Spontini: La Vestale (complete opera remastered recorded live 1954)

The central character in La Vestale, as in Norma, is a priestess who transgresses her holy vows for love. Spontini's nobly-conceived opera, composed for Paris in the Napoleonic era, brought Callas' first collaboration on a new production with the great director Luchino Visconti, who described her as "the greatest tragedienne since Duse" (Eleonora Duse, 1858-1924,the legendary Italian actress). Callas was joined in the cast by Franco Corelli and Ebe Stignani, and Arturo Toscanini was a member of the audience that witnessed her triumph in the role of Giulia at the first night at La Scala.