Bellini Callas

EMI's generous compilation of 100 tracks from its archive of recordings by Maria Callas makes a fine introduction to her legacy. Callas' voice isn't consistent throughout, but when she's at her best, it's easy to hear the musical and dramatic power that made her the most legendary opera singer of the 20th century. She is impressive often enough that it's not hard to forgive the performances that are less than stellar. The six-disc collection is intelligently organized, with each disc dedicated to a particular composer (or several composers) or a theme: Bellini; Donizetti and Rossini; Verdi; Puccini; French operatic heroines; and dramatic heroines.

Previously only available on compact disc in Japan, the 1967 recording of Bellini's Norma featuring 24-year old soprano Elena Souliotis now gets an international release thanks to the Eloquence label. Sporting the original cover photo shot by Francesco Scavullo, this recording can be counted among the most worthy of owning .

Maria Callas - Callas At La Scala (1955) {Warner Classics 0825646340125 rel 2014}
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 107 Mb | MP3 @320 -> 85 Mb
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (png) -> 47 Mb | 5% repair rar
© 1955, 2014 Warner Classics | 0825646340125
Classical / Opera / Soprano

Callas first sang at Milan’s legendary La Scala for the opening of the 1951–1952 season (in Verdi’s I vespri siciliani) and she became closely identified with the theatre, notably in productions directed by Luchino Visconti and his protégé Franco Zeffirelli. Spontini’s La vestale was staged for her there in 1954, Bellini’s La sonnambula in 1955, and her final La Scala performances came in 1962 with Cherubini’s Medea. ‘This wonderful record gives us … Callas at her most spell-binding and enthralling,’ wrote Gramophone. ‘Callas at La Scala … shows the diva at her most exciting and most beautiful.’

Callas… Toujours (1958)
French/Italian | Subtitle: It/Fr/En/De/Jp | 1:31 | 720 x 480 | NTSC | 16:9 | 29.97fps | MPEG-2 | LPCM mono | 48kHz
Genre : Classical/Concert | With Cover & Booklet scans
Publisher: EMI

It is a pity that so few recordings of Maria Callas in concert exist to leave the testimony of this genius of the singing and actor's play that she was. Only 5 recitals have been filmed (Paris 1958, Hamburg 1959 and 1962, Covent Garden 1962 and 1964), recorded on 3 DVD. Here is the first one of them (and maybe the best), Paris 1958.
I will upload the two others later on.

That Evening, Callas was to sing in Paris for the first time! We knew she had the vocal genius of a great Diva as well as the rages and outbursts expected of one. Regular opera-goers knew of her but she was unknown to most people. And that very evening, she was about to be revealed to them….. What an unforgettable evening! Three hours earlier, Callas had just been a Diva; at midnight she became a star for millions of viewers. It was a triumph for Callas and also for television because that emotion of years ago can still be felt today. Callas is present among us. For ever.

Performed on early 19th century instruments and presented with brisk tempos, bright tone colors, and a lean ensemble sound, this 2013 Decca recording of Vincenzo Bellini's tragic opera Norma strives to re-create the authentic vocal style and instrumental sonorities that would have been heard at its premiere. This reading is based on a critical study of the manuscript and other sources by Maurizio Biondi and Riccardo Minasi. To the extent that Cecilia Bartoli is able to re-create the historical role of Norma and remove the modern associations that came with time (especially from the 20th century performances by Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, and Montserrat Caballé), she impresses with a lighter voiced and agile heroine who is wholly believable in this highly florid bel canto role.

Performed on early 19th century instruments and presented with brisk tempos, bright tone colors, and a lean ensemble sound, this 2013 Decca recording of Vincenzo Bellini's tragic opera Norma strives to re-create the authentic vocal style and instrumental sonorities that would have been heard at its premiere. This reading is based on a critical study of the manuscript and other sources by Maurizio Biondi and Riccardo Minasi. To the extent that Cecilia Bartoli is able to re-create the historical role of Norma and remove the modern associations that came with time (especially from the 20th century performances by Maria Callas, Joan Sutherland, and Montserrat Caballé), she impresses with a lighter voiced and agile heroine who is wholly believable in this highly florid bel canto role.

Maria Callas: The Complete Studio Recordings (1949-1969) - CD 64 of 70
Classical, Opera | CD64| FLAC LOG CUE | 358 MB | RS |
EMI Classics (3959182) | Release Date: Sep 25, 2007

A true Callas cornucopia, this 70-CD set gathers together everything Maria Callas ever recorded in the studio. That's 26 complete operas (four of which are studio repeats), plus the complete studio recitals made during the legendary soprano's recording career, which lasted from 1949-69. The bonus CD-ROM contains libretti and translations in English, French and German, plus a Callas photo library, while remastered treats include Callas's first recital recording, originally made for the Fonit-Cetra label and featuring arias by Wagner and Bellini. – Barnes & Noble