Maria Callas - Sleepwalking Scene, Macbeth 1952 La Scala BJR

Una macchia è qui tuttora, from BJR LP117. I took out a small section of audio during the intro, to try to replicate the 1958 Studio recording, which I love.
Victor de Sebata conducting.

[@arbiterveritatis1063]

One can't imagine a role more perfectly suited to Callas than Lady Macbeth. She had the vocal weight, the dramatic sense and the agility to actualize the totality of what Verdi had in mind.

[@leonoradelagardie]

Totally agree!

[@Poetxx9]

Il pianissimo a 7.44 è fuori da questo mondo...

[@fabriziomariagarzi5534]

Il suono di un'anima dannata dall'oltretomba...e' agghiacciante...tutte le altre si arrampicheranno sugli specchi in eterno. Sara' sempre come "Huis Clos" di Sartre.

[@Ad-nh8ov]

She is so perfect, she is unique

[@davideferrari5702]

In quest'opera.... Insuperabile...

[@danawinsor1380]

Thank you for including the ovation. Callas' ovations are in some ways as important as the performance itself.

[@mstreepnegron]

Para mí la Callas grabada en vivo es insuperable, es verdaderamente increíble una joven de 29 años cantando algo tan dramático y a ese nivel y en vivo. Increíble. Nadie ha vuelto a hacer eso. Talvez hoy la Netrebko pero a los 45 años. La Callas era de otro mundo. Demasiado adelantada y casi perfecta. Era la DIVINA CALLAS....!!!!!!!!!!

[@mk5244]

…wann immer ich von Vergleichen mit Maria Callas lese, stutze ich. Es gibt keine. Es gibt die Zeit vor Maria Callas und die danach. Gruß

[@ericwortman3180]

Too fast. Her 1958 recording with Nicola Rescingo has a perfect tempo. This sounds rushed. They're on amphetamines or something. Vocally, she's spendid.

[@mstreepnegron]

Hubiera dado mi vida por verla en el escenario. Siempre me he preguntado cómo la Callas cantaba así de esa manera. No tenía miedos, sólo cantaba con toda su potencia y tifo su corazón. No se dejaba nada para si, todo por la música y el personaje. Maravillosa y divina Callas. Que privilegiados los que estuvieron en sus presentaciones. Aún en sus grabaciones de estudio era increíble, pero en vivo......!!!!!!!!

[@infrantasi]

I've grown over the years to love this as much as the studio recording of 59, as she mastered the fast tempo. Her voice is so young buoyant, yet her precocious musical skills make this completely unique as a statement of pure tragedy, with a haunting intonation throughout and thrilling use of rubato.

[@rogersimonato2252]

infrantasi pk

[@mariaeugeniabranco3956]

Toujours une merveillhe unique! Irrepetible jusqu,a aujoud, hui!! CALLAS VIVAIT TOUS LES SENTIMENTS ET TOUS LES PENSEES ET LES EXPRIMAIS EN SONS!! UNE CHOSE UNIQUE!!!

[@OperaMyWorld]

Yes...I think it was the Callas the same who states that some members of the audience known as loggionisti, booed her in her early Scala Perfomances!!What a shame!!

[@gerardmignon700]

Il ne faut plus que j'écoute Callas, sinon je vais jeter toute ma collection de CD d'opéra chantés par des chanteuses d'opéras normales.

[@as16724]

She is unbelievable...she IS lady Macbeth!

[@Nobilangelo]

She gives the phrase 'sleepwalking to victory.' a glorious new meaning.

[@bodiloto]

divina .

[@kia-yw2zb]

Assolutamente l'UNICA E INARRIVABILE. Rimango abbastanza basita di fronte ai dislike....ma le orecchie e il cuore ce li avete???? Visto che quanto a incompetenza siete già abbondantemente equipaggiati....

[@stephencassista]

From what I've read, the booing came mostly from the fact that some of the audience wasn't ready for such a portrayal of Lady Macbeth and her singing was too 'different' from other sopranos. Remember that many people hadn't ever heard Callas at this point and certainly no one had heard the dramatic (and correct) portrayal of this character.

[@maritzaparada3809]

MARAVILLOSA! Verla en el escenario. Grandioso!!

[@mjb14722]

I'm with you, this is a fabulous Sleepwalking Scene, even if the tempo is too fast.

[@galehout]

che bravura. Nessuna fa il pianissimo finale così

[@fabriziomariagarzi5534]

Nessuna fa' il restante cosi'.

[@maritzaparada3809]

María Callas,la única! Insuperable. Grande María

[@infrantasi]

I completely agree! She actually did one take of the entire scene, and in an interview afterward she stated she had done "some beautiful singing"-she was never quick to compliment herself-but Legge felt she had missed the suggestions by Verdi in the score to sing it with a more "broken" and "choked" sound-so the version that was published was the second attempt.

[@jmiller05]

Yes. I love the languid, spacious mad quality when the tempo is slowed down. I feel it gives access for more deliberate vocal expression.

[@Ariadne7710]

Much as I love this one, on balance I think I prefer the slightly