BELLINI: Norma (Callas, Filippeschi) (1953)

There are few more technically demanding soprano rôles than that of Norma. In this 1954 studio taping Maria Callas gives one of her most dramatically intense, yet delicately nuanced performances on record, demonstrating an astonishing range and variety of expression that she did not quite replicate in the later stereo remake. ‘A classic, irreplaceable recording’ [Penguin Guide to Opera on Compact Disc]

Tracklist

Disc 1
Bellini, Vincenzo
Romani, Felice - Lyricist
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Caroli, Paolo (tenor)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Cavallari, Rina (soprano)
1Act I Scene 1: Sinfonia05:57
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
2Act I Scene 1: Ite sul colle, o Druidi! (Oroveso, Chorus)05:29
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
3Act I Scene 1: Dell’aura tua profetica (Oroveso, Chorus)04:37
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
4Act I Scene 1: Svanir le voci! (Pollione, Flavio)02:45
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Caroli, Paolo (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
5Act I Scene 1: Meco all’altar di Venere (Pollione)02:36
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
6Act I Scene 1: Odi? I suoi riti a compiere (Flavio, Chorus, Pollione)01:37
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Caroli, Paolo (tenor)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
7Act I Scene 1: Me protegge, me difende (Pollione)01:29
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
8Act I Scene 1: Norma viene (Chorus)04:41
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
9Act I Scene 1: Sediziose voci (Norma, Oroveso, Chorus)04:28
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
10Act I Scene 1: Casta diva (Norma)07:20
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
11Act I Scene 1: Fine al rito, e il sacro bosco (Norma, Oroveso, Chorus)01:41
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
12Act I Scene 1: Ah! Bello a me ritorna (Norma, Oroveso, Chorus)03:30
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
13Act I Scene 1: Sgombra è la sacra selva (Adalgisa)04:13
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
14Act I Scene 1: Deh! Proteggimi, o Dio! (Adalgisa)01:54
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
15Act I Scene 1: Eccola – va, mi lascia (Pollione, Adalgisa)01:39
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
16Act I Scene 1: Va, crudele (Pollione, Adalgisa)05:18
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
17Act I Scene 1: Vieni in Roma (Pollione, Adalgisa)03:21
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
Disc 2
1Act I Scene 2: Vanne, e li cela entrambi (Norma, Clotilde)04:49
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Cavallari, Rina (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
2Act I Scene 2: Adalgisa!... [Alma, costanza] (Norma, Adalgisa)03:23
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
3Act I Scene 2: Oh, rimembranza! (Norma, Adalgisa)05:26
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
4Act I Scene 2: Ah si, fa' core, abbracciami (Norma, Adalgisa)03:03
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
5Act I Scene 2: Ma di'... l'amato giovane (Norma, Adalgisa, Pollione)03:03
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
6Act I Scene 2: Oh, di qual sei tu vittima (Norma, Adalgisa, Pollione)04:15
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
7Act I Scene 2: Perfido!... Or basti! (Norma, Adalgisa, Pollione)01:24
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
8Act I Scene 2: Vanne, si, mi lascia, indegno (Norma, Pollione, Adalgisa, Chorus)02:36
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
9Act II Scene 1: Introduzione (Allegro assai moderato)03:54
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
10Act II Scene 1: Dormono entrambi! (Norma, Clotilde)05:35
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Cavallari, Rina (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
11Act II Scene 1: Mi chiami, o Norma? (Adalgisa, Norma)02:39
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
12Act II Scene 1: Deh! Con te, con te li prendi (Norma, Adalgisa)04:12
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
13Act II Scene 1: Mira, o Norma (Adalgisa, Norma)04:00
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
14Act II Scene 1: Cedi, deh cedi! (Adalgisa, Norma)01:06
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
