Maria Callas Remasters

Posted by: David O'Higgins on 22 September 2014

I noticed that these became available on Qobuz today, and I have bought the Barber of Seville (1957) in 96/24. The downloaded tracks are correctly numbered, but I had to do a job on the metadata to get it to appear as one album in Nserve. Just beginning to listen now. Sounds promising although, there is quite a deal of hiss apparent in the quieter passages. Would welcome feedback from anyone who has bought this, or any of the other Callas Remasters.

Posted on: 24 September 2014 by David O'Higgins

Apologies for nudging my own post, but I'm just listening to the 1953 Tosca( from this newly mastered series), one of my favourite musical experiences, and it is 'stunning'. My 2.5 week old NDS is really opening up. Anyone else tried it?

Posted on: 25 September 2014 by sharik

 

 

i saw a film of the 2nd act from Tosca where Callas singing, she is the best Tosca ever.

Posted on: 27 September 2014 by mudwolf

I have a huge classical fan friend, Masters from UCLA.  His comments are "not the best voice, but her passion and acting were enthralling, way beyond contemporaries".   Yes I've heard early recordings that are amazing.  Love the film from 15 years ago.

Posted on: 27 September 2014 by sharik
Originally Posted by mudwolf:

not the best voice

who's the best voice then?

Posted on: 28 September 2014 by George J

Of great sopranos? ... not because she had the most beautiful voice. Of sopranos few are more beautiful than Elisabeth Schumann, but she would never have had the emotive power to raise her performance to Callas's level in Italian Opera though Schumann in Mozart is as remarkable as Callas is in Italian Opera. 

 

Callas is one apart from such prosaic demands as pure beauty of vocal production, and yet her recordings convey - far more than normally with recordings - the immediacy and conviction of her performances, even for those of us too young to have ever heard her perform live.

 

She was given an technical ability that was sufficient, and an acting ability that is with the best of any English Shakespearian Actor in his field. That is why we still consider her recordings as significant to this day.

 

ATB from George