Search - Verdi, Callas, Di Stefano :: Verdi: Un Ballo In Maschera (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Antonino Votto, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
J. Luis Juarez Echenique | Mexico City | 09/03/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"It's hard to understand how such a mediocre conductor like Antonino Votto got these important recordings in an era when Mitropoulous, Szell, Reiner, Fricsay, Walter and Gavazzeni were all active and available. Votto's conducting is good routine, but Maria Callas and Giuseppe Di Stefano have to conduct themselves. The two greatest singers of the Century sing like gods, sparking fireworks just like no one else. Tito Gobbi brings insights to the role of Renato, but this role needs a different kind of singer, a baritono-cantante like Ettore Bastianini or Renato Bruson. Gobbi nevertheless, is as usual, a very great artist. This Ballo for ever will be the greatest recording of this opera, if only Claudio Abbado could have conducted it."
Callas and Gobbi have it all!
harrmor | Athens, Greece | 06/10/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Well, this recording dates back to 1956 and is the last studio recording that Callas made with di Stefano (their relationships were getting worse and they didn't collaborate again until 1973!!). Although they were not in very good terms, this fact does not appear at all in this recording. Their love duet in the second act is magnificently sung both artistically and dramatically.
Callas is in quite in good voice here and sings the role of Amelia with conviction. We really sympathize with her in her pleadings to see for the last time her son and in her agony about the proximent death of the Count.
But most of all I admire Gobbi interpretation of Renato. He is a wonderful actor. At first, he is nice, good, cares a lot about his friend's life and all these can be heard. But, when he discovers his wife with his best friend, jealousy bursts in him and fury overtakes him. His voice becomes menacing full of anger. But in the end, when he learns the whole truth, his voice is filled with remorse and pity. WOW!
So, this recording is higly recommended. We have 3 wonderful voices and 2 more than wonderful actors."
The best studio-Ballo ever!
Melanie | 03/18/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"There are two recordings of Ballo with Callas, one is live (Also available on Amazon) and the other is this studio-recording. The cast is almost the same, only on the live-recording Bastianini sang the part of Renato. Both are amazing, I slightly prefer the live-recording though because Callas&di Stefano were at their very best then."
Wonderful - but mono and vocally flawed,
Ralph Moore | Bishop's Stortford, UK | 07/11/2006
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I prefer this to the much vaunted alternative live recording from the following year featuring Bastianini rather than Gobbi; I do not think the added electricity of that live performance outweighs the pleasure derived from hearing the opera in the clear sound of the studio version. Dramatically there really isn't that much difference. All three principals, although impassioned and vivid in their acting, evince their usual vocal flaws: Callas mixes velvety tone and trenchant lower register with some strident top notes, Gobbi also strains on top, Di Stefano often sounds sharp and he yelps a bit. The best all round performance is the Leinsdorf with Price, Bergonzi and Merrill, the latter bringing a subtlety to his performance which he did not always strive to apply - and he simply has the better Verdi voice, for all Gobbi's artistry. Price is often as magnificent as Callas with her smoky, soaring spinto and Bergonzi is much more at ease with Riccardo's yearning phrases. - and the lighter, more humorous sections of the score.
I still want to own the Votto for Callas' unique plangency and psychological insight but the Leinsdorf remains the best choice for the collector - especially as Verrett, too, is more characterful and has a more integrated voice than the stentorian Barbieri as Ulrica.
"
Brilliant performance!!!!
Emma de Soleil | On a holiday In Ibiza, then back to the UK for stu | 03/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"To discover why Callas is still the greatest Verdi-soprano to this day this Ballo in addition to her sublime Traviata (Also available on EMI) is a perfect start. Callas only sang one run of Amelias at La Scala and since a live-performance also exists it's interesting to compare the two. She shines in Amelia's aria before the GLORIOUS love-duet. Has there ever been a more beautiful, more colourful Amelia than this one? I doubt it. And I have heard Tebaldi, Milanov and Caballe. Di Stefano and Callas create magic in the ardent love duet. Listen how Callas spins the phrase "Si! T'AMO!" Unbelieveable! Tito Gobbi portrays the wronged Renato as exquisitely as he did Scarpia and Falstaff. One of his best roles. You want a great Ballo with the best cast in good sound? Get this one and be enchanted!"