Maria Callas - Norma - Oh, rimembranza!

Vincenzo bellini (1801-1835)
Oh, rimembranza! (Norma, Act I scene two)
Maria Callas (Norma) - Ebe Stignani (Adalgisa)
Coro e orchestra del teatro alla Scala
Conducted by Tullio Serafin
1954

NORMA
(Oh, rimembranza! io fui
così rapita, al sol mirarlo in volto.)

ADALGISA
Ma non m'ascolti tu?

NORMA
Segui; t'ascolto.

ADALGISA
Sola, furtiva al tempio
io l'aspettai sovente;
ed ogni dì più fervida
crebbe la fiamma ardente.

NORMA
(Io stessa arsi così.
Oh rimembranza: io fui così sedotta!)

ADALGISA
Vieni -- ei dicea -- concedi
ch'io mi ti prostri ai piedi:
lascia che l'aura io spiri
de' dolci tuoi sospiri,
del tuo bel crin le anella
dammi poter baciar.

NORMA
(Oh! cari accenti!
Così li profferia,
così trovava del cor la via.)

ADALGISA
Dolci qual arpa armonica
m'eran le sue parole;
negli occhi suoi sorridere
vedea più bello un sole.

NORMA
(L'incanto suo fu il mio.)

ADALGISA
Io fui perduta e il sono.

NORMA
Ah! tergi il pianto!

ADALGISA
D'uopo ho del tuo perdono.

NORMA
Avrò pietade.

ADALGISA
Deh! tu mi reggi e guida.

NORMA
Ah! tergi il pianto!

ADALGISA
Me rassicura, o sgrida,
salvami da me stessa,
salvami dal mio cor.

NORMA
Ah! tergi il pianto:
te non lega eterno nodo all'ara.

ADALGISA
Ah! Ripeti, o ciel, ripetimi
sì lusinghieri accenti!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bellini
• Norma
• Maria
• Callas
• Ebe
• Stignani
• Rimembranza
• opera
• scala
• serafin

[billyguns2]

Callas' voice was at the peak of its powers here; she of course was one of the most expressive artists who ever lived, and a great musician who pronounced the text better than anyone. How marvelous to have this snippet; many thanks for uploading it. May we hope for more from this 1954 recording?

[jjcbss]

Ah, 'the Voice' is wonderful in this 1954 recording

[pointemeout]

OH. yes. callas. 54. forever.

[wendy75r]

BRAVISSIMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA­

[Rhopoe]

This Callas (circa '54) + Christa Ludwig (from the '60 version with Serafin) would have been just absolutely perfect! Stignani is terrific, except that she sounds too old, a bit matronly, for Adalgisa. Ludwig on the other hand, just sounds so feminine and so vulnerable. And by the time she partnered with Callas, the latter was already weakening in her powers...

[AliciaDupres]

@Alfgard1 Well, maybe I am, who knows? However, unlike Stignani I don't do it for living and definitely do not record it :-))

[Alfgard1]

@AliciaDupres You are barking.

[Nacidodelmar]

@billyguns2 yes please THANK you some people don't understand her THANK for saying this

[rojp08]

@Nacidodelmar She was indeed Norma, just as she was also Medea. Those two roles are untouchables and retired with her. 

[Nacidodelmar]

NORMA (Fra sè) Oh! Rimembranza! Io fui così rapita Al sol mirarlo in volto! ADALGISA Ma non m'ascolti tu? NORMA Segui. T'ascolto. ADALGISA Sola, furtiva, al tempio Io l'aspettai sovente, Ed ogni dì più fervida Crebbe la fiamma ardente. NORMA (Fra sè) Io stessa arsi così. ADALGISA Vieni, ei dicea, concedi Ch'io mi ti prostri ai piedi. NORMA (Fra sè) Oh, rimembranza!

[nwrwatts]

I cant stop listening to this. Why is it so compelling? Her technique has been criticised over the years and she was at her peak for such a short time and yet what beauty! Is it her vulnerability coming through that moves us so much?