Callas & Di Stefano in duet from Mascagni's Cavalleria

[JackRance1910]

Excellent. Whatever their "problems" (and I was there) this was a "classical" heartfelt performance...

[pitylima]

What's the name of this aria?

[DanBarthy]

@pitylima This duetto is "tu qui santuzza" .

Hug

[pitylima]

OMG this is so intense, I'm sure that not many opera singers can get even close to a performance like this, even in their prime.

[88VIKIGNS55]

For me it is quite complicate to state out who has been the Best Tenor, up to now; I bought years ago a compilation of the best 40 Tenors ever, in order to better take a decision; I like most Guiseppe Di Stefano.

[lord8busy]

in this video her voice didnt was in her better moment

[jacquesurlus]

Two great artists in the twilight of their careers.

Maria in the twilight of his life, it may be blessed, Thank you Maria and Giuseppe, R.I.P.

Respect!

[intelegentable]

This is not the Callas of the Glory days or Di Stefano at his legendary best.Yes they may be past their vocal prime but they are artist of the first magnitude, with decades of experience,and the highest artistic achievements, the spark of aristic genius.and loads of dramatic flair.there are still wonderful tones in the voices and a valuable lesson in approaching this music. Show some respect f or these artist who lived for their art.

[operfanpadova]

Erano entrambi vocalmente distrutti, però ai nostri giorni anche con cantanti giovani è dura uguagliarli.....che tristezza. Di stefano sbaglia il testo, poi che urlacci veristi! invece la callas ha sempre un gusto interpretativo impeccabile, soprrattutto in "a te la mala pasqua", di solito un campionario di urla da maiale sgozzato!!!

[VforVespa]

Even if they "can't sing as they used to " as some fools keep saying in here, I see emotions and interpretation that today's singers lack of.

[bernalor1]

Callas and DeStevano, two of the greatest artists of an age that will never be again.

[bernalor1]

Who it was that remarked " they need singing lessons" is a fool!

[toniglos]

Ilusad hääled, kenasti lauldud aga esitus on raskepärane. Kaasaja meistrid esitavad paremini.

[URLy2Rise]

Yet when at the end Turiddu finally gets his, it's treated as tragedy. Well, he won't be paying child support, so in that sense, yes. Otherwise, bon débarras!

[josedubal11]

wow this is great and i´m not a Mme. Callas fan.

[mdellavalle]

what an idiot, empty comment. Poor you not poor Callas!

[quetzalcoatl2870]

I can't believe it, we are writing some nasty comments about the greatest singers, and maybe we sing opera may we do not. just enjoy these masters!!

[Flouridis]

Even without the glorious voice in the end of her life everybody remembers Callas as the Best Opera singer Ever! Advices like she should quit....Belongs to my recycle bin. Glad to be Greek! Glad we offer Callas to the rest of the Globe!

[venetianformula]

Poor Callas. She should have quit while she was ahead. Better to exit while you're still in relatively good voice instead of making a fool of yourself. I guess vanity went to her head. 

[Aspett0]

@venetianformula No, not vanity. She wanted to prove herself that she was still capable to be a great Opera Singer, to be La Callas that she used to be in the 50's. But when she realized she could not do it, she felt she was betraying herself and Music, so she stopped singing and eventually, she stopped living.

Callas once told her friend mezzo soprano Giuletta Simionato "Remember that Maria Callas started to die when she gave up Music." There was no vanity in what she did.

[alexgomez2]

@venetianformula - I don't know what you mean with "relatively good voice". Callas is in great vocal shape in this video. Maybe she opens more her lower register for resonance but I don't find it offensive as most mezzos do it. Callas being a soprano is far more justified to use her chest voice in that lower register. As far as her high register, her resonance right on "the mask" is just perfect. Please elaborate as to what do you mean. I don't concur with you in your "poor callas" assessment.

[alexgomez2]

Wow! Incredible stuff! Just forget he singing, the passion these two sang with was just amazing. Maria's facial expressions and body language is still unsurpassed. Certainly none of them was at his/her prime vocally but I don't care, they were an amazing stage couple who combined great singing with amazing acting. They were the creators of the modern Singing Actor movement to what many modern opera singers, subscribe. Thank you for this video which I view complete for the first time!

[gustavojoris]

Thanks for uploading this!

[hithereisme]

Beautiful!! It really moved me to tears. Is fantastic when the beauty of art can provoke this reaction. I love it!

[MrAndresaputra]

because she is Callas. yahhh this is maria callas,my best diva.

[MegaEugenial]

María es mágica

[MegaEugenial]

María es mágica

[maferreira1984]

Woah, Di Stefano sounds like Domingo here!

Draw your own conclusions.

