Masterclass (Rec 1949 - 1955) [3 CD set]

Masterclass (Rec 1949 - 1955) [3 CD set] cover $18.00 Out of Stock
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PUCCINI / ROSSINI / MASCAGNI / BELLINI /WAGNER / DELIBES / DONIZETTI / etc
Masterclass (Rec 1949 - 1955) [3 CD set]
Maria Callas (soprano) with various orchestras and conductors

[ Masterclass / 3 CD Box Set ]

Release Date: Thursday 20 November 2008

This item is currently out of stock. We expect to be able to supply it to you within 2 - 4 weeks from when you place your order.

Maria Callas (1923-1977) One of the greatest and most versatile operatic singers of the last century, Maria Callas born to Greek parents in New York City, on 2nd December, 1923.

At the age of 13, she moved with her mother Evangelia to Athens, Greece, where she received her musical education. After trying, without success, to enrol at the Athens Conservatoire, her mother asked Maria Trivella at the Greek National Conservatoire to take her as a paying student. After listening to her voice, Maria Trivella agreed to tutor her without payment. Callas's progress in the first six months was such, that her mother secured another audition at the Athens Conservatoire with Elvira de Hidalgo, who immediately agreed to takes her as a pupil. However, because Maria would graduate from the National Conservatoire during the next year, her mother asked Elvira de Hidalgo to wait. In April 1939 Maria made her debut at the Olympia Theatre, as Santuzza in Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana and later in the same year she enrolled at the Athens Conservatoire in Elvira de Hidalgo's class. Trivella was, naturally, embittered by the conduct of both mother and daughter. Upon her return to the United States, she was engaged for the re-opening of the Chicago opera house, in the role of Turandot. Unfortunately, the company folded before the opening. It was about this time that Nicola Rossi-Lementi, knowing that Tullio Serafin was looking for a dramatic soprano to cast as La Cioconda at the Arena di Verona suggested Callas to the impresario Giovanni Zenatello, who auditioned Callas. It was in this opera that Maria made her Italian debut. After La Gioconda, Serafin was looking for someone to sing Tristan und Isolde, and he remembered Callas's performance as Gioconda at the Arena di Verona. He called on Callas, who told him that she already knew the score, although she had only looked at the first act out of curiosity while at the Conservatoire. She sight-read the first two acts of the opera for Serafin, who was impressed and praised her for knowing the role so well. She then admitted that she had sight-read the music. Serafin was even more impressed and immediately cast her in the role. Serafin became Callas's greatest mentor and supporter, and she performed and recorded many of her greatest triumphs with him. Callas created a sensation in Venice in 1949 by immediately following a series of performances of Brunnhilde in Die Walkure, with performances as Elvira in I Puritani. She learnt the role in five days, in order to deputise for an indisposed Margherita Carosio. Callas possessed an instantly recognisable voice; she was a mezzo-soprano whose range was extended by training and will power. In her early years in Italy, her voice was a dramatic soprano of prodigious power and range. Her voice was amazingly agile, allowing her to sing the most difficult virtuoso repertoire with great ease. With her polished technique, there were no musical or technical difficulties which she could not execute with astonishing ease. Maria callas died in Paris on 16th September, 1977

Tracks:

CD1
1. Si Mi Chiamano Mimi "La Boheme" (Puccini)…..(4:54)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
2. Ah! Franchigia A Floria Tosca "Tosca" (Puccini)..… (9:18)
Orchestra of La Scala Milan (Recorded in 1953)
Conductor: Victor De Sabata
3. O Mio Babbino Caro "Gianni Schicchi" (Puccini)..… (2:31)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
4. Un Bel Di Vedremo "Madama Butterfly" (Puccini)….. (4:28)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
5. In Questa Reggia "Turandot" (Puccini)..… (6:19)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
6. Vissi D'Arte "Tosca" (Puccini)….. (3:14)
Orchestra of La Scala Milan (Recorded in 1953)
Conductor: Victor De Sabata
7. Sola Perduta, Abbandonata "Manon Lescaut" (Puccini)….. (5:45)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
8. Senza Mama "Sister Angelica" (Puccini)….. (5:30)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
9. Mario! Mario! "Tosca" (Puccini)….. (12:01)
Orchestra of La Scala Milan (Recorded in 1953)
Conductor: Victor De Sabata
10. Signore Ascolta "Turandot" (Puccini)….. (2:25)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
11. Con Onor Muore "Madama Butterfly" (Puccini)….. (3:38)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
12. In Quelle Trine Morbide "Manon Lescaut" (Puccini)….. (2:45)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
13. Com'e Lunga L'Attesta "Tosca" (Puccini)….. (2:13)
Orchestra of La Scala Milan (Recorded in 1953)
Conductor: Victor De Sabata
14. Donde Lieta Usci "La Boheme" (Puccini)….. (3:15)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
15. Tu Che Di Gel Sei Cinta "Turandot" (Puccini)….. (2:43)
Philharmonia Orchestra (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin

