Maria Callas - Verdi: La Traviata (1954/2014) [Official Digital Download 24-bit/96kHz]

Posted By: HDV

Maria Callas - Verdi: La Traviata (1954) [Remastered 2014]
FLAC (tracks) 24-bit/96 kHz | Time - 160:26 minutes | 1,15 GB
Studio Master, Official Digital Download | Artwork: Digital booklet

Violetta, the most complex and fully-rounded of Verdi's heroines, was one of the roles that defined Maria Callas as an artist. She performed it more than 60 times between 1951 and 1958, most famously in Luchino Visconti's production at La Scala in 1955/56. It is often said that the role demands a different kind of voice for each act, and, when she made this recording for the Cetra label in 1953, Callas offered youthful, ringing power complemented by coloratura prowess and the capacity for great delicacy. More than 60 years on, her characterisation, in its subtlety and truth, still sets the standard for La traviata.

With 63 performances, La traviata was Callas' second most performed opera in the theatre. Her Violetta exists in seven complete recorded documents, spanning the period from 1951 to 1958. Six are 'live' performances, and this one, committed to disc by Cetra in 1953, is the one studio effort. Callas's recorded Violettas fall into three chronological categories. The first three, 1951-3, are youthful, vocally robust, the character fully realised by anyone else's standards, but by Callas's standards more a detailed sketch. 1955-6 brought the revolutionary Visconti production conducted by Giulini, by which time Callas was a slim, glamorous Violetta, frail in the final act, her voice still vigorous, but somewhat scaled down. The two final documents, from 1958, present a ghost-like waif, the diva astonishing in her attention to detail, employing a voice of such fragility in the final scene as to be not only haunting, but almost alarming.
This studio Traviata falls into the first category, early Callas Violettas, but follows 25 performances of the role on stage, and reveals insights gathered during that time. In fact, the staggering revelations of later performances are all here in nascent form, presented in the context of an enormous instrument yet to be fully tamed. There is much to admire and be moved by here, some of it unequalled in later essays of the role. Callas's voice is so young and free as to sail through the treacherous 'Sempre libera' as if it were so much child's play, while still investing it with defiant intensity. Her perfect, fleet execution of musical details, like the acc/accafure in 'Libiamo', reveal a musician of great refinement. The way she portrays all the stages of Violetta's acquiescence in the duet with Germont is vocal acting -through voice, phrase and observance of Verdi's detailed markings - on the highest level. The scene in which Violetta is discovered writing her farewell to Alfredo is, I dare say, the greatest on recording. Callas' death scene may have become even more refined, but here it's already something of a masterpiece. This is a Violetta to cherish.

Tracklist:

