Maria Callas - Surta è la notte... Ernani! Ernani, involami (Hamburg 1962)

[jhb134]

Maria builds and prepares her, slight (physical) frame, with a slight glance/smile towards the Orchestra, before her part of the aria even begins. The intentions are, so VERY-fine, but some of the scales, and their outer notes (so to speak) escape her, and/or are NOT so-great, in intonations. ... Well, I really don't KNOW, if any soprano has achieved the demands of this aria, any better. Opinions only.

[rodlarocque]

Brava Diva! 

[7CALLAS]

The "Opera World need you

[yesenia13misaki]

María callas, espectacular...nadie se iguala a ella...=D

[SpookyDeeCat]

Every time I hear her sing I cry, no matter what it is. 

[francescomaiorca]

@SpookyDeeCat Yes...

[TheAngel3490]

rimango attonito ogni volta che la guardo...non solo la voce...ma basta vedere quel luccichio degli occhi...quel movimento del viso...per rendersi conto che non abbiamo davanti una semplice cantante, ma una splendida Elvira che si apre alle gioie dell'amore...MAGNIFICA MARIA...ogni volta che ti ascolto non riesco a fare altro che piangere per la commozione!!! Che il mondo possa sempre RICORDARTI in tutto il tuo SPLENDORE!!! Ti adoro!!!

[7CALLAS]

IO TI AMO MARIA

[myth105]

yes yes, nice, i am speechless !

[TheFIDELIO50]

amazing !!

[untoa]

the high notes forgetaboutit, Is it the phrasing? This performance is out on its own. Defect perfection?

[georgerannie]

The "Opera World" is a much poorer place without Maria.

[georgerannie]

Opera really needs another Maria; however alas it won't happen.

[Vendimi3]

E da lassù, tu canti.

[ssballs]

She looks so gorgeous here.Thanks for the post.

[jimjam88]

maria.maria.maria.i,cant.live.­not.hearing.you

[GiancarlaSenna]

@jimjam88 who can possibly live without it?

[jimjam88]

life.has.no.meaning.without.he­r

[edgarcr64]

Ha descendido la noche y Silva no regresa. ¡Ah, si no regresara nunca! Este odioso viejo que, tal un espectro inmundo, me persigue por doquier con sus palabras de amor hace que Ernani penetre cada vez más en mi corazón. ¡Ernani, Ernani, huye conmigo de este lugar aborrecido! Huyamos, si el amor me permite vivir contigo; a través de cavernas y tierras inhóspitas te seguirán mis pasos. Estas cavernas serán para mí un Edén de las delicias.

[rhbn87]

She's always consistent and although her high notes are not as refined as Tebaldi but it's exciting.

[rhbn87]

I love Callas!

[churrerita22]

I don't know why but most of the times I hear maria singing I feel pain, an incredible pain... and sadness, loneliness and no hopes... I got sad only cause of her voice, how can this be? she's a violin alive...

[saverioorlando]

Strong rendition.High notes a bit screamimg,low notes better than mezzo.

[braveheart030]

Oh Maria, the world misses you!

[opernprojekt]

@braveheart030

indeed

[KirstyGriffiths]

yes, this is a bit slow but don't complain, it means we hear her for longer :-)

[tneprescintr]

no complains whatsoever! ;-)

[doremicde]

Yes, absolutely!!!! =======)))))))))))

[tneprescintr]

Is this the real tempo? I don't know, it looks and sounds a bit slow... just a thought...

[kgarmaker123]

I love Callas, and I have read a number of the "Callas" biographies.. the reason her voice sounds so rough, is simple... she stopped singing, practicing, etc.. and the voice needs constant practicing, just like an athlete to stay in touch. ...

[JuillHope17]

if you have read so many biographies, you would know that is not the only reason. pff.

[kgarmaker123]

Its the main reason, the rest of them pale in comparison. .. She stopped practicing. That led more than anything to her vocal decline. She had other interests. Interests that eventually killed her.

[babydrane]

@kgarmaker123 Apparently, for her, being in love, having a life etc. was a very important part of her being a woman. Being a singer was something else altogether. Her career may have suffered but you can't have your cake and eat it too...at least u can't be as good as she was and give yourself over completely to one man. I feel like if she stayed unfulfilled as a woman and continued to be the best singer she would have also gotten very depressed and done something...drastic.

[leonardovittori1]

@babydrane It was a decision that she did come to regret in her later life.

[babydrane]

@leonardovittori1 I know. I'm saying either path would lead to regret...one way or another.

[AOG93]

I agree. She studied for 8 hours a day to be able to control that voice of hers! Like Pasta and Malibran did as well. Then she met Onasis and stopped practicing. She focused on other things. But like Simionato said to her once "Maria, you are music incarnate. It is only obvius to think that if you abbandoned art, your voice will abbandon you. You will die without art". And Maria knew that.

[Fairpavel]

That's too simple to be true. I trust that Callas knew her voice better than anyone else. She said to a friend that her vcoice never abandoned her but she had problems with the breath support and the best doctors couldn't tell her why.

And she had been practicing constantly in the 50s, but she had certain problems that increased with time.

Probably she really needed to stop singing and practicing for some time. If you are emotionally ill, the whole practicing in the world won't help you.

[leonardovittori1]

@Fairpavel I do not agree.. She sounds unvocalized to me... like she went out there cold and just sang.. Thats what happens when you are tight..

[Fairpavel]

@leonardovittori1

There is nothing to agree or disagree about. If she sounds tight or insecure in her later years it's not because she stopped practicing.

[billyguns2]

You will never hear this aria delivered in such an intimate, personal, or heartfelt way, or with such suoerb attention to musical values, pronunciation, and rhythmic integrity. That being said, Hamburg 1962 did not find Maria in her best form vocally; we must forgive several disastrous ascents into the higher range. I forgive her 1,000% when faced with such artistry!