15Act II Scene 1: Si, fino all'ore estreme (Norma, Adalgisa)02:08
Stignani, Ebe (mezzo-soprano)
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
16Act II Scene 2: Non parti? (Chorus)05:34
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
17Act II Scene 2: Guerrieri! A voi venire (Oroveso, Chorus)01:52
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
18Act II Scene 2: Ah! Del Tebro al giogo indegno (Oroveso, Chorus)03:06
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
Disc 3
1Act II Scene 3: Ei tornera! Si! (Norma, Clotilde)04:17
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Cavallari, Rina (soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
2Act II Scene 3: Squilla il bronzo del Dio! (Oroveso, Chorus, Norma)01:50
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
3Act II Scene 3: Guerra! Guerra! (Oroveso, Chorus)02:13
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
4Act II Scene 3: Ne compi il rito, o Norma? (Oroveso, Norma, Clotilde, Chorus, Pollione)04:12
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Cavallari, Rina (soprano)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
5Act II Scene 3: In mia man alfin tu sei (Norma, Pollione)04:05
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
6Act II Scene 3: Ah, crudele! In sen del padre (Pollione, Norma)04:09
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
7Act II Scene 3: Dammi quel ferro! (Pollione, Norma, Oroveso, Chorus)03:27
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
8Act II Scene 3: Qual cor tradisti (Norma, Pollione, Oroveso, Chorus)04:48
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
9Act II Scene 3: Norma! deh Norma! scolpati (Chorus, Norma, Pollione, Oroveso)02:36
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
10Act II Scene 3: Deh! Non volerli vittime (Norma, Chorus, Oroveso, Pollione)04:54
Callas, Maria (soprano)
Rossi-Lemeni, Nicola (bass)
Filippeschi, Mario (tenor)
Milan La Scala Chorus (Choir)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Serafin, Tullio (Conductor)
Pinza, Ezio (bass)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus (Choir)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (Orchestra)
Setti, Giulio (Conductor)
11Norma, Act I: Ite sul colle, o Druidi!04:24
Pinza, Ezio (bass)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus (Choir)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (Orchestra)
Setti, Giulio (Conductor)
Merli, Francesco (tenor)
Studio orchestra (Orchestra)
12Norma, Act I: Meco all'altar di Venere - Me protegge!05:29
Merli, Francesco (tenor)
Studio orchestra (Orchestra)
Ponselle, Rosa (soprano)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus (Choir)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (Orchestra)
Setti, Giulio (Conductor)
13Norma, Act I: Sediziose voci - Casta diva - Ah! Bello a me ritorna07:57
Ponselle, Rosa (soprano)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus (Choir)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (Orchestra)
Setti, Giulio (Conductor)
Minghini-Cattaneo, Irene (mezzo-soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Sabajno, Carlo (Conductor)
14Norma, Act I: Sgombra e la sacra selva04:19
Minghini-Cattaneo, Irene (mezzo-soprano)
Milan La Scala Orchestra (Orchestra)
Sabajno, Carlo (Conductor)
Ponselle, Rosa (soprano)
Telva, Marion (contralto)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus (Choir)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (Orchestra)
Setti, Giulio (Conductor)
15Norma, Act II: Mira, o Norma07:14
Ponselle, Rosa (soprano)
Telva, Marion (contralto)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus (Choir)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (Orchestra)
Setti, Giulio (Conductor)
Pinza, Ezio (bass)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus (Choir)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (Orchestra)
Setti, Giulio (Conductor)
16Norma, Act II: Ah! Del Tebro al giogo indegno03:03
Pinza, Ezio (bass)
Metropolitan Opera Chorus (Choir)
Metropolitan Opera Orchestra (Orchestra)
Setti, Giulio (Conductor)
Cigna, Gina (soprano)
Breviario, Giovanni (tenor)
Pasero, Tancredi (bass)
Italian Broadcasting Authority Chorus, Turin (Choir)
Gui, Vittorio (Conductor)
Italian Broadcasting Authority Orchestra, Turin (Orchestra)
17Norma, Act II: Deh! Non volerli vittime04:43
Cigna, Gina (soprano)
Breviario, Giovanni (tenor)
Pasero, Tancredi (bass)
Italian Broadcasting Authority Chorus, Turin (Choir)
Gui, Vittorio (Conductor)
Italian Broadcasting Authority Orchestra, Turin (Orchestra)

Total Playing Time: 03:18:20