| Maria Callas - La Callas... Toujours | 
| Actor: Maria Callas
Studio: EMI Classics
Category: DVD
List Price: $29.98
Buy New: $15.20
You Save: $14.78 (49%)
Buy New/Used/Collectible from $9.95
Avg. Customer Rating:   (15 reviews)
Sales Rank: 53683
Format: Classical, Color, Dvd-video, Ntsc
Languages: English (Original Language), English (Subtitled), French (Subtitled)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: DVD
Running Time: 91 minutes
Number Of Items: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 7.5 x 5.1 x 0.6
MPN: 92503
UPC: 724349250390
EAN: 0724349250390
ASIN: B00005LIN2
Release Date: July 3, 2001
Theatrical Release Date: 1958
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Description
Maria Callas is the quintessential diva who changed the face of the opera in the 20th century. The repertoire in this performance shows Callas at her best, both in recital and as an operatic actress. Verdi, Rossini, and Bellini were three composers at the heart of Maria Callas's career. Her personal life was of tragic operatic dimensions and perhaps no role comes closer to the essence of Callas than Floria Tosca. The second half to the program comprises the complete Act 2 of this opera, with a brilliant performance by Tito Gobbi in the role of Scarpia. A genuine collector's item, this live recording documents Callas's Paris debut at the peak of her career. Also included is documentary footage about the performance and the opera house. 91 minutes.
Amazon.com
The career of Maria Callas was just a bit too early and too brief to receive full and satisfying video documentation like that now being accorded to such singers as Renee Fleming and Luciano Pavarotti. This black-and-white televised recital (Callas's Paris debut) took place at the Paris Opera on December 19, 1958 when television was still in its infancy. We might wish that it had happened earlier, when her voice was in better condition, or later, when video recording technology was more advanced--so that, for example, we would not have to take the narrator's word that Callas is wearing a red dress. But this is probably the best available Callas video recording, and her fans will welcome it warmly. Visual elements were as important as the vocal dimensions in her art. The material, carefully chosen to show Callas at her best and most versatile, includes "Casta Diva" from Bellini's Norma (a Callas specialty), the haunting "Miserere" scene from Verdi's Il trovatore, and the mischievous "Una voce poco fa" from Rossini's Barber of Seville, a fine series of stylistic contrasts in which the essential point is not pure tonal beauty but characterization and subtle expressive nuances. Others have made this music sound prettier; nobody has presented it with more impact. But the climax of this program is its second half, a staged performance of Act II of Puccini's Tosca. This is a study in police brutality, sexual harassment, and sheer violence, psychological and physical, that has some of opera's most extreme moments--including the great aria "Vissi d'arte," the murder of the villain Scarpia, and the contemptuous dismissal flung at his corpse--"and all Rome trembled before him!" In this segment, Callas goes mano a mano with Tito Gobbi, her only equal as a singing actor during her career. They savor this material in a virtuoso performance. --Joe McLellan
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| Customer Reviews: Read 10 more reviews...
 A NERVOUS SPLENDOR December 28, 2008
Given 'la callas'' penchant for perfection, they are probably still cleaning the blood off the stage at the Paris Opera. It's pretty obvious that everyone was nervous for this special debut (particularly the chorus and the tenor ... and perhaps even the conductor) ... BUT ... that aside ... this is truly a performance to treasure for all fans of opera. Nothing can dim the Callas/Gobbi combination in their traveling 'ACT 2,TOSCA SHOW'. It's interesting to compare it with the Covent Garden version of a few years later. Both are well worth having.
The shocked child May 5, 2008
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I was eight years old when I saw this appearance of Mme Callas on TV. Eight years, and I was shocked for life.
My eyes could not leave the TV screen for one second, and afterwards I immediately withdraw to my room, pulled down pictures of Swedish pop stars from my wall and replaced them with a large photo of Maria, newly found in a weekly magazine. I was shocked, not only by her intensy and performace during that specific evening in 1958, but for lifetime. I repeatedly asked my father that he would take me to the Royal Opera in Stockholm, but it was not to be until 1972, when I had my first opportunity to visit the Opera House myself. I did not know much of Wagner but already had a Swedish idol in Birgit Nilsson, so my first real experience in Stockholm was a complete Ring des Nibelungen with Nilsson. Now 23 years old, a was shocked again and since then opera has never left my life. I will never forget that my interest was so unexpectedly woken by the flame of Maria Callas from Paris. How happy I was when this CD appeared!
A great collectable... March 19, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
Casta Diva, sung by Callas, has always been one of my favourite pieces of music. The woman was phenominal, despite her being a real 'Diva.'
To be able to see a remastered film copy of a concert that took place back in 1958 is just simply thrilling.
Highly recommended.
Excellent addition to a Callas collection July 27, 2004
12 out of 13 found this review helpful
What I have enjoyed the most is watching the contrasts of this performance to the Callas Covent Garden video recording. Here, Callas is at her glamourous best. For example, the TOSCA in this recording presents a coutured diva whose dramatics are down a notch from the CG performance. Vocally, I think she is better here - but dramatically, the CG performance is superior.
I am glad to have this, if only to compare the two performances of ACT II TOSCA. It is also an excellent lesson in the grace and deportment of a true opera star. Such style! Such expression! (The concert portion of this is similar to the Hamburg recording.)
discover Maria Callas June 13, 2004
13 out of 14 found this review helpful
Of all the available visual samples available of Maria Callas this is the best and most loyal. In this peformance we are treated to some of Callas' most famous arias with dramatic changes in character and musical style. We begin with the bel canto treat of selections from Norma- Callas' famous "Casta Diva". Unfortunately the chorus who sings with her is horrible and off time which detracts from an otherwise perfect experience. No one was able to match the sheer expressiveness and fluid phrasing of Callas in this arena. Next selections from Il Trovatore are dramatic and again showcase the amazing phrasing which no other artist has been able to match. Leonora is shown to us as a living breathing person rather than just some pretty arias and a chance to showcase vocal beauty. Callas may not deliver the full throated beauty of other singers in this role, but you will never find a more fully developed and well phrased character in a role which was meant to be acted- not showcased for vocal fireworks. Then, she switches yet again into the comic light coluratura of Rosina's aria from the Barber of Seville. This was an aria she often performed in recital- yet rarely was she ever in such good voice as in this presentation. One overly eager fan began to shout brava in the middle of her aria while others shushed him. By far the highlight though is the staged preformance of act 2 of Tosca with Tito Gobbi. If you have ever heard Callas' Tosca then I need not comment of the genius she brought to this role. The greatest highlight of which is her Vissi D'arte which I dare you to sit dry eyed through. Her magnificent voice and unmatched vocal expression milk that aria for all it's worth. It is a shame that we weren't able to see Callas ealier when her voice was fuller and in richer bloom- but here we have her in fine voice and her usual dramatic perfection which she only achieved later in her career- this DVD is well worth it- discover La Divina today!
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