01 - La traviata: Prelude
02 - La traviata, Act 1: "Dell'invito trascorsa e gia l'ora" (Chorus, Violetta, Flora, Marquis, Gaston, Baron)
03 - La traviata, Act 1: "Libiamo ne'lieti calici" (Alfredo, Violetta, Chorus)
04 - La traviata, Act 1: "Che e cio?" (Chorus, Violetta, Alfredo)
05 - La traviata, Act 1: "Un dí felice, eterea" (Alfredo, Violetta)
06 - La traviata, Act 1: "Ebben? Che diavol fate?" (Gastone, Violetta, Alfredo)
07 - La traviata, Act 1: "Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora" (Flora, Gastone, Baron, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus)
08 - La traviata, Act 1: "E strano! E strano!" (Violetta)
09 - La traviata, Act 1: "Ah fors'e lui" (Violetta)
10 - La traviata, Act 1: "Follie! Follie! Delirio vano e questo!" (Violetta, Alfredo)
11 - La traviata, Act 1: "Sempre libera" (Violetta, Alfredo)
12 - La traviata, Act 2: "Lunge da lei per me non v'ha diletto!…." (Alfredo, Annina)
13 - La traviata, Act 2: "De'miei bollenti spiriti" (Alfredo, Annina)
14 - La traviata, Act 2: "Annina, donde vieni?….O mio rimorso!" (Alfredo, Annina, Violetta, Germont)
15 - La traviata, Act 2: "Pura siccome un angelo" (Violetta, Germont)
16 - La traviata, Act 2: "Non sapete quale affetto" (Violetta, Germont)
17 - La traviata, Act 2: "Un di, quando le veneri" (Violetta, Germont)
18 - La traviata, Act 2: "Ah! Dite alla giovane" (Violetta, Germont)
19 - La traviata, Act 2: "Imponete…Non amarlo ditegli" (Violetta, Germont)
20 - La traviata, Act 2: "Morrò La mia memoria" (Germont, Violetta)
21 - La traviata, Act 2: "Dammi tu forza, o cielo!" (Violetta, Annina, Alfredo)
22 - La traviata, Act 2: "Che fai?…Nulla" (Violetta, Annina, Alfredo)
23 - La traviata, Act 2: "Ah, vive sol quel core" (Alfredo, Giuseppe, Germont)
24 - La traviata, Act 2: "Di Provenza il mar, il suol" (Alfredo, Giuseppe, Germont)
25 - La traviata, Act 2: "Avram lieta di maschere la notte" (Flora, Marquis, Doctor)
26 - La traviata, Act 2: "Noi siamo zingarelle" (Chorus, Flora, Marquis, Doctor)
27 - La traviata, Act 2: "Di Madride noi siam mattadori" (Chorus, Gastone, Flora, Doctor, Marquis)
28 - La traviata, Act 2: "Alfredo! Voi!" (Flora, Gastone, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus, Alfredo, Violetta, Baron)
29 - La traviata, Act 2: "Invitato a qui seguirmi" (Violetta, Alfredo, Chorus)
30 - La traviata, Act 2: "Ogni suo aver tal femmina" (Alfredo, Gaston, Baron, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus)
31 - La traviata, Act 2: "Di sprezzo degno sé stesso rende" (Germont, Alfredo, Flora, Gaston, Baron, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus)
32 - La traviata, Act 2: "Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core" (Violetta, Flora, Germont, Gaston, Baron, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus, Alfredo)
33 - La traviata, Act 3: Prelude
34 - La traviata, Act 3: "Annina?…Comandate?" (Violetta, Annina, Doctor)
35 - La traviata, Act 3: "Teneste la promessa….Attendo - ne a me giungon mai!….Addio, del passato" (Violetta, Annina, Doctor)
36 - La traviata, Act 3: "Addio, del passato" (Violetta)
37 - La traviata, Act 3: "Largo al quadrupede" (Chorus)
38 - La traviata, Act 3: "Signore!…Che t'accadde?" (Annina, Violetta, Alfredo)
39 - La traviata, Act 3: "Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo" (Annina, Violetta, Alfredo)
40 - La traviata, Act 3: "Ah, non piu, a un tempio" (Annina, Violetta, Alfredo)
41 - La traviata, Act 3: "Ah! gran Dio! Morir sì giovine" (Violetta, Alfredo)
42 - La traviata, Act 3: "Ah Violetta!…Voi, signor!" (Germont, Violetta, Alfredo, Annina, Doctor)
43 - La traviata, Act 3: "Prendi, quest'e l'immagine" (Germont, Violetta, Alfredo, Annina, Doctor)
44 - La traviata, Act 3: "Se una pudica vergine" (Violetta, Germont, Alfredo, Annina, Doctor)

Libretto: Françesco Maria Piave.
Recorded in September 1953 at Auditorium RAI in Turin, Italy.
Newly Remastered from the Original Master tapes at Abbey Road Studios, London, U.K.

Performers:
Maria Callas, soprano (Violetta Valéry)
Francesco Albanese, tenor (Alfredo Germont)
Ugo Savarese, baritone (Giorgio Germont)
Ede Marietti Gandolfo, mezzo-soprano (Flora Bervoix)
Ines Marietti, soprano (Annina)
Mariano Caruso, tenor (Gastone)
Alberto Albertini, baritone (Il barone Douphol)
Mario Zorgniotti, bass (Il marchese D’Obigny and Il dottore Grenvil)
Tommaso Soley, tenor (Giuseppe)

Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI - Conducted by Gabriele Santini.
Coro Cetra: chorus

