Maria Callas "È strano! È strano!" and "Sempre Libera"

[Pelorubio1975]

@SkateNater -follows- I feel her because she becomes one thing with the character she's playing: her vibrating voice, her powerful emotions penetrate in my chest. This was, still is, her magic that made her THE Callas. I humbly suggest to listen to her performance of the aria "La mamma morta" of Andrea Chénier...

[Pelorubio1975]

@SkateNater There will always be those who appreciated for her ability-her voice-her personage-her passion-her unique charisma, and those who dislike her for the same reasons. The point is that, when I listen to Maria Callas I forget about her as a great performer, but I "feel" her as woman, I get involved with Violetta or Tosca or Madama Butterfly...

[Pelorubio1975]

@SkateNater

@SkateNater

I never heard Maria Callas defined as "Sfogato", nor anyone else (maybe this is an English expression that somebody italianized...there is no such definition in Italian that I am aware of). As I said in my previsous comment M. Callas was a soprano lirico drammatico (o "spinto"), nothing to do with colorature, although she was perfectly able to sing...a "Lakmè" for example. But I don't have the intention of starting a debate.

[sempreviva82]

@Pelorubio1975 look up for it in an encyclopedia, they call Callas' voice sfogato...

[georgerannie]

What a performance--brava diva. 

[ubedajils]

Magistral... tal maestría.. y 1951... toda su voz, toda su capacidad vocal, toda la promesa de gloria hecha realidad... qué maravilla, qué 10 años de formidable canto e interpretación... croce e deliro... DEA!

[philipc67]

Fearless and effortless, in her pristine best, Mexico 1951. In later years her dramatic characterisation gained in depth (Scala 1955 is unequalled, Lisbon 1958 she barely manages) but listen to that astonishing coloratura despite the vocal volume, endless range and breath control, accuracy and phrasing, and the huge E-flat. She remains the definitive Violetta more than 50 years later. Despite other admirable exponents of the role, no one has come close. Sutherland? You've got to be kidding me.

[ferricheart]

@philipc67

It's a view through rose-colored Callas-glasses!

What you describe is her technique, and perfection but you forgot her ugly voice and metallic screaming. It's sounds like a musical clock from the 20s.

If you wanna hear a whole CD you must pad out your ears.

[shipcomesin]

@philipc67 Sutherland's version sounds boring to me... It's like she's singing "oh what should I have for brunch, cheese or ham" when in fact she sings "Oh maybe it's he who can give me some joy in life again..." As long as expression goes, it's flat and boring

[Shahrdad]

Tito Gobbi said that he used to stand in the wings just to hear Callas sing Sempre Libera, knowing fully that one would be lucky to hear such singing even once in a career. Besides the power, the phenomenal technique (including all the written trills) and the effortlessness of her singing here, what I love most is the vehemence with which she sings the second verse. it is as if she's trying to convince herself of what she is saying, and knows deep down to be false.

[oPeRa1923]

There's no other opera singer who can sing this piece as beautifully as La Callas did! Pure emotion!

[vocalandchords]

Gracias.

[vocalandchords]

Gran video!

[MaiaMMM]

e venne giu il teatro...

[LoveDessay]

I don't think this is the best in the middle of the song. It started good, soso at the middle and WOW at the ending.. that's why people think callas is that good.. Overall, GREAT

[callasexperience]

shit that is gooood

[turnipoverlord]

i love how after many of her performances, the crowd just cannot control themselves. I think if i had heard her sing live my head would explode

[oPeRa1923]

@turnipoverlord i'll be with you on that! Wow...

[TheMrMaz]

This is 'early' in her career when she was young and still just singing everything with everything she had...later she learned to put infinitely more nuance and 'depth' into her interpretations...though you just have to be overawed by the sheer deluge of incredible sonic tones notes phrases and all the rest of it!!I get the feeling that she could have held that high E at the end until,until...well NOW,LoL!!What power and seemingly effortless too,when today your lucky to find ANYone even doin it!

[stjepanskrinjaric]

jorgepozzi56 you are right

but people disagree.........

luckily world is big and different ideas

are fondamental

love music..respect people

enjoy music and discuss of it it's art ...........

[racheleleeba]

There may be prettier voices, but when I listen to Callas, I hear Violetta.

[jorgepozzi56]

Me gustan más las versiones de Kiri te Kanawa y de Anna netrebko..,

[tneprescintr]

shivers... all over me... seriously.

thanks for posting!

[TaVo78]

This is just the most wonderful interpretation of sempre libera I have ever heard in youtube. Its out of this world !! Cuan afortunado fue aquel publico en bellas Artes de la Ciudad de Mexico en 1951.

[Aetion]

From fortissimo to pianissimo and from the heights to the depths without the slightest effort. An unbelievable voice combining passion and charme.

Thanks for this wonderful posting.

[xafnndapp]

Oh yes she did and was loved.

You must come from some elected wonderful first world Country I guess?

[beatsofsoultrain]

what can we admit?genius.there will never be another such a brilliant singer in opera

[DanyelHawkes]

the more i hear these 50's recording, the more i am convinces she was a mezzo with an incredibly high sence of placement...but im not sure wether its mezzo or just dramatic soprano....

