Maria Callas - The Complete Studio Recordings The Original Jacket Collection

Wonderful remastering - incredible performances. As no disc listing is included in the otherwise excellent package, here follows a list of the discs chronologically by recording dates.Disc Title Disc # Work Conductor Composer Date Rec Orchestra~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~First Recording 825646340040 I puritani, aria(s) Arturo Basile Bellini Nov-49 Italian Radio, TurinFirst Recording 825646340040 Norma, aria(s) Arturo Basile Bellini Nov-49 Italian Radio, TurinFirst Recording 825646340040 Tristan und Isolde, aria(s) Arturo Basile Wagner Nov-49 Italian Radio, TurinLa Gioconda 825646341085 La Gioconda - full opera Antonino Votto Ponchielli Sep-52 Italian Radio, TurinLucia di Lammermoor 825646341092 Lucia di Lammermoor - full opera Tullio Serafin Donizetti Feb-53 Florence MaggioI puritani 825646341184 I puritani - full opera Tullio Serafin Bellini Mar-53 La ScalaTosca 825646341030 Tosca - full opera Victor De Sabata Puccini Aug-53 La ScalaLa traviata 825646340859 La traviata - full opera Gabriele Santini Verdi Sep-53 Italian Radio, TurinCavalleria Rusticana 825646340903 Cavalleria Rusticana - full opera Tullio Serafin Mascagni 1953 La ScalaNorma 825646341115 Norma - full opera Tullio Serafin Bellini Apr-54 La ScalaI Pagliacci 825646340910 I Pagliacci - full opera Tullio Serafin Leoncavallo Jun-54 La ScalaLa forza del destino 825646340002 La forza del destino - full opera Tullio Serafin Verdi Aug-54 La ScalaIl turco in Italia 825646340880 Il turco in Italia - full opera G. Gavazzeni Rossini 1954 La ScalaPuccini Arias 825646340170 Manon Lescaut, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Puccini 1954 PhilharmoniaPuccini Arias 825646340170 Madama Butterfly, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Puccini 1954 PhilharmoniaPuccini Arias 825646340170 La Bohème, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Puccini 1954 PhilharmoniaPuccini Arias 825646340170 Suor Angelica, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Puccini 1954 PhilharmoniaPuccini Arias 825646340170 Gianni Schicchi, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Puccini 1954 PhilharmoniaPuccini Arias 825646340170 Turandot, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Puccini 1954 PhilharmoniaLyric & Coloratura 825646340132 Adriana Lecouvreur, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Cilèa 1954 PhilharmoniaLyric & Coloratura 825646340132 Andrea Chénier, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Giordano 1954 PhilharmoniaLyric & Coloratura 825646340132 La Wally, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Catalani 1954 PhilharmoniaLyric & Coloratura 825646340132 Mefistofele, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Boito 1954 PhilharmoniaLyric & Coloratura 825646340132 "Dinorah", aria(s) Tullio Serafin Meyerbeer 1954 PhilharmoniaLyric & Coloratura 825646340132 Lakmé, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Delibes 1954 PhilharmoniaLyric & Coloratura 825646340132 I vespri siciliani, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Verdi 1954 PhilharmoniaLyric & Coloratura 825646340132 Il barbiere di Siviglia, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Rossini 1954 PhilharmoniaCallas at La Scala 825646340125 Medea, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Cherubini 1955 La ScalaCallas at La Scala 825646340125 La Vestale, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Spontini 1955 La ScalaCallas at La Scala 825646340125 La sonnambula, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Bellini 1955 La ScalaMadama Butterfly 825646340996 Madama Butterfly - full opera Herbert v Karajan Puccini Aug-55 La ScalaAida 825646340972 Aida - full opera Tullio Serafin Verdi Aug-55 La ScalaRigoletto 825646340958 Rigoletto - full opera Tullio Serafin Verdi Sep-55 La ScalaIl trovatore 825646340941 Il trovatore - full opera Herbert v Karajan Verdi Aug-56 La ScalaLa Bohème 825646341078 La Bohème - full opera Antonino Votto Puccini 1956 La ScalaUn ballo in maschera 825646340873 Un ballo in maschera - full opera Antonino Votto Verdi Sep-56 La ScalaIl barbiere di Siviglia 825646340897 Il barbiere di Siviglia - full opera Alceo Galliera Rossini 1957 PhilharmoniaLa sonnambula 825646341146 La sonnambula - full opera Antonino Votto Bellini Mar-57 La ScalaTurandot 825646341009 Turandot - full opera Tullio Serafin Puccini Jul-57 La ScalaManon Lescaut 825646340989 Manon Lescaut - full opera Tullio Serafin Puccini Jul-57 La ScalaMedea 825646340835 Medea - full opera Tullio Serafin Cherubini Sep-57 La ScalaVerdi Arias I 825646340156 Macbeth, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1958 PhilharmoniaVerdi Arias I 825646340156 Nabucco, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1958 PhilharmoniaVerdi Arias I 825646340156 Ernani, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1958 PhilharmoniaVerdi Arias I 825646340156 Don Carlos, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1958 PhilharmoniaMad Scenes 825646340149 Anna Bolena, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Donizetti Sep-58 PhilharmoniaMad Scenes 825646340149 Hamlet, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Thomas Sep-58 PhilharmoniaMad Scenes 825646340149 Il pirata, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Bellini Sep-58 PhilharmoniaLucia di Lammermoor 825646340811 Lucia di Lammermoor - full opera Tullio Serafin Donizetti Mar-59 PhilharmoniaLa Gioconda 825646340804 La Gioconda - full opera Antonino Votto Ponchielli Sep-59 La ScalaNorma 825646340842 Norma - full opera Tullio Serafin Bellini Sep-60 La ScalaCallas à Paris I 825646340088 Orfeo ed Euridice, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Gluck 1961 French National RadioCallas à Paris I 825646340088 Alceste, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Gluck 1961 French National RadioCallas à Paris I 825646340088 Carmen, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Bizet 1961 French National RadioCallas à Paris I 825646340088 Samson et Dalila, Op. 47, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Saint-Saëns 1961 French National RadioCallas à Paris I 825646340088 