Maria Callas: Opera Arias, Maria Callas, Francisco Cilea, Alfredo Catalini, Luigi Cherubini, Giacomo Meyerbeer, Leo Delibes, Tullio Serafin, London Philharmonic Orchestra, La Scala Theater Orchestra

Callas – Opera Arias / EMI Classics Audio CD Mono / CDC 7 47282 2 UPC 077774728225 /// Maria Callas Commendatore OMRI (December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977) was an American-born Greek soprano who was one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century. Many critics praised her bel canto technique, wide-ranging voice and dramatic interpretations. Her repertoire ranged from classical opera seria to the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini and Rossini and, further, to the works of Verdi and Puccini; and, in her early career, to the music dramas of Wagner. Her musical and dramatic talents led to her being hailed as La Divina ("the Divine one"). Born in Manhattan, New York City, to Greek immigrant parents, she was raised by an overbearing mother who had wanted a son. Maria received her musical education in Greece at age 13 and later established her career in Italy. Forced to deal with the exigencies of 1940s wartime poverty and with near-sightedness that left her nearly blind onstage, she endured struggles and scandal over the course of her career. She notably underwent a mid-career weight loss, which might have contributed to her vocal decline and the premature end of her career. The press exulted in publicizing Callas's temperamental behavior, her supposed rivalry with Renata Tebaldi and her love affair with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis. Although her dramatic life and personal tragedy have often overshadowed Callas the artist in the popular press, her artistic achievements were such that Leonard Bernstein called her "the Bible of opera" and her influence so enduring that, in 2006, Opera News wrote of her: "Nearly thirty years after her death, she's still the definition of the diva as artist—and still one of classical music's best-selling vocalists." /// Label: EMI Classics – CDC 7 47282 2 Format: CD, Compilation, Mono Country: UK Released: Genre: Classical Style: Opera /// Tracklist: Adriana Lecouvreur 1 Ecco: respiro appena ... Io son l'umile ancella (Atto I) Composed By – Francesco Cilea 3:43 2 Poveri fiori (Atto IV) Composed By – Francesco Cilea 3:09 Andrea Chénier 3 La mamma morta (Atto III) Composed By – Umberto Giordano 4:48 La Wally 4 Ebben? Ne andrò lontana (Atto I) Composed By – Alfredo Catalani 4:46 Mefistofele 5 L'altra notte in fondo al mare (Atto III) Composed By – Arrigo Boito 7:23 Il Barbiere di Siviglia 6 Una voce poco fa (Atto I) Composed By – Gioacchino Rossini 6:48 Dinorah 7 Ombra leggiera (Atto II) (Shadow Song / Schattenarie / Air de l'ombre) Composed By – Giacomo Meyerbeer 5:39 Lakmé 8 Dov' è l'indiana bruna? (Atto II) (Bell Song / Glockenarie / Air de la clochette) Composed By – Léo Delibes 8:08 I vespri siciliani 9 Mercè, dilette amiche (Atto V) Composed By – Giuseppe Verdi 3:56 Medea 10 Dei tuoi figli (Atto I) Composed By – Luigi Cherubini 4:44 La vestale 11 Tu che invoco (Atto II) Composed By – Gaspare Spontini 10:46 12 O nume tutelar (Atto II) 2:25 13 Caro oggetto (Atto III) 3:40 Conductor – Tullio Serafin Orchestra – Orchestra del Teatro Alla Scala Producer – Walter Jellinek (tracks: 10 – 13), Walter Legge (tracks: 1 – 9) Soprano Vocals – Maria Callas