[gustavojoris]

@maferreira1984 No.

[tenorojuke]

This is not the best or better performance for them. Not their career at best moment but what move me the most is honesty and singing from their heart I felt. Viva Callas and di Stefano who were the greatest stage couple of the century.

[disneylandman66]

But look at Callas when she hears Lola's leitmotif...what an actress! One of the best ever.

[disneylandman66]

Check out Meier and Cura do this (Muti cond.) here on YouTube. It's astounding.

[tez601]

regardless of comments maria was my perfect woman

[tez601]

i loved maria  my perfect woman

[bobhbe]

this is what opera its about! real passion singing! love it

[TitoSchipa65]

povera Maria, ma è inascoltabile. peggio Di Stefano.

[matt7178]

@TitoSchipa65 si qui è il 73....i grandi Di Stefano e Callas erano negli anni 50....in quegli anni erano Dei!!!!

[21donbar1]

To answer Akmenspelkais2-- do you mean where do you find a piano score of the opera??? In 1948 Edwin F. Kalmus of New York published the score transposed for piano. You might also try G. Schirmer Inc of New York, the huge publishing house, which put out tons of opera scores transposed for piano at the beginning of the 20th century. I use the Kalmus edition. These things can be found in public libraries, etc.

[Bigman240]

What this woman could communicate!!!!! Beyond words...Every gesture, every glance seems so natural and in character...it almost makes you forget all the vocal defects...Di Stefano really forces here...Callas, knows her limits, the upper register is clearly problematic, and the register break is more than evident, but despite this,she sings with intelligence and complete dramatic conviction.

[Bigman240]

What this woman could communicate!!!!! Beyond words...Every gesture, every glance seems so natural and in character...it almost makes you forget all the vocal defects...Di Stefano really forces here...Callas, knows her limits, the upper register is clearly problematic, but she sings with intelligence and complete dramatic conviction.

[forbluegirl]

no more words... Pure beauty itself...

[abdito721]

so powerful, who can care abour the states of their voices with such an interpretation... well of course there is ignorant people everywhere and they have the right to express freely :)

[tez601]

arnt we blessed being able to see such magic

[Lindow]

Just the look she gives him during Lola's music has more expression in it than 99% of all the notes being sung on the operatic stage these days. While the press keeps announcing a new Callas every few years we are all still waiting, are we not?

[delosreyesgavikanes]

This is the real thing. Both of them are not in their prime, but still, the great artistry and the vocal quiality is there, and a lesson for all those singers today 2010-11 and future. This is a real lesson of the greatest. Bravo Maria, Bravo Pippo !!!

C.M.

[m37386]

Please search for Mr3izah in YouTube

[charminglayla]

Maria Callas you are a legend.

[tez601]

maria WAS the best

[Bella3208]

I love Maria Callas and Giuseppe di Stefano, however, by this point in time Callas has a definitive wobble in her voice which is really noticeable in the upper register. I am not sure why she had developed that. Perhaps it was age?? Despite all that, I still know that she was one of the greatest singers ever to grace the world of opera.

[sanghyangdharma]

stunning callas the only one diva the greatest sopran.

[MUSICARTEVOLUTION]

Quante caz...te si devono leggere in questi commenti: ascoltate e imparate!

[Operaddict]

Every singer has his or her time. For these two, their time was over. This was a valiant, but painfully tragic attempt to revive what was already gone. Yes, there are glimmers of what was...but for the most part, they are just screaming at each other. It would have been better to not have subjected themselves and the audience to such torture. Better to have remained quiet, and let us remember how grand it once was.

[tazkorinthos]

my friend , an artist is always an artist until he die. . . . .

[Operaddict]

Yes...of course...but better privately after a certain point to preserve the memory of what once was....

[MsWolts]

Pippoi è in gran voce, lei (ahimè) ha perso la voce.

[galehout]

Pippo urla e latra senza la minima cognizione di canto, lei è solo fuori allenamento ma "sa" come si canta

[31122051]

Meravigliosi entrambi, benché non più all'apice della carriera, offrono un'interpretazione di primissimo livello. Splendido !

[hepburn83]

Che Donna, che Attrice, che Soprano!!!! E poi che chic...stupendo il vestito bianco con quel leggero velo blu sopra le spalle...la Callas era magica e lo è ancora...la sua voce non morirà mai!

[Lourdesdejesus1]

porque todos los comentarios son en ingles y algunos en italiano?

a nosotros los demas tambien nos gusta la opera, la amamos. escriban en español por favor

[Lourdesdejesus1]

Ese dueto de Maria Callas y Giusepe Di Stefano de Cavalleria Rusticana es uno de los mejores que he escuchado en toda mi vida. <habran otros, pero no mejores que este.Dos grandes, Dos maestros.