Analyzed: Ede Marietti Gandolfo, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (1-4)
Francesco Albanese, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (5-7)
Francesco Albanese, Ugo Savarese, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (8)
Maria Callas, Ede Marietti Gandolfo, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (9)
Maria Callas, Francesco Albanese, Ede Marietti Gandolfo, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (10)
Maria Callas, Francesco Albanese, Francesco Albanese, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (11-13)
Maria Callas, Francesco Albanese, Ines Marietti, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (14-15)
Maria Callas, Francesco Albanese, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (16-26)
Maria Callas, Francesco Albanese, Ugo Savarese, Ede Marietti Gandolfo, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (27)
Maria Callas, Francesco Albanese, Ugo Savarese, Francesco Albanese, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (28-30)
Maria Callas, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (31-33)
Maria Callas, Ugo Savarese, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (34-39)
Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (40-42)
Ugo Savarese, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI & Gabriele Santini / Verdi: La Traviata (1953) (43-44)
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DR Peak RMS Duration Track
––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
DR10 -0.34 dB -15.55 dB 1:51 07-La traviata, Act 1: "Si ridesta in ciel l'aurora" (Flora, Gastone, Baron, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus)
DR13 -2.61 dB -20.53 dB 1:03 25-La traviata, Act 2: "Avram lieta di maschere la notte" (Flora, Marquis, Doctor)
DR12 -0.84 dB -18.43 dB 2:53 26-La traviata, Act 2: "Noi siamo zingarelle" (Chorus, Flora, Marquis, Doctor)
DR11 -1.62 dB -17.26 dB 3:05 27-La traviata, Act 2: "Di Madride noi siam mattadori" (Chorus, Gastone, Flora, Doctor, Marquis)
DR10 -5.09 dB -20.81 dB 2:00 12-La traviata, Act 2: "Lunge da lei per me non v'ha diletto!…." (Alfredo, Annina)
DR9 -4.94 dB -19.07 dB 2:09 13-La traviata, Act 2: "De'miei bollenti spiriti" (Alfredo, Annina)
DR9 -3.28 dB -15.50 dB 1:38 30-La traviata, Act 2: "Ogni suo aver tal femmina" (Alfredo, Gaston, Baron, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus)
DR10 -4.37 dB -19.70 dB 1:53 31-La traviata, Act 2: "Di sprezzo degno sé stesso rende" (Germont, Alfredo, Flora, Gaston, Baron, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus)
DR13 -0.30 dB -18.60 dB 5:12 02-La traviata, Act 1: "Dell'invito trascorsa e gia l'ora" (Chorus, Violetta, Flora, Marquis, Gaston, Baron)
DR9 -1.71 dB -16.53 dB 4:43 28-La traviata, Act 2: "Alfredo! Voi!" (Flora, Gastone, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus, Alfredo, Violetta, Baron)
DR8 -0.54 dB -14.65 dB 2:01 38-La traviata, Act 3: "Signore!…Che t'accadde?" (Annina, Violetta, Alfredo)
DR11 -3.59 dB -19.27 dB 4:09 39-La traviata, Act 3: "Parigi, o cara, noi lasceremo" (Annina, Violetta, Alfredo)
DR9 -2.86 dB -17.41 dB 1:58 40-La traviata, Act 3: "Ah, non piu, a un tempio" (Annina, Violetta, Alfredo)
DR12 -14.86 dB -33.30 dB 1:47 21-La traviata, Act 2: "Dammi tu forza, o cielo!" (Violetta, Annina, Alfredo)
