Since you are interested in Puccini Heroines / Lyric Arias (recorded 1954), here is a list of other items that you may find interesting.
BELLINI
Norma (Complete Opera recorded in 1954) Maria Callas / Mario Filippeschi / Ebe Stignani / Nicola Rossi-Lemeni / Chorus And Orchestra Of La Scala, Milan / Tullio Serafin [ Naxos Historical Great Opera Performances / 3 CD - released 22/Sep/2007 ] "The manner in which Callas colours her voice and the way she moves through the vocal register is very individual and not to every taste. If it is to yours then this Naxos realisation of the 1954 studio recording is in the best sound I have so far... |
GIOACHINO ROSSINI
Rossini: Turco in Italia (complete opera recorded in 1954) Maria Callas / Nicola Rossi-Lemeni / Gianandrea Gavazzeni (Conductor) / Tullio Serafin (Conductor) [ Naxos Historical / CD - released 8/Aug/2006 ] Callas's Fiorilla is the tenth complete opera recording she made, the only one for EMI [Columbia/Angel] that she undertook of a then unknown work, and which she would later sing at La Scala, Milan. |
VERDI
Il Trovatore (complete opera recorded in 1956) Maria Callas, Nicola Zaccaria, Giuseppe di Stefano / Milan La Scala Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan [ Naxos Historical Opera / 2 CD - released 10/Feb/2008 ] Before Maria Callas made this August 1956 recording of Il Trovatore, at La Scala, Milan, she had been singing it often since 1950 and with notable success. Her 1953 Covent Garden performances earned golden opinions. The Times critic considered the... |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Madama Butterfly (Complete opera recorded in 1955) Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Enrico Campi / Milan La Scala Orchestra / Von Karajan (Conductor) [ Naxos Historical Great Operas / 2 CD - released 8/Aug/2006 ] When EMI [Columbia/Angel] recorded Callas as Madama Butterfly in August 1955, she had not yet sung it in the theatre, nor would she ever do so at La Scala, Milan, where it was made and her career based. |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: La Forza Del Destino (complete opera recorded in 1954) Maria Callas, Richard Tucker, Carlo Tagliabue / Chorus and Orchestra of La Scarla, Milan / Tullio Serafin [ Naxos Historical / 3 CD - released 15/Feb/2008 ] "I have compared these extensively with a variety of EMI CD releases-and with original LP releases as well. ...There is a fullness, richness, to the sound here that EMI has missed in virtually all of its attempts." Fanfare |
DONIZETTI
Lucia di Lammermoor (complete opera recorded 1953) Maria Callas (soprano) / Giuseppe di Stefano (tenor) / Tito Gobbi (baritone) / Fiorentino Maggio Musicale / Tullio Serafin [ Naxos Historical Great Operas / 2 CD - released 1/Mar/2005 ] Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor was the first complete recording for EMI that Callas took part in, in February 1953 |
BELLINI
I Puritani (Complete opera) (Recorded April 1953 ) Maria Callas (soprano) Aurora Cattelani (soprano) Carlo Forti (bass) Giuseppe di Stefano (tenor) / Milan La Scala Orchestra / Tullio Serafin (conducto [ Naxos Great Opera Recordings / 2 CD - released 27/Jan/2004 ] "The thrill of hearing Maria Callas launching into Bellini's dramatic arias, replete with vocal acrobatics, is one of opera's great experiences. Recorded in 1953, at the peak of her career, it has that burning and dramatic intensity to carry the disc... |
VERDI
Aida (complete opera) Maria Callas (soprano) / Fedora Barbieri (mezzo) / Richard Tucker (tenor) / Tito Gobbi (baritone) / La Scala Chorus and Orchestra / Tullio Serafin [ Naxos Historical / 2 CD - released 7/Feb/2007 ] Callas' dramatic power and her ability to shade the beautiful vocal line here find the best imaginable medium". In, for example, the opening phrases of the Act III love duet with Radamès, 'Là, tra foreste vergini', her voice has a limpidity which... |
VERDI
Rigoletto (complete opera recorded in 1955) Maria Callas (soprano) / Giuseppe di Stefano (tenor) / Tito Gobbi (baritone) / La Scala Chorus and Orchestra / Tullio Serafin [ Naxos Historical Opera / 2 CD - released 7/Feb/2007 ] "..the performance, it is that of Tito Gobbi as Rigoletto that defines it as one of recorded operas must haves. The role of Rigoletto is one of the most profoundly human of Verdi's creations. His character is defined in the music of the great duets... |
RUGGERO LEONCAVALLO
Leoncavallo: I Pagliacci (Complete opera recorded in 1954) Maria Callas / Tito Gobbi / Giuseppe di Stefano / Milan La Scala Orchestra / Tullio Serafin (Conductor) [ Naxos Historical / CD - released 29/Jul/2006 ] This recording of Pagliacci was made by EMI at La Scala, Milan in June 1954, some eight months after Cavalleria rusticana, and first published in April 1955. |