[krandidu]

A great actress and singer

[alfredo0683]

sembra che da un momento all'altro maria/santuzza svenga...nonostante sia un concerto per un attimo ho visto cavalleria rusticana, ho visto i personaggi! meravigliosa!

[Aspett0]

She was such an actress... there are just no words to describe how grand she was.

[AOG93]

It's true.. If she'd gotten her strength together, studied and trained again, she would have lasted more and made a huge comeback. I know- she had the schooling, past and the technique to do it. It's a shame, though cos nothing can last too long with a broken heart. And that %$^@* (There are no words to describe how I feel) of Onasis broke her heart.

[VictorAWineGuy]

They were just incredible together.

[salentinaDoc84]

che bello!!! Voci meravigliose..che pathos!

[CONTESTAR]

She is soooo beautiful !!

[keki9000]

anyone who wants to be critical of singers who are past their primes should read joyce's "ulysses." the best scene in the whole book is when the old guy is singing in the bar and everyone are taken back to the old times.

[comunnn]

quanto avrei voluto ascoltarlo dal vivo.sei il più GRANDE!!!!

[vilabreze]

This is so beautiful, so touching, exquisite! Such magnificent singing and such dramatism!

[levante83]

Sometimes i hear the old Callas, God, she should have taken again vocal lessons and probably she could come realy back!!!

2 eternal stars!!!

[LvJols]

simplemente los mejores de la historia..Di Stefano y Maria Callas..qué artistas.

[jr1463]

That "they need singing lessons" comment made me LAUGH so hard..

This is art. To ignore what was done here, what was created, is to be IGNORANT to beauty.. no matter what vocal state the singers may have been in.

I really wish young society today appreciated this kind of thing. I really do.

[intestinecoin]

You are Soooooo right!

[jsphotos]

Exactly!

[panchalaura]

@jr1463 WHERE IS TOLERANCE???

[panchalaura]

@jr1463 WHERE IS TOLERANCE??? YOUNG PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN ABOUT OPERA BUT NOBODY TEACHES THEM. THAT IS THE QUESTION.

[girardje70]

Di stefano a été mon ténor favoris, ont comprends les paroles, c'est ce que j'aimais de lui et surtout cette belle voix Italienne.

bravo

[CsGraphicsForum]

Meravigliosi!

Andrea Beggi

[MozarTeena]

so real

[operamusicfan]

I think at this stage in life Callas identified herself with Santuzza and that's why her interpretation here seems so real.

[segu82]

Non esiste al mondo niente di meglio. Isuperabili!

[TommydiStefano]

Callas Distefano la più bella coppia di sempre!!!

Distefano il più grande di tutti!!

[deborafrancescomazzo]

Il più bel duetto del mondo! Per sempre!

[Isidore98]

His voice is basically still there - he would have done better not to shout so much - he did this in his later days. Pity.

[tenorfourlife]

He has to much nasality in his tone!

[oprah22]

this is sooo amazing Callas's acting here is superb im totally entranced by these two legends

[levante83]

at 1.32 is Callas face so fantastic!

Two Legends forever!

[monteverdi333]

I think the dramatic and the acting is incredible, some criticize their voices, but the art is in their acting, Ive seen many singers with excellent voices bit they dont touch the public, These are two great PERFORMERS!!!!

[qklq42]

We hear two living legends. Their voices are now terrible. Why did they do this ? For the money ? And I still am so fond of Maria and Pippo !

Hans NL

[jpedrocp]

I think the answer to your question is on the final applauses...

and there is no problem to want money, even less in the case of this two unique legends.

if they decided to perform their voices were able to sing because you cannot expect to find someone more critical than people Callas or Di Stefano. To touch with music ones MUST be honest, otherwise it is just a nice playing more or less intelligent that tell us nothing. They touched the world...

[qklq42]

You are so right !

Hans NL

[deborafrancescomazzo]

I completely agree.

[deborafrancescomazzo]

They sing here better than ever.

[jenjunebug]

Even at the age and the state of voice of these two opera greats, young singers take note. Both of what to do...and what not to do. Take care of yourself and your voice, and learn from your elders. The world of opera was very blessed to have both of them. It is not the same now that they are gone.

[DanBarthy]

Greats Singers!!!

Uniques!!!

Them history makes justice!!!

[63Attila]

Both of them were screaming and wobbling by 40. If you can't hear that you are deaf. The rreasons for singing so poorly at such a young age are poor choice of roles and/or singing technique. I love Tebaldi but she did the same thing. After 1961 it was hit or miss for her. Listen to Flagstad or Melchior at 60. They knew what to sing and how to sing.

