Track Listing

1. Casta Diva - Bellini: Norma
2. Ebben? ne andrò lontana - Catalani: La Wally
3. O mio babbino caro - Puccini: Gianni Schicchi
4. La mamma morta - Giordano: Andrea Chénier
5. Vissi d'arte - Puccini: Tosca
6. Un bel dì vedremo - Puccini: Madama Butterfly
7. Sì. Mi chiamano Mimì - Puccini: La bohème
8. Donde lieta uscì - Puccini: La bohème
9. Ah, fors'è lui - Verdi: La traviata
10. Addio, del passato - Verdi: La traviata
11. J'ai perdu mon Eurydice - Gluck: Orphée et Eurydice
12. Mon coeur s'ouvre à ta voix - Saint-Saëns: Samson et Dalila
13. Habanera - Bizet: Carmen
14. Seguidilla - Bizet: Carmen
15. Gypsy song - Bizet: Carmen
16. Una voce poco fa - Rossini: Il barbiere di Siviglia
17. Spargi d'amaro pianto - Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #24655 in Music
• Released on: 2000-10-30
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 74 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
The voice of Maria Callas has found its way into the most unlikely nooks and crannies of the film and television industry. One recording was the inspiration for a rather overheated scene in the film Philadelphia, and she's also been roped in to sell drinks and cars (the Ford Mondeo). This compilation capitalises on this new aspect of her fame, and includes the film and advert recordings. But it also--rather cannily--includes music (not originally sung by her) which has become famous through the same celluloid and cathode routes. Thus "O mio babbino caro", which was sung by Kiri te Kanawa in A Room With a View and, "Ebben? ne andrò lontana" sung by Wilhemina Wiggins in the film Diva are here given the Callas treatment. And what a treatment--the unmistakable voice, the intensity, the impeccable phrasing, the drama, the intelligence, the technique--it's all here, so just listen and marvel. (And there are also some glorious shots of Callas to keep you drooling while you do.) A treat. --Warwick Thompson

Customer Reviews

Absolute Perfection
I'm a rock and blues fan by nature, but when I first heard Maria Callas a few years back I new there was something more to life than the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton and the Beatles. This woman has the voice of an Angel. Her voice is so strong, full of clarity, depth, soul and emotion. I defy anyone with at least a tiny piece of emotion in their soul not to be moved (possibly to tears) by this wonderful voice, the likes of which, I will probably never hear again in my lifetime.
I don't know anything about classical music or opera but I urge anyone who likes good music to go out and buy this CD and just enjoy it for what it is - absolute perfection!

Another Fitting Tribute To A Great Voice
It seems somewhat bizarre to realise the fact but out there is a new opera-loving generation who has not been fortunate to hear the unmistakeable voice of Maria Callas in the heyday of her long and sometimes erratic career. This CD, however should redress the balance somewhat. From the earliest recordings through to the years at the New York Met Callas' voice shone like a brilliant diamond and many previous interpretations on vinyl did not do anything like full justice to her remarkable talent. Digital technology, thankfully, has given us an inkling of her true timbre and control from the Casta Diva aria from Bellini's Norma - a role which Callas soon adopted as her own property - through to the final track, another atypical role, Spargia d'amaro Pianto from Lucia di Lammermoor. Her voice soars and glides in the latter with every note bursting with unbearable emotion. It is very easy, and proudly justifiable, to find tears brimming when you hear singing of this quality. Other tracks of note for this reviewer include La Mamma Morta from Giordano's Andrea Chenier and a stunningle awe-inspiring rendition of Vissi d'Arte from Tosca, to my mind one of Puccini's most artistic arias for soprano. If you only buy one opera CD a year then make this THE one, if you are anxiously waiting for the next release from Angela Gheorghiu or Cecilia Bartoli then give yourself a break and wallow in the finest voice ever to grace an opera stage.

The Voice of the Century
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this particular soprano was the voice of the century. There is no one then or alive today that could do it all. Where else where could you find on one solo recording the Mad Scene of Lucia with all the notes, a heart breaking Tosca portrayl, and a intense demon like Carmen sung? No less with great interpretation? This recording in digital renhancement is a must for any who are intrigued by the Opera myths and secret treasures of what the art holds. There has been only one star of Opera the world has seen and that is THE voice of the century in the name Maria Callas. Buy it now and sit back and get ready. Need I say more?