[Pelorubio1975]

Her voice is defined as "soprano lirico drammatico". But her voice was so peculiar, that she had a remarkable extension (also thanks to her incredible tecnique) . Therefore she could sing also as mezzo-soprano as well as soprano-lirico leggero (although very rarely); she could aminister her voice with deep intelligence.

[Aetion]

usic critic John Ardoin has argued that Callas was the reincarnation of the Nineteenth Century soprano sfogato or "unlimited soprano", a throwback to Maria Malibran and Giuditta Pasta, for whom many of the famous bel canto operas were written. (from Wikipedia).

[tripleaxell]

she was a dramatic coloratura soprano..

[superchick705]

simply wow! :O

[TaVo78]

I love how she plays with her voice in 7:34 - 7:37 the High note in 7:51 is just divine .... her ending: pure orgasmic !

[mklambatsea]

I agree she is a godess of opera I am happy to be in life so I can hear her I adore Maria

[Fairpavel]

Hm... meseems she plays with her voice in an even more orgasmic way in Lisboa exactly at the places you've marked. With siuch a reckless abandon.

[sirmercutio99]

What is the better Callas recording of La Traviata the La Scala or the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos(Lisbon). I'm going towards the Lisbon because it's more famous.

[diuscorvus]

Lisbon has better overall characterization -- the "che fai" and "teneste la promessa" in particular -- but her voice is frailer. The sound of La Scala becomes execrable in the last act, but the passion of the duet with Germont is priceless. I also prefer di Stefano to Kraus.

[Fairpavel]

Why don't you try the Covent Garden performance from june 1958, again with Valetti?

But if U insist on a choice b/n the Lisboa and La Scala - Lisboa.

[TaVo78]

Not sure about the whole traviata, maybe lisbon ..., in my opinion regarding the "sempre libera" aria , this one is the best..

[Huitzi69]

Eres un pobre imbécil. En Mexico ya había universidades y teatros cuando en New York sólo habia vacas!

[dolcefico]

My God!  How can a voice that massive move with such agility? I'm always amazed!

[taotao532371437]

she was just a gift from the God!

[Redboy4]

Truly.

[diuscorvus]

The fact that she's got good diction even up to the high Eb is crazy.

*bows at Callas altar and retreats to further contemplate her awesomeness*

[canzonettasullaria]

Simply wonderful! A pity about the bad audio-quality

[sopranoms]

It was done in Europe long time ago, when it was the best quality possible, remember turntables?

[harmonyfortson]

Beautiful. I wish we could see her live, don't you? I couldn't even finish watching Sutherland. Blah, blah, boring. Yes, perfect, yes pretty. WHO CARES. That is not the point. Callas has drama AND a beautiful instrument.

[Elisabetta611]

What a FIERY performance! Excellent!

[Briserin]

Follie! Follie! Delirio vano è questo! Povera donna, sola, abandonatta in questo popoloso deserto che appellano Parigi...

Versos que nunca olvidaré (suspiro)...^^

Snif...

[LoveIsTheOnlyLaw]

abbandonata... :P

[phoranea]

God! the recording is pre-historic... it is so horrendous! It is so sad we have to hear her beautiful voice this way... She was amazing, the feeling she poured into what she sang, that's what sets her appart from any other.

Grate delizia... delizia al cor.

Cheers!

[godlovesyou333]

she's gorgeous in that picture, and in this recording

[chloric1]

PERFECTION!!

[Sanrus]

God bless Maria Callas and Giuseppe Di Stefano for ever...

[willthrillws]

She makes it sound so fun!!!Brava Diva!

[rambo2882]

RECORDED IN MEXICO

[saverioorlando]

Very important document audio:at this aria and cabaletta,Maria was unreachable

[ioSonoCallas]

Euh désolé j'ai fais une erreur dans mon commentaire précédent. En 1952 c'était le 3 juin et non pas le 17!

[ioSonoCallas]

La représentation du 17 juillet 1951 sous la direction de Tullio Serafin reste un moment unique dans la carrière de Maria Callas, et en entendant ça on a du mal à croire que l'année suivante le 17 juin toujors à Mexico sous la direction de Umberto Mugnai elle ferait encore mieux!

[ioSonoCallas]

Euh désolé j'ai fais une erreur dans mon commentaire précédent et je rectifie, en 1952 sous la direction de Mugnai, c'était le 3 juin!

[superhunk01]

Huge voice. Amazing coloratura. Callas in her prime! Diamond-hard brilliant high C's. Wonderful.

[pendil99]

Callas at her early best, undoubtedly. No disrespect meant by saying that her best was too short for us all to enjoy long enough. One of the very greatest. Personally in this aria I prefer Pavarotti's favourite, Sutherland, who could hit the high E-flat better than anyone - no screaming, like some of the younger bunch of singers - and the greatest dramatic coloratura. She didn't act or perform as well as Callas, though, who remains (like Caruso) a legend in opera.

[RCA1978]

im wondering why none of those nasty comentes on Callas singing is posted here... im wondering... ;)

[loregazer]

good point!

[Elisabetta611]

That a huge voice is capable of such agility.......that is the Callas miracle.

[paintbrushbangs]

I love your videos

<3