Roméo et Juliette, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Gounod 1961 French National RadioCallas à Paris I 825646340088 Mignon, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Thomas 1961 French National RadioCallas à Paris I 825646340088 Le Cid, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Massenet 1961 French National RadioCallas à Paris I 825646340088 Louise, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Charpentier 1961 French National RadioCallas à Paris II 825646340026 Iphigénie en Tauride, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Gluck 1963 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisCallas à Paris II 825646340026 La damnation de Faust, Op. 24, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Berlioz 1963 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisCallas à Paris II 825646340026 Les pêcheurs de perles, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Bizet 1963 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisCallas à Paris II 825646340026 Manon, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Massenet 1963 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisCallas à Paris II 825646340026 Werther, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Massenet 1963 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisCallas à Paris II 825646340026 Faust, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Gounod 1963 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisMozart, etc. Arias 825646340101 Op. 65, lieder Nicola Rescigno Beethoven 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisMozart, etc. Arias 825646340101 Oberon, J 306, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Weber 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisMozart, etc. Arias 825646340101 Le nozze di Figaro, K 492, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Mozart 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisMozart, etc. Arias 825646340101 Don Giovanni, K 527, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Mozart 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias II 825646340071 Otello, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias II 825646340071 Aroldo, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias II 825646340071 Don Carlos, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias II 825646340071 Aroldo, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisRossini & Donizetti 825646340095 La fille du régiment, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Donizetti 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisRossini & Donizetti 825646340095 Lucrezia Borgia, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Donizetti 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisRossini & Donizetti 825646340095 L'Elisir d'Amore, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Donizetti 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisRossini & Donizetti 825646340095 La Cenerentola, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Rossini 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisRossini & Donizetti 825646340095 Guillaume Tell, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Rossini 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisRossini & Donizetti 825646340095 Semiramide, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Rossini 1963-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisCarmen 825646341108 Carmen - full opera Georges Prêtre Bizet Jul-64 Paris OperaTosca 825646340798 Tosca - full opera Georges Prêtre Puccini Dec-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias III 825646340019 I lombardi, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1964-65 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias III 825646340019 Attila, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi Apr-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias III 825646340019 Il corsaro, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1969 Paris OperaVerdi Arias III 825646340019 Il trovatore, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1964-65 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias III 825646340019 I vespri siciliani, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1964-65 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias III 825646340019 Un ballo in maschera, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1964 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisVerdi Arias III 825646340019 Aida, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi Apr-64 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisRarities 825646340033 Don Giovanni, K 527, aria(s) Tullio Serafin Mozart 1953 Florence Maggio MusicaleRarities 825646340033 Macbeth, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1953 PhilharmoniaRarities 825646340033 I vespri siciliani, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1960,61 Paris OperaRarities 825646340033 Lucrezia Borgia, aria(s) Antonio Tonini Donizetti 1960,61 PhilharmoniaRarities 825646340033 Il pirata, aria(s) Antonio Tonini Bellini 1960,61 PhilharmoniaRarities 825646340033 Don Carlos, aria(s) Antonio Tonini Verdi 1962 PhilharmoniaRarities 825646340033 Oberon, J 306, aria(s) Antonio Tonini Weber 1962 PhilharmoniaRarities 825646340033 Aida, aria(s) Georges Prêtre Verdi 1964 Paris OperaRarities 825646340033 I lombardi, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1964 Paris OperaRarities 825646340033 Il trovatore, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1964 Orch. Soc. Cons. ParisRarities 825646340033 Attila, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1969 Paris OperaRarities 825646340033 Semiramide, aria(s) Antonio Tonini Rossini 1960,61 PhilharmoniaRarities 825646340033 Guillaume Tell, aria(s) Antonio Tonini Rossini 1960,61 PhilharmoniaRarities 825646340033 La Cenerentola, aria(s) Antonio Tonini Rossini 1962 PhilharmoniaRarities 825646340033 I vespri siciliani, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1969 Paris OperaRarities 825646340033 I lombardi, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1969 Paris OperaRarities 825646340033 Il corsaro, aria(s) Nicola Rescigno Verdi 1969 Paris Opera

