Experience the legendary Maria Callas in one of her most iconic roles with this remastered live recording of Vincenzo Bellini's "Norma." Captured live in London on November 18, 1952, this album offers a rare opportunity to witness Callas's extraordinary vocal prowess and dramatic intensity in one of opera's most demanding roles. The epic and multi-faceted character of Norma is often considered the ultimate vocal challenge for an operatic soprano, and Callas's performance is a testament to her unparalleled talent and artistry.
This 2-CD set features the complete opera, meticulously remastered in 2017 to bring out the finest details of Callas's voice and the orchestra's performance. With a duration of over two and a half hours, the album includes all the beloved arias and ensembles that make "Norma" a staple of the operatic repertoire, including the famous "Casta Diva."
The recording is part of Warner Classics' ongoing effort to preserve and showcase the greatest performances in opera history. The album's high-quality remastering ensures that both longtime fans of Maria Callas and newcomers to her work can fully appreciate the power and beauty of her voice. Whether you're an opera enthusiast or simply appreciate exceptional vocal artistry, this live recording of "Norma" is a treasure to be savored.
The album features a stellar cast of supporting singers, including Giacomo Vaghi as Oroveso and Vittorio Gui conducting the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The live setting adds an extra layer of excitement and authenticity, making this recording a unique and thrilling experience.
Bellini: Norma: Sinfonia to Act 1 (Live)Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Ite sul colle ... Dell'aura tua profetica" (Oroveso, Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Svanir le voci!" (Pollione, Flavio) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Mirto Picchi, Paul Asciak, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Meco all'altar di Venere" (Pollione) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Odi? ... I suoi riti a compiere" (Flavio, Chorus, Pollione) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Mirto Picchi, Paul Asciak, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Me protegge, me difende" (Pollione) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Norma viene" (Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Sediziose voci" (Norma, Oroveso, Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Casta Diva" (Norma, Chorus, Oroveso) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Fine al rito, e il sacro bosco" (Norma, Oroveso, Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Ah! bello a me ritorna" (Norma, Oroveso, Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Sgombra è la sacra selva" (Adalgisa) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Eccola - va, mi lascia" (Pollione, Adalgisa) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Va, crudele" (Pollione, Adalgisa) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Vieni in Roma" (Pollione, Adalgisa) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Vanne, e li cela entrambi" (Norma, Clotilde) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Dame Joan Sutherland, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Adalgisa! ... Alma, costanza" (Norma, Adalgisa) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Oh, rimembranza!" (Norma, Adalgisa) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Ah sì, fa core, abbracciami" (Norma, Adalgisa) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Ma di '... l'amato giovine" (Norma, Adalgisa, Pollione) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Oh, di qual sei tu vittima" (Norma, Adalgisa, Pollione) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Perfido! ... Or basti!" (Norma, Adalgisa, Pollione) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 1: "Vanne, sì, mi lascia, indegno" (Norma, Pollione, Adalgisa, Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: Introduction (Live)Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Dormono entrambi!" (Norma) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Olà! Clotilde!" (Norma, Clotilde) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Dame Joan Sutherland, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Mi chiami, o Norma?" (Adalgisa, Norma) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Deh! con te, con te li prendi" (Adalgisa, Norma) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Mira, o Norma" (Adalgisa, Norma) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Cedi ... deh cedi!" (Adalgisa, Norma) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Sì, fino all'ore estreme" (Adalgisa, Norma) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Ebe Stignani, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Non partì?" (Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Guerrieri! a voi venirne" (Oroveso, Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Ah! del Tebro al giogo indegno" (Oroveso, Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Ei tornerà. Sì!" (Norma, Clotilde) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Dame Joan Sutherland, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Squilla il bronzo del Dio!" (Chorus, Oroveso, Norma) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Guerra! guerra!" (Chorus) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Né compi il rito, o Norma?" (Oroveso, Norma, Clotilde, Chorus, Pollione) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Dame Joan Sutherland, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "In mia man alfin tu sei" (Norma, Pollione) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Già mi pasco ne' tuoi sguardi" (Norma, Pollione) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Dammi quel ferro!" (Chorus, Norma, Pollione, Oroveso) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Qual cor tradisti" (Chorus, Norma, Pollione, Oroveso) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Norma! deh! Norma, scòlpati!" (Chorus, Norma, Pollione, Oroveso) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden
Bellini: Norma, Act 2: "Deh! Non volerli vittime" (Chorus, Norma, Pollione, Oroveso) [Live]Vincenzo Bellini, Maria Callas, Giacomo Vaghi, Mirto Picchi, Vittorio Gui, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden