Music : Puccini: Madama Butterfly (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Lucia Danieli, Nicolai Gedda, Herbert von Karajan, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
from: EMI Classics
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Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0724355629821
Label: EMI Classics
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: EMI Classics
Release Date: August 19, 1997
Sales Rank: 4037
Studio: EMI Classics
Related Items:- Bizet: Carmen (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Georges Pretre, Paris Opera Orchestra
- Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Anna Moffo, Antonino Votto, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
- Puccini: Tosca (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Victor de Sabata, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
- Puccini - La Bohème / Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood, Ghiaurov, Karajan
- Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Carlo Maria Giulini, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan
- see more
Average Rating: 
Rating:  -
While working on the PARALLEL PERSPECTIVES Archives page, I started thinking about Maria Callas & her rather bizarre, non-singing role in the equally bizarre 1970's Pier Passolini film MEDEA--and noticed this CD of Puccini's MADAMA BUTTERFLY. I must admit that I was kind of turned-off to see that the CD was remastered from the original non-sterophonic LP (there's just so much even digital technology can do in salvaging pre-stereo operatic recordings) and I really only purchased it because I was curious hear Callas in one of her less notable roles (unbelievably there were only 3 performances).
I was pleasantly surprised to find myself really enjoying the entire production.
Of course director Herbert Von Karajan is a famous talent in his own right and tenor Nicolai Gedda is outstanding as the faithless American lover, Pinkerton.
And there is Maria Callas.
Even the most ferocious detractors of Callas (and there are still many) admit that she possessed a knack for characterization that was tantamount to genius. I too will admit that strictly analyzed from a musical perspective, Callas' performances (including BUTTERFLY) may not be the best in terms of singing technique--but she did have "It"--that certain something that makes her performance unique & unforgettable.
The plot of the opera is simple: Callous American Pinkerton in Japan has fun with local girl, goes through a marriage charade, gets her pregnant, ... Read More
Rating: -
Puccini.
Up there with Mozart when it comes to tearing the heart out of your soul.
Maria Callas - what a sexy women - no wonder that rich Greek fella courted her. She is a diamond, a truly wonderful opera singer. No, she is better than that. Maria Callas interprets the music into an emotional fury that extends passion and mundanity to their horizons.
Why buy Playboy when you can get the real deal right here. Smouldering femininity with knobs on. Simply the best.
Rating:  -
Nicolai Gedda as B.F Pinkerton is brilliant, a true showman in the role and a brilliant tenor full-stop. Callas on the other was not good at Cio-Cio San, in fact she was terrible.
It truly shows the difference between the two lead roles vocal technique and capability, in 'Vogliatemi bene', Gedda was brilliant note perfect and tone perfect, Callas was terrible she shrieked most of her way through the duet and sang a shrill top C at the end which compared with Gedda's masterful top C was a piece of dirt.
If you disagree listen the the track over and over again, see how shrill and whiney Callas's top C really is.
All over brilliant performance by Gedda, Callas was unworthy of such a great Pinkerton.
Rating: -
It's a SHOCK how Callas interpreted "Madama Butterfly" It's close to perfect. Must listen for opera lovers!
Rating: -
There are many "Butterfly" recordings out there that are excellent in their own right but this recording deserves a category of excellence all it's own. What almost looks like mis-casting on paper, Callas does an astonishing job with the title role, which she recorded months before singing a series in Chicago and never to touch the role again. This is really one of those recordings that should be considered an historical event in the history of recorded opera. The collaboration of all the principles with von Karajan shows a unique unity that hasn't been duplicated very often.
But there's Callas' Cio Cio San that is really the reason to consider this recording. Even her silences, such as when she notices Kate in the garden in the final scenes, speaks volumes. There's this incredible thread that she creates from her entrance to her death that is like nothing I've ever heard before in this role. Also her choice of tone is remarkable and characteristic of this most chameleon of artists. She transforms herself from child to woman during the love duet and really does not sing at full tilt until the heart rendering final scene. This is an amazing studio portrayal and like I said, absolutely historical.
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from: EMI Classics
Related Items:
     see more
Related Items:- Bizet: Carmen (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Georges Pretre, Paris Opera Orchestra
- Puccini: La Boheme (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Anna Moffo, Antonino Votto, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
- Puccini: Tosca (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Victor de Sabata, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan
- Puccini - La Bohème / Freni, Pavarotti, Harwood, Ghiaurov, Karajan
- Verdi: La Traviata (complete opera live 1955) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Carlo Maria Giulini, Orchestra & Chorus of La Scala, Milan
- see more
Binding: Audio CD
EAN: 0724355629821
Label: EMI Classics
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
Number Of Discs: 2
Publisher: EMI Classics
Release Date: August 19, 1997
Sales Rank: 4037
Studio: EMI Classics
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