[63Attila]

They need SINGING lessons. Two voices wasted by inept singing.

[pirocagrande]

YOU ARE INEPT! That I can assure you!

[pianoboyo]

I have to disagree with many?!? In someways I think this IS them at their 'best'. Ok they are not trading so heavily on the beauty of sound .. but boy they make up for it in experience and passion and stagecraft - they are phenominal. A masterclass and no mistake!

[primadonna13]

I love her an I love him!! They are indisputedly the best!!

[ChristianFiel]

her voice might not be as it was in her "good" times. But what a passion and obvious perfect realization of Mascagni's magnificent music. And it is not an orchestra supporting, just a simple piano.

you are right singingskier: Listening to this must drive tears into your eyes and it gives you the creeps all over your body.

Thank you onegin posting this!

[tHEnOOSEsWINGS]

It is too easy to dismiss the later tours of Callas & di Stefano. Most Opera singers sing past their prime, but at what point do we say that "they" are past their prime? With bright and firm coloratura and the accompaning piano, both artists offer good listening and enjoyable material.

[allinvideo]

This was "The return" of Callas (and also of Di Stefano), that they said they shouldn't. They were not the voices they were before. But I think that's not bad, they are ok and this duet is very heavy.

[singingskier]

I must admit...this performance touched me deeply. I was in tears. As much as I love our current opera stars, they never made me cry like this!! BRAVO Callas & DiStefano!!!

[michaud1]

I do prefer Tebaldi/Bjoerling version. But they are not that bad. I was expecting worst.

[adremoid]

So sad this was recorded when both were not definitely at their best. Two amazing personalities and voices. Music lover must be grateful to those great artists.

[Joeleole]

SHE AGED SO MUCH IN THAT LAST YEAR OF CONCERTS...if you look at this concert then the one in Japan it's amaising. i think the heart problems had already begun without diagnosis... ah well still great video

[GreekCallas]

These people shouldn't be judged on how they sound in this video, they should be judged on how they once sounded - which was danm good.

[Chris122583]

this video puts a lump in my throat. this is a testament to callas's artistry, despite the state of her voice, she fully conveys santuzza's gamut of emotions from desperation, to betrayal, to anger through the expression in her voice and her face, without resorting to histrionics or vulgarity. thank you callas.

[caruso3]

Sad video - both have lost their voices.

Callas looks good. I don't think it is wonderful video.

[Joeleole]

I am so glad i got to see this, i've seen the ending of that duet that they did on the last concert of the tour they did together. She really let's loose with the one in Japan. She's holding back here. Being a learning singer i know that she would have hated the vowel 'ah' because it dosen't sit well, she would have worked so hard on them in her youth. 'Ah' isn't a hard vowel for me bt 'ee' is but her 'ee's are excellent even at this late stage. Wonderful video!!!

[fabriou]

please don t go on learning singing.the worls can do without you as a singer. but the world cannot do without DI STEFANO and CALLAS

[Joeleole]

PFFFFFFFT!!! what would happen to opera today if people thought that Maria Callas and Giuseppe di Stefano were the Be all and end all. There'd be no Pavarotti or Sutherland or Caballe or Domingo or Carreras or Freni or Baltsa or Horne or Ramey or any of the greats came after these two??? Opera would have died out ages ago if your opinion was the universally accepted one!

[fabriou]

opera has died 35 years ago.I must really lough when I see peaple like you wanting at whatever cost to look forward and forward and being frightened to look backward. ah ah ah ah ah!!!

[Joeleole]

I love callas there's never been anyone or will ever be anyone like her. However I just don't think that opera should die out because she didn't live forever.

[dugbin]

This was actually after her voice declined. If you listen to her performances in her early 20's, you'll be amazed!

[MAPIAKALLAS]

Just No words look at her expressions her movements its just stunning her dramatic abilities are just great i love her so much Viva la Divina

[strangeenchantedboy]

Her Voice may not be like it was in her prime, but its not half as shot as many would say it was during this period. Her voice is actually much more secure than in many of her recordings from the mid 60's and what it lacks in beauty and depth at this time, she more than compensates for with her stunning dramatic abilities and musicality.

[vladik07]

I agree. What a pity she wouldn't sing during her last ten years! If she would just accept to be more cautious about her chest low middle register - as did all the Caballe and C°, she could have continue to sing almost everything. What an artist!

[angelus2002]

I'm a huge Callas fan but even i have to admit her voice was shot by this time BUT just look at her face when Lola's offstage is played. Damn the woman could act. Even in this vocal state Callas's artistry was amazing.

[harlemdreamer]

Yes....she was very passionate in her stage expressions.