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Medea
Maria Callas was successful in bringing back many bel canto gems to the operatic repertoire, but one opera she championed that has unfortunately fallen back into somewhat obscurity is Medea. Hearing this performance from 1953 it occurred to me that her portrayal is so complete, so raw, so vocally masterful that is quite likely that the reason for its recent neglect is that no soprano would ever want to try to fill those mythical shoes. Callas is magnetic from her first entrance to her final triumphant moments when Giasone has learned that she has just killed her children. Vocally she is stupendous, finding an intelligent balance between the classical nature of the vocal writing and the primal quality of the libretto, emerging at the end more animal than woman. She is well supported by Fedora Barbieri who is mesmerizing in her aria “Solo un pianto con te versare”, and Gabriella Tucci as Glauce.
Track List
Act I
1. Sinfonia
2. Che? Quando già corona
3. E tu, che a me divin... O Amore, vieni a me!
4. No, non temer: t'affidi il mio parlar
5. O bella Glauce, il grande Giason
6. Or que più non vedrò quella sposa crudele
7. Pronube dive, dei custodi
8. Signor! Ferma una donna
9. Taci, Giason, e affissi immoto il suolo?
10. Dei tuoi figli la madre
11. Son vane qui minacce, prieghi, duol!
2. Che? Quando già corona
3. E tu, che a me divin... O Amore, vieni a me!
4. No, non temer: t'affidi il mio parlar
5. O bella Glauce, il grande Giason
6. Or que più non vedrò quella sposa crudele
7. Pronube dive, dei custodi
8. Signor! Ferma una donna
9. Taci, Giason, e affissi immoto il suolo?
10. Dei tuoi figli la madre
11. Son vane qui minacce, prieghi, duol!
Act II
12. Soffrir non posso, troppo è l'offesa!
13. Date almen per pietà
14. Ebben! Ebben! TuEo mi manca!
15. Medea, o Medea!... Solo un pianto con te versare
16. Creonte a me solo un giorno dà?
17. Figli miei, miei tesor
18. Hai dato pronto ascolto al mio pregar
19. Il mio furor la vostra gioia affina
13. Date almen per pietà
14. Ebben! Ebben! TuEo mi manca!
15. Medea, o Medea!... Solo un pianto con te versare
16. Creonte a me solo un giorno dà?
17. Figli miei, miei tesor
18. Hai dato pronto ascolto al mio pregar
19. Il mio furor la vostra gioia affina
Act III
20. Numi venite a me, inferni Dei!
21. Del fiero duol che il cor mi frange
22. D'amore il raggio ancora in lei s'è spento
23. E che? Io son Medea!
24. Atre furie, volate a me
21. Del fiero duol che il cor mi frange
22. D'amore il raggio ancora in lei s'è spento
23. E che? Io son Medea!
24. Atre furie, volate a me
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4.5
Based on 2 reviews
✓ Verified Buyer
United States
Brilliant right from the start
I believe this performance was the very first time that Callas ever performed the role of Medea, and her mastery of the role, both musically and dramatically, is extraordinarily complete. Nothing in any of her later recorded performances of the role surpasses what she achieves here, except for the extra venom she conveys in the Dallas performance at the end of the decade. Barbieri performs beautifully in the role of Neris, and it is interesting to hear Tucci performing in the same cast as Callas. Gui was outstanding in everything I have ever heard him conduct.
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✓ Verified Buyer
United States
