Bellini: Norma [1960 Studio]

by Maria Callas, Tullio Serafin, Franco Corelli, La Scala Theater Orchestra

Overview

Maria Callas performed Bellini's Norma almost 90 times, and a 1954 live recording captured the spine-tingling quality her voice had at its best. Yet the BBC, assembling its list of the 50 greatest classical recordings of all time, included not the 1954 recording nor any of the other great Normas of the day (it was in reference to her Norma that Luciano Pavarotti called Joan Sutherland the greatest female singer of all time), but this 1960 studio version of a La Scala production, with Callas in somewhat diminished voice. It was one of two Callas recordings to make the list. Ultimately, arguing about greatest operatic performances is on par with picking fantasy sports teams, but a bit of sampling will reveal what the BBC liked about this version. There is something immensely appealing about hearing the great queen surrounded by a court of singers who are indeed in top voice, led by Franco Corelli, Christa Ludwig, and Edda Vincenzi. There is the pitch of tension maintained throughout by veteran conductor Tullio Serafin and his La Scala musicians and choristers, especially important in this opera where both have a lot to do and were taking on new importance. This recording has circulated in various forms, but the BBC heard the remastering by Warner Classics, which made the 1960 engineers sound like a million bucks. Finally, and most importantly, there was the diva Callas herself, replacing vocal steel with dramatic sense and long lines. Sample the famed aria "Casta diva," with its curiously rounded pronunciation of the word "casta"; the line is set up to bloom as the aria proceeds. Listeners are, of course, free to choose their favorite Norma because there have been a lot of great ones, and the opera continues to make new ones no matter how fashions change, but here is one that can stand with any of them. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	04/21/2023
Label:	Warner Classics
UPC:	5054197344633
Rank:	64477

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Maria Callas   Primary Artist,Vocals
Tullio Serafin   Primary Artist,Conductor
Franco Corelli   Primary Artist,Vocals
La Scala Theater Orchestra   Primary Artist,Orchestra
Christa Ludwig   Vocals
La Scala Theater Chorus   Choir/Chorus
La Scala Theater Orchestra & Chorus   Choir/Chorus
Edda Vincenzi   Vocals
Nicola Zaccaria   Vocals
Piero de Palma   Vocals

Technical Credits

Vincenzo Bellini   Composer
Walter Legge   Producer
Walter Jellinek   Producer
Andrew Walter   Digital Remastering
Georgina Ward   Design
Robert J. Gooch   Balance Engineer
Michel Parouty   Liner Notes
John B. Steane   Liner Notes
Hugh Graham   Translation