Maria Callas simply refuses to be forgotten. And deservedly so. Her ghost hovers over opera today as brightly as she herself reigned over it during her relatively brief lifetime. She was a trail blazer. Flamboyant, sometimes combative, sometimes at the storm center of operatic controversy, she continued to stand as the most awesome and electrifying opera diva of the Twentieth Century. Hers was a voice that initially didn't fall easily on many ears, yet she was addictive because she was so artistically persuasive, so musically intelligent, and so dramatically compelling. No, her voice was not a conventionally beautiful one, but it was a voice that accomplished feats that no other artist could come within miles of. In her early and prime years, her operatic repertoire encompassed roles that spanned the entire soprano repertoire. She was endowed with a three octave range which enabled her to perform such diverse roles as Turandot, Rosina, Traviata, Lucia, Lady Macbeth, Sonnambula, Leonora in "Trovatore" and everything else in between. She sang performed and recorded the "bread and butter" repertoire like Butterfly, Tosca, Aida, Santuzza, Nedda, Leonora in "Forza del Destino", "La Gioconda", "Manon Lescaut", and Gilda in "Rigoletto"; her interpretative and vocal gifts enabled to put back into currency operas that hadn't been heard in over a century ----------- operas like Medea, Iphegine en Tauride, Il Turco in Italia, etc. And most importantly, she discovered the dramatic elements in the bel canto operas like I Puritani, La Sonnambula, Puritani, Armida, Anna Bolena, Il Pirata, etc. Her Lady Macbeth, Gioconda, and Elena in Verdi's "I Vespri Sicilani", were a relevation, and finally, her Norma stood as her signature role for the duration of her career. Callas was a singing shark. She was essentially a Dramatic Soprano who had the ability to negotiate the most technically difficult and intricate florid music ever written. She even performed and recorded Puccini's Turandot. She had the ability to act with her voice that left her audiences confounded and astonished. The actual voice itself was for some, an acquired taste, but it was a voice that wore thousands of colors, nuances, emotions, and feelings. Callas had a way of "pulling you" into any opera she was singing, sometimes against your will, but there so much richness, insight, and interpretative genius here, that she was able to take her vocal flaws and turn them into assets. She remains to this day the beacon of Italian Opera in the Twentieth Century. This magnificent and elegant box preserves virtually all of Maria Callas' studio recordings from 1949 to 1969. It's all here in a sort of "mini library". The packaging is first class, with the recordings pictured with the original cover artwork. It is complemented by a beautiful black book with glossy pages that contain never-before seen photos of Callas at work. Warners has done the greatest job in putting these recordings through an amazing remastering process, and in every instance, the recordings sound as though they were recorded yesterday. The packaging is simply perfect (NOT done "on the cheap", but on the classy!). Callas deserves this tribute, and it's long overdue. The 1997 EMI remastered sets cannot begin to compare with the remastering done here. Whether you are a Callas person or not, you need this recording to show you what opera is all about. Truly, it should not be passed over.

