Search - Giacomo Puccini, Guido Picco, Victor De Sabata :: My First Tosca

The album features highlights from Tosca, one of the most famous roles of Maria Callas, as recorded 1950-1953 in various venues, including her very first documents of the part. The 1950 and 1952 recordings are live from Mexico City, then extensive highlights from the classic 1953 studio recording, still considered one of the greatest opera recordings ever made, co-starring Giuseppe di Stefano and Tito Gobbi, with Victor de Sabata conducting. Remastered with the Cedar Sound System. The special feature of this release is the extensive booklet showing color photos of the traveling exhibition Maria Callas & Swarovski on Stage, a must for all Callas collectors. On August 2, 1947 (the date of her successful debut in Italy in La Gioconda at the Arena di Verona), Maria Callas wore for the first time a piece of jewelry made in the Atelier Marangoni using Swarovski crystals. This exhibition consists of a unique collection of ornate jewelry from the period 1947 to 196! 0. Every piece has a close, personal connection with Maria Callas. Callas relied almost exclusively on the craftsmanship of the Atelier Marangoni for her stage jewelry. On the basis of sketches by major directors such as Franco Zeffirelli and Luchino Visconti or famous costume designers such as Lila de Nobili, Marangoni created extraordinary works of art, which, despite having a sparkling life of their own, did not detract from the performances of the great opera singer. Marangoni used only Swarovski crystal gemstones in his jewelry on specific demand of the "Divina". Swarovski acquired the Atelier Marangoni in 1999, and thus prevented the collection of Maria Callas?s stage jewelry from being dispersed all around the world.