Maria Callas' last great Bel Canto Recital
Emma de Soleil | On a holiday In Ibiza, then back to the UK for stu | 06/01/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
""Possibly the best solo-record that Callas has made!" Harold Rosenthal wrote on this landmark of a recording. What do the other experts say? "If asked to name one record which contains the essence of her genius I should be inclined to choose her recent disc of Mad Scenes." (Desmond Shawe Taylor) "If anyone were ever to have any doubts about Callas' genius, her record of Mad Scenes would surely be the one to sweep them away!" (Milnes in "OPERA") And so forth... This recital was recorded in 1958, the same time her Verdi Arias I comes from. It finds Callas is stunning voice. The recitatives of Imogene's Mad Scenes are illuminated brilliantly, with dark, vivid colours and impeccable vocalisation, diction and phrasing. Here truly no flaw can be found, even the famous "wobble" cannot be heard on the long Bellinian lines (Such as "L'implooooooooro"). The "Col sorriso d'innocenza" is done beautifully. And the cabaletta is dramatic coloratura singing at its very best crowned with a blazing topnote. The Anna Bolena is absolutely breathtaking, even better than her own live-performances in concert (57) and on stage (57 as well). She sings exquisite trills, a flawless legato in "Al dolce guidami" and the "Coppia iniqua" is red-hot and exciting. We have a recording of Ophelie's Mad Scene by Callas in Italian, the one here is in French. (The Italian recording is stunning) Callas finds moving, light colours for Hamlet's dying lover. While Joan Sutherland vocalized it better, it is Callas who takes the crown for bring Ophelie to life. Still, Sutherland's recording of this scene is one of the brightest jewels in her discography. This Mad Scenes Album, conducted by Rescigno, not only started a "trend" followed later by the likes of Sutherland and Gruberova but stands at the end of the career of Callas when it comes to Bel Canto. Essential in every way."
Madness!
The Cultural Observer | 03/06/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"That's all I can say when I describe this essential Callas recital. If there were indeed a voice that can convey madness and love and sadness all in one streamlined interpretation, along with an honest timbre that could effectively EXPRESS these even more, that would be the voice of Maria Anna Sophia Cecilia Kalogeropoulos, known to the world as La Divina Maria Callas. This recital, conducted in 1958 with Nicola Rescigno when her voice was still at its prime, showcases three mad scenes from Bellini's Il Pirata, Donizetti's Anna Bolena, and Ambrose's Hamlet. And in each mad scene, you can hear the voice of Imogene, Anna Boleyn, and Ophelie imploring its listeners to listen and to take pity on them for their misfortune. Callas breathes life into these characters with her special interpretive magic, and if you listen closely, you will find that she is unrivaled in her interpretations of this art. Although Joan Sutherland and many others (even today's Renee Fleming) have attempted this extremely complex music, none of them have achieved the accuracy and precision of Callas' reading of the characters. Listen to Imogene, and find out why she sings her lines out so strongly when she discovers her lover's imminent death. Her Anna Bolena is the staple on which succeeding Anna Bolena's are based on, and her Ophelie is sublime. Although the U.S. edition is now out of print, this can be bought from this beautifully made Japanese Toshiba-EMI edition with the LP style slipcase. Truly a work of art--both for the cover and Callas' great interpretation. If you simply want florid singing and high notes, look to other singers for their versions of these scenes (not that there are many, for these operas are rarely performed today). But, if you want to hear the voices of these heroines, look to this recital in order to sympathize with the composer's intentions for his ladies."
Best Bel Canto Compilation in best sound
Operísimo | San Francisco, California United States | 08/11/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is undoubtedly a gem for ALL Callas fans and ALL bel canto lovers.
The big plus: the sound of this Japanese pressing is supberb, far better than the European pressing.
Don't hesitate to get your copy!"
Track Listings (3) - Disc #1