VERY BEST OF MARIA CALLAS (DIGITAL DOWNLOAD)

These recordings reflect the best choices from many for a single disc of ‘La Divina’. “These are (mainly) recordings from the 1950’s when the voice was still in fine condition and the artistry at its most magnetic” (Penguin Guide)

1. Casta diva (Norma:Bellini:Romani) – 5.35
2. Qui la voce (I Puritani:Bellini:Pepoli) – 4.42
Orchestra of RAI, Turin conducted by Arturo Basile, 1949
3. Ah non credea mirarti (La Sonnambulla:Bellini:Romani) – 4.49
with Nicola Monti, La Scala, Milan / Antonino Votto, 1957
4. Mad scene (Final section):Spargi d’amaro pianto – 4.10
(Lucia di Lammermoor:Donizetti:Cammarano)
Orchestra of RIAS, Berlin / Herbert von Karajan, 1955
5. D’amore al dolce impero (Armida:Rossini:Schmidt)– 6.40
Orchestra of RAI San Remo / Alfredo Simonetto, 1954
6. Anch’io dischiuso (Nabucco:Verdi:Solera) – 8.15
7. Vieni! t’affretta (Macbeth:Verdi:Piave & Maffei) – 6.06
Orchestra of RAI Turin / Oliviero de Fabritiis, 1952
8. Ah fors’ e lui.. sempre libera with Cesare Valetti (La Traviata:Verdi:Piave) 9.31
9. Addio del passato (La Traviata:Verdi:Piave) – 4.15
Orchestra of Royal Opera House, Covent Garden / Nicola Rescigno, 1958
10. Suicidio ! (La Gioconda:Ponchielli:Gorrio)– 4.18
Orchestra of La Scala, Milan / Antonino Votto, 1959
11. Mon coeur s’ouvre à ta voix (Samson et Dalila:Saint-Saens:Lemaire)– 5.15
French National Radio Orchestra conducted by Georges Pretre, 1961
12. Ebben? ne andro lontano(La Wally:Catalani:Illica) – 4.53
Philharmonia Orchestra / Tullio Serafin, 1954
13. Un bel di vedremo (Madama Butterfly:Puccini:Giacosa & Illica)– 4.43
Orchestra of La Scala, Milan / Herbert von Karajan, 1955
14. Vissi d’arte (Tosca:Puccini:Giacosa & Illica)– 3.15
Orchestra of La Scala, Milan / Victor de Sabata, 1953