Para los amantes de Callas, colección con todas sus obras grabadas en estudio incluidas, el sonido es estremecedor. El estuche es bonito, contiene un libro y los CD.

Il cofanetto è eccellente per il contenuto: sia per le registrazioni (ovvio!) che per il remastering.E’ ottimo anche il cofanetto stesso, elegante e robusto. Le buste sono belle e pratiche, il libro è interessante e ben rilegato.Peccato che il tutto sia tanto - troppo - voluminoso… Il libro non serve per la ricerca o l’ascolto dei CD, quindi non dovrebbe essere all’interno del cofanetto. La presentazione dei CD su un piano inclinato non è veramente utile, secondo me serve solo a giustificare l’altezza esagerata del cofanetto.Quindi ho provato modificare il cofanetto per ridurlo a dimensioni quasi standard: altezza 15cm, la stessa altezza dei cofanetti Sony Vivarte.Non consiglio a nessuno la modifica, ma credo che la mia esperienza può essere utile a chi vorrà tentare un’operazione simile.Ho staccato le due scatoline interne che contengono i CD: con un coltello sottile si lasciano estrarre senza fare danni. Le ho inserite nuovamente, ma ruotate di 90º: entrano perfettamente. Ora il cofanetto può accogliere un maggior numero di CD!Avendo già 6 opere live nell’edizione EMI 1997, ho ricavato dalle custodie esterne in cartoncino altrettante bustine con le stesse dimensioni di quelle contenute nel cofanetto (126x126mm).E’ rimasto ancora dello spazio disponibile, quindi ho aggiunto i 15 CD dell’edizione Montserrat Caballé original jackets.Infine ho tagliato una parte del coperchio riducendone l’altezza a 146mm, poi ho levigato il taglio e l’ho dipinto in rosso.Risultato: un cofanetto più compatto e maneggevole che ora contiene 97 CD: i 70 originali + 12 live + 15 Caballé.

The CDs sound great (of course they do). Bonus was how well it was packed. I thought that maybe on its long journey from the other side of the world there would be some small dings, but it arrived well-padded and in perfect condition.

Warnerのリマスタリングはいい。音に色付けしてきれいにみせないのがいい。EMIのマスタリングよりナチュラルだ。

L'ultime coffret de la grande Callas. Remasterisation extrêmement bien réussie, à vous donner la chair de poule. Enfin un produit digne de la Prima Donna, de très haute qualité avec une présentation superbe. À se procurer sans hésitations surtout que la qualité-prix est formidable. Malheureusement, pour les sentimentaux, vous allez vouloir vous débarrasser de votre ancienne collection Callas. Merveilleux produit livré à échéance et en bonne condition.