other reviewers' rants on the sound of this superb performance. If you're comfortable listening to some of the better Opera D'Oro sets, you'll find this more... Read more
Published on January 4, 2007 by G. Dowling

4.0 out of 5 stars Come closer to Maria Callas
This CD is a master piece of Maria Callas' performance. Together with Stefano, they created a milestone that their followers are difficult to overpass. Read more
Published on January 3, 2007 by Peng Zhou

5.0 out of 5 stars Best of La Traviata and Maria Callas
Even though this recording is not stereophonic, you can still enjoy the marvelous voice of Maria Callas. Read more
Published on November 12, 2006 by M. Sharafyan

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