This is not Callas's first Aida in Mexico (which exist complete!) on 30 May 1950, but her 2nd perfomance on 3 June 1950!There is not complete recording but only highlights!Here in her 3rd act Aria in great vocal form!I wonder if she sang again in that perfomance her High E Flat??
This is one of the best Callas performances I ever heard. Totally bulletproof musicianship with wonderful conducting. I'm going to stick my head out and assert strongly that no way is this suave and elegant orchestral playing that of the very scrappy Mexico City band. Also the oboe playing is def. NOT the honky and ragged playing one hears on any of the otehr Mexico perfomances. I would assert this is eitehr a Serafin conducted performance in the Italian provinces or even a rare Scala night.
tadcastria 4 months ago
That was the best high C she has sung in this aria. It has the perfect volume, not too forte, soft, piano-dolce, as it is written by Verdi. She knew the problem and here she proves that she had worked this out. She was the greatest...
johnnybouhaha 4 months ago
Unfortunately this is "not" the Callas i heard when she came to NY. I wish i had heard her in her earlier years.
UncleLouie867 4 months ago
fabulous vocally! musically, interpretatively. Wow.
kgarmaker123 4 months ago
The high C of "Patria mia" was always troublesome for Maria. However, I find this performance one of her very best. I don't think that I have ever heard this performance. In fact, I had no idea that it existed. I certainly hope that there is more hidden somewhere.
TheOperadaddy2 4 months ago
Perfecta.
Qbendanny 4 months ago