About this Artist

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Editorial Reviews

The epitome of 19th-century Italian bel canto, Norma was idolized by none other than arch-Teuton Richard Wagner, who praised its seamless integration of words and music and hoped that his Isolde would join Norma in the pantheon of operatic heroines. And like Brunnhilde, the noble protagonist of Wagner's massive "Ring" cycle, Bellini's druid priestess sacrifices her life on the funeral pyre: It's the only way she can resolve the conflict between her duties as leader of Gaul's revolt against the occupying Romans and her love for the unfaithful enemy proconsul Pollione. The role requires a singer who has Wagnerian stamina as well as the ability to infuse Bellini's deceptively simple lines with pathos and dramatic potency. Maria Callas fit these requirements like no other singer on records; the occasional wobble in her voice is a small price to pay for such unmatched dignity and passion. In this, her second commercial recording of the role, she is partnered by a dream cast that features the dark, ringing tenor of Franco Corelli as Pollione and the rich, creamy mezzo of Christa Ludwig as Adalgisa, her confidante and rival. This new remastering of an already excellent 1960 production also allows one to appreciate the expressive orchestral contribution led by veteran maestro Tullio Serafin. Howard Goldstein, Barnes & Noble

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