CD-Charts Position 1
Average Rating:

The Very Best of Maria Callas

by: Maria Callas

Release Date February 12, 2002
I grew up on opera but not on Maria Callas. Joan Sutherland, Schwartzkoff, Victoria Los Angeles, and Mady Mesple (to name a few) crowded the airwaves of our home growing up. I had heard that Maria Callas was THE Diva of opera and bought one of her obscure recordings from a low budget bin while in Paris 10 years ago. It didn't impress me that much. Perhaps it was recorded during her voice decline. I could certainly tell she had a powerhouse voice but many of those arias were unknown to me and I didn't connect all that well with the CD.

After reading some of these reviews I decided to give her one more chance. Surely 50 million opera fans can't be all wrong! So I bought this disc and listened to it the other day. There are plenty ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
Average Rating:

Puccini: Tosca (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Victor de Sabata, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

by: Giacomo Puccini, Victor De Sabata, Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Tito Gobbi, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala

Release Date August 19, 1997
This is much more than the best opera recording ever: it is the true expression of perfection.

CD-Charts Position 3
Average Rating:

Puccini: Tosca (1953) with Callas, di Stefano, Gobbi, cond. by de Sabata

from: EMI Classics

Release Date December 02, 2003
...if you are, and don't want to be offended/mad, stop here [but note the five stars]. Blessed with massive God-given talent, she had a defective technique that she wouldn't change, made bad casting decisions, and ruined her voice at a young age. Difficult to the point of being unprofessional, rude to fans and colleagues alike [What does a performer owe the fans? Ted Williams said he only owed his base hits, but he sure owed that. A singer at least owes showing up, and hitting the right notes], she was a terror. She got some bad cards in the game of life, but dealt a lot of them to herself. But. But. Sometimes the stars line up just right....this is the Tosca for the ages, and MAYBE the greatest complete recording of an opera ever made. Listen ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 4
Average Rating:

Maria Callas, the Voice of the Century

from: EMI Classics

Release Date March 17, 1998
Turns out I already had this album when I bought it again from Amazon. Oh well. I find this much Callas too much for one sitting. One CD is too much. However, pick and choose what you are in the mood for. For me, it's Casta Diva from Norma. Every time I take out the CD, it's Casta Diva...and that's enough. Perfection, nobility. I don't want to plow through the repertoire after that.

CD-Charts Position 5
Average Rating:

Maria Callas & Giuseppe di Stefano - Italian Opera Duets

by: Vincenzo Bellini, Giuseppe Verdi, Giacomo Puccini, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Tullio Serafin, Herbert von Karajan, Norberto Mola, Victor De Sabata, Maria Callas, Giuseppe di Stefano, Renato Ercolani, Carlo Forti, Giuse Gerbino, Dario Caselli, Angelo Mercuriali

Release Date October 25, 1990
I'm not a callas fan. The only reason why I love this cd is because of Di Stefano. Di Stefano is the greatest tenor that has ever lived! No one can best him!

CD-Charts Position 6
Average Rating:

Maria Callas: The Legend

from: EMI Classics

Release Date October 24, 2000
He--or she, as the case may be--understands.

CD-Charts Position 7
Average Rating:

The Very Best of Giuseppe di Stefano

from: EMI Classics

Release Date September 02, 2003
For the most part this recording is fair. The Neapolitan songs are very well done and some of the arias from French opera were very nice. The big disappointment is Nessun Dorma from Turandot. In this aria Di Stefano is horribly flat on the penultimate high note that for many makes this aria so exciting. It would have been best if the producers could have found another aria for the collection.

CD-Charts Position 8
Average Rating:

The Passion of Callas

from: EMI Classics

Release Date March 23, 2004
Many fans of Opera know of Maria Callas and that she set a standard that is rarely reached in this genre. This album features a great variety of works that will satisfy even the most jaded fans. I adore this album and even friends who know nothing about artistic music or Opera love this Cd. This is a must have for any music fan!

If you are not an Opera fan and you only owned 1 Opera album; this would be a great choice . . . None nicer!

CD-Charts Position 9
Average Rating:

Maria Callas Live

from: EMI Classics

Release Date November 08, 2005
In 1958, when I first started to appreciate opera at just age 14+, I was in Dallas for a family visit. Callas was singing with the Dallas Civic Opera and stayed at the Adolphus Hotel. With gumption that only a youth can have, I went to her hotel room and sought her autograph. She was not there but her maid asured me that I would get the autograph, and on a photo no less, to be left at the front desk. I did get the autograph, but just never really came to fully appreciate the Callas voice. Yes, I have a number of her recordings, but still..... others were my favorites.Having collected over 1,000 different operas on recordings and some of them on dozens of LPs, tapes and CDs, I believe I have become an authority, but still learning and hearing, on recorded classical ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 10
Average Rating:

Maria Callas - Life & Art (2 CD's & Bonus DVD)

from: EMI Classics

Release Date November 16, 2004
This is one of the most beautiful presentations of Maria Callas I have ever seen. CD 1: The tragic heroine, CD 2: The romantic heroine, DVD: Concert in Hamburg. The CD:s does NOT include two full-lenght operas as another reviewer suggests. Together with the records: a little book with lots of photos - and the text of the different arias in German, Italian and English. As an introduction: "The tragic heroine" by Tony Locantro. The set is so beautiful, that every fan of Callas just must buy it. Published by EMI