DR8 -3.95 dB -17.78 dB 2:33 22-La traviata, Act 2: "Che fai?…Nulla" (Violetta, Annina, Alfredo)
DR11 -2.37 dB -17.74 dB 3:12 03-La traviata, Act 1: "Libiamo ne'lieti calici" (Alfredo, Violetta, Chorus)
DR14 -4.42 dB -23.29 dB 2:37 04-La traviata, Act 1: "Che e cio?" (Chorus, Violetta, Alfredo)
DR11 -2.42 dB -18.74 dB 3:31 05-La traviata, Act 1: "Un dí felice, eterea" (Alfredo, Violetta)
DR9 -4.80 dB -19.49 dB 1:30 06-La traviata, Act 1: "Ebben? Che diavol fate?" (Gastone, Violetta, Alfredo)
DR10 -3.82 dB -17.94 dB 1:06 10-La traviata, Act 1: "Follie! Follie! Delirio vano e questo!" (Violetta, Alfredo)
DR8 -4.51 dB -17.41 dB 4:02 11-La traviata, Act 1: "Sempre libera" (Violetta, Alfredo)
DR11 -5.53 dB -21.66 dB 4:36 14-La traviata, Act 2: "Annina, donde vieni?….O mio rimorso!" (Alfredo, Annina, Violetta, Germont)
DR10 -3.58 dB -18.27 dB 2:36 29-La traviata, Act 2: "Invitato a qui seguirmi" (Violetta, Alfredo, Chorus)
DR15 -6.90 dB -27.92 dB 4:38 34-La traviata, Act 3: "Annina?…Comandate?" (Violetta, Annina, Doctor)
DR12 -3.75 dB -24.32 dB 1:52 35-La traviata, Act 3: "Teneste la promessa….Attendo - ne a me giungon mai!….Addio, del passato" (Violetta, Annina, Doctor)
DR8 -0.65 dB -13.21 dB 1:49 41-La traviata, Act 3: "Ah! gran Dio! Morir sì giovine" (Violetta, Alfredo)
DR9 -3.27 dB -17.42 dB 4:34 32-La traviata, Act 2: "Alfredo, Alfredo, di questo core" (Violetta, Flora, Germont, Gaston, Baron, Doctor, Marquis, Chorus, Alfredo)
DR11 -2.94 dB -19.64 dB 2:00 42-La traviata, Act 3: "Ah Violetta!…Voi, signor!" (Germont, Violetta, Alfredo, Annina, Doctor)
DR9 -5.14 dB -20.05 dB 1:00 43-La traviata, Act 3: "Prendi, quest'e l'immagine" (Germont, Violetta, Alfredo, Annina, Doctor)
DR11 -0.30 dB -16.22 dB 3:37 44-La traviata, Act 3: "Se una pudica vergine" (Violetta, Germont, Alfredo, Annina, Doctor)
DR9 -6.62 dB -20.64 dB 1:20 08-La traviata, Act 1: "E strano! E strano!" (Violetta)
DR8 -6.08 dB -19.73 dB 3:01 09-La traviata, Act 1: "Ah fors'e lui" (Violetta)
DR10 -4.20 dB -20.37 dB 3:27 36-La traviata, Act 3: "Addio, del passato" (Violetta)
DR10 -3.80 dB -19.17 dB 1:47 15-La traviata, Act 2: "Pura siccome un angelo" (Violetta, Germont)
DR9 -2.79 dB -17.41 dB 2:22 16-La traviata, Act 2: "Non sapete quale affetto" (Violetta, Germont)
DR9 -4.79 dB -17.86 dB 2:45 17-La traviata, Act 2: "Un di, quando le veneri" (Violetta, Germont)
DR8 -5.29 dB -18.86 dB 4:25 18-La traviata, Act 2: "Ah! Dite alla giovane" (Violetta, Germont)
DR8 -3.88 dB -17.46 dB 1:11 19-La traviata, Act 2: "Imponete…Non amarlo ditegli" (Violetta, Germont)
DR8 -4.03 dB -16.75 dB 3:30 20-La traviata, Act 2: "Morrò La mia memoria" (Germont, Violetta)
DR12 -5.36 dB -23.21 dB 4:37 01-La traviata: Prelude
DR14 -3.88 dB -24.05 dB 4:40 33-La traviata, Act 3: Prelude
DR13 -4.66 dB -22.71 dB 0:46 37-La traviata, Act 3: "Largo al quadrupede" (Chorus)
DR13 -2.93 dB -22.03 dB 2:24 23-La traviata, Act 2: "Ah, vive sol quel core" (Alfredo, Giuseppe, Germont)
DR11 -3.46 dB -20.92 dB 4:51 24-La traviata, Act 2: "Di Provenza il mar, il suol" (Alfredo, Giuseppe, Germont)
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Number of tracks: 44
Official DR value: DR10

Samplerate: 96000 Hz
Channels: 2
Bits per sample: 24
Bitrate: 1232 kbps
Codec: FLAC
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Thanks to the Original customer!