CD-Charts Position 1
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Bellini: Il Pirata (complete opera live 1959) with Maria Callas, Costantino Ego, Nicola Rescigno, Orchestra & Chorus of the American Opera Society

Search: Del Disastro Di Questi Infelici
from: Angel Records

Release Date October 28, 2002
I revisited this recording before and after attending a Pirata performance last month. Maybe because of Rescigno, maybe because of the second-rate tenor and baritone, I wasn't excited by this recording. I thought it was because of the work but the live performance proved it wasn't.

Maria Callas as Imogene is the obvious reason to get this performance and what a pleasure it is to hear her relaxing her throat and allowing Bellini's music to flow. Her best work is in the recitatives and lyrical passages. I love it when she sings lower notes with more care. While the downward leaps and fioriture are always so spectacular with this singer. Unfortunately highest notes were by that time often strenuous, and wobbly, especially in faster ... Read More:

CD-Charts Position 2
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Voce D'Italia: Arias For Rubini

Search: Del Disastro Di Questi Infelici
from: Decca

Release Date January 22, 2008
I have been thrilled seeing Florez in operas, his voice is powerful and pure; his acting ability is unmatchable. But his CD's are produced very purely. He sings too loud, it is not pleasing to the ear. I have seen audiences move Florez to tears with ovations; he is amazing. But the people who produced this CD apparently did not listen to it before selling it to the public. I found it offensive.

CD-Charts Position 3
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Bellini: Il Pirata

Search: Del Disastro Di Questi Infelici
from: Angel Records

Release Date August 05, 2002
Il pirata was Bellini's first great success and don't think it is a work of a beginner. For me it is on the same level with his most famous operas. It even has something that his later operas don't. It is so dramatic and exciting from the beginning to the end! I don't know if you can find so many beautiful melodies in any other opera. Every scene is a hit. Just listen to "Nel furor delle tempeste", "Lo sognai ferito, esangue", or "Parlarti ancor per poco". His recitatives, ariosos and ensembles are sometimes even more interesting than his arias. I don't know why this opera doesn't belong to the standard repertory. Perhaps because it is almost unsingable.
But fortunately we have this wonderful recording conducted by Gavazzeni. Caballé (Imogene) and Cappuccilli ... Read More: