YET ANOTHER CALLAS COLLECTION
L. Mitnick | Chicago, Illinois United States | 02/07/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I find that I'm beginning to agree with Herbert Breslin, who wrote in his book "The King and I" (which deals with his years as Pavarotti's manager) that "EMI has managed to convince the public that Maria Callas is still alive". Undoubtedly, EMI has made a fortune on Callas -------- complete operas, live recordings of operas, recitals, previously unpublished arias, and the like ------- and is showing no signs of slowing up promoting her recordings. There is no other operatic artist whose recordings are being promoted and marketed the way Callas' are. Obviously, the fascination continues. Is all of this warranted? Obviously, to judge by the sales of her recordings, most definitely "yes". Callas the artist is represented in this collection with arias and scenes recorded in different times of her short but spectacular career. The items recorded in the early and middle 1950's are vocally more secure than those recorded after 1960. What IS incredible are the different colors and hues that Callas had in her voice ---- she comes off as kind of an operatic Lon Chaney ("Man of a Thousand Faces")and manages to forge her imprint into virtually every item on included on this disc. What other soprano - living or historical---could sing such a wide repertoire which incorporated so many different vocal styles? This alone is reason to value Callas ------- as well as for her brains and incredible musicianship. Certainly we have hard more externally beautiful voices, but virtually none of them have had the sheer individuality of Maria Callas. This collection is certainly a great place to sample her art. I warn you ---- her art is addictive."