Total Playing Time: 71:46

CD2
1. Easter Hymn "Cavalleria Rusticana" (Mascagni)…..(3.50)
Orchestra of La Scala Milan (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
2. In Mia Mano Alfin Tu Sei "Norma" (Bellini)…..(8.12)
Orchestra of La Scala Milan (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
3. Gualtier Malde! - Car Nome "Rigoletto" (Verdi)…..(7.29)
Orchestra of La Scala Milan (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
4. Dov'e L'Indiana Bruna "Lakme" (Delibes)…..(7.23)
Orchestra Sinfonica Di Torino Della RAI (Recorded in 1952)
Conductor: Antonino Votto
5. Casta Diva "Norma" (Bellini)…..(5.32)
Orchestra of La Scala Milan (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
6. Il Dolce Suon.. "Lucia Di Lammermoor" (Donnizetti)…..(12.14)
Orchestra of Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Recorded in 1954)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
7. La Barca S'Avvincina.. "La Gioconda" (Ponchielli)…..(6.43)
Orchestra Di Torino Della RAI (Recorded in 1952)
Conductor: Antonino Votto
8. E Strano.. Ar, Fors'e Lui…Follie! "La Traviata" (Verdi)…..(9.12)
Orchestra Di Torino Della RAI (Recorded in 1952)
Conductor: Antonino Votto
9. E'Giunto Il Di "Parsifal" (Wagner)…..(10.32)
Orchestra Sinfonica Di Roma (Recorded in 1950)
Conductor: Vittorio Gui

Total Playing Time: 78:12

CD 3
1. Vien diletto, E in ciel la luna "I Puritani" (Bellini)…..(2:23)
Orchestra of La Scala Opera House Milan (Recorded in 1953)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
2. Una Voce Poco Fa "Il Barbiere Di Seville" (Rossini)…..(6:43)
Orchestra of La Scala Opera House Milan (Recorded in 1952)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
3. Quando, Rapido In Estasi "Lucia di Lammermoor" (Donizetti)…..(4:14)
RIAS Symphony Orchestra Berlin (Recorded in 1955)
Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
4. Bel Raggio Lusinghiero, "Semiramide" (Rossini)…..(6:04)
Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Rome (Recorded in 1955)
Conductor: Alfredo Simonetto
5. Ich sah das Kind "Parsifal" (Wagner) (Sung In Italian).....(4:44)
Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Rome (Recorded in 1950)
Conductor: Vittorio Gui
6. Ben io T'invenni… "Macbeth" (Verdi).....(7:51)
Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Rome (Recorded in 1952)
Conductor: Oliviero De Fabritiius
7. Regnava a Nei Silenzio "Lucia Di Lammermoor" (Donizetti)…..(8:25)
RIAS Symphony Orchestra Berlin (Recorded in 1955)
Conductor: Herbert von Karajan
8. A Rendetemi La Speme "I Puritani" (Bellini)…..(7:05)
Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Rome (Recorded in 1949)
Conductor: Arturo Basile
9. Dormono entrambi "Norma" (Bellini)…..(8:42)
Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Rome (Recorded in 1955)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin
10. Non sapate quale affetto… "La Traviata"…..(Verdi) (14:14)
Italian Radio Symphony Orchestra Rome (Recorded in 1953)
Conductor: Tullio Serafin

Total Playing Time: 70:30