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La Vestale
This production of La Vestale, from La Scala, marks a big moment in the history of opera. Not only did it feature the great Maria Callas at the height of her vocal powers, it also marked the La Scala debut of Franco Corelli as Licinio as well as the first production of legendary director Luchino Visconti. The result is a performance that takes an opera that is not enormously compelling and propels it to one of the most exalted levels of theater that you can ever hope to witness. Callas's voice is perfect for the role. She is respectful of the classical traditions still at play in Spontini's forms, and embraces the nascent romanticism with zeal. Franco Corelli sounds like a god as Licinio, and even though the role doesn't give him that much opportunity to show off his legendary top, he sets the music on fire with his ardent singing. Ebe Stignani is slightly past her prime as La Gran Vestale.
Track List
Act I
1. Sinfonia
2. Presso il sublime Vesta sacro
3. Tu nascondi a un fido core
4. Quando amistà seconda il mio ardimento
5. Alma Vesta del ciel pura figlia
6. È questa l'ultima volta che de' tuoi perigli
7. È l'Amore un mostro, un mostro, un barbaro
8. Ti vedrò, ti vedrò fra momenti
9. Di lauri il suol spargiamo
10. Trionfan l'armi nostre
11. Danze
12. Ormai cessi il tribudio
2. Presso il sublime Vesta sacro
3. Tu nascondi a un fido core
4. Quando amistà seconda il mio ardimento
5. Alma Vesta del ciel pura figlia
6. È questa l'ultima volta che de' tuoi perigli
7. È l'Amore un mostro, un mostro, un barbaro
8. Ti vedrò, ti vedrò fra momenti
9. Di lauri il suol spargiamo
10. Trionfan l'armi nostre
11. Danze
12. Ormai cessi il tribudio
Act II
13. Divin foco, alma del mondo
14. Del più grande ministero il venerato segno
15. Tu che invoco con orrore, Dea tremenda
16. Su questo sacro altare, che oltraggia il mio dolor
17. Giulia!… È la sua voce…
18. Avran pietà gli Dei
19. Licinio… Ciel, qual voce!
20. Oh delitto! Oh sventura!
21. O Nume tutelar
14. Del più grande ministero il venerato segno
15. Tu che invoco con orrore, Dea tremenda
16. Su questo sacro altare, che oltraggia il mio dolor
17. Giulia!… È la sua voce…
18. Avran pietà gli Dei
19. Licinio… Ciel, qual voce!
20. Oh delitto! Oh sventura!
21. O Nume tutelar
Act III
22. Ohimè! quale apparato!
23. Cinna… l'armi che fan?
24. Tu sol dovrai tremare
25. La Vestale infida morrà
26. Noi t'imploriamo, o Dea
27. Fermate, satelliti di morte!
28. Lieti concenti, dolci momenti
29. Vieni: colà sull'ara recevi la mia fè
23. Cinna… l'armi che fan?
24. Tu sol dovrai tremare
25. La Vestale infida morrà
26. Noi t'imploriamo, o Dea
27. Fermate, satelliti di morte!
28. Lieti concenti, dolci momenti
29. Vieni: colà sull'ara recevi la mia fè
Customer Reviews
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5.0
Based on 3 reviews
✓ Verified Buyer
United States
The legendary 1954 La Scala Vestale in good sound
This 1954 recording of Spontini's La vestale from La Scala with Callas and Corelli, both in top form (just listen to Callas' blazing high note at the end of "Tu che invoco"), is probably the best recording of the opera. Sadly, every version I have heard of this recording, going back to the UORC LPs from the mid-1970s, has been plagued with inferior sound, with lots of overload on the forte passages. Even the recent release on Warner Classics, probably the best one so far, has only solved this problem to a limited extent. I have heard that the problem is in the original broadcast which, it turns out, may not actually be the case. I don't know if Opera Depot has found a different source; whatever it is, this release is easily the best-sounding recording of this performance that I have heard. The overall sound is good-plus, and there is nary a hint of the overload that is in every other release of it that I know. Highly recommended to anyone who is interested in hearing, for the first or for the hundredth time, this magnificent Vestale.
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✓ Verified Buyer
United States
✓ Verified Buyer
Louis Newton
Your “La Vestale” is much clearer than the OdO version I’ve had for some years. I’m genuinely (and happily) surprised at the improvement. Even in the sample above, there’s a little downward vocal run at about 1:17 which with OdO is little more than a muddy slide downward (not a Callas trademark at all), but here every note is lightly and distinctly sung. I don’t know your source or your magic, but whatever it is it’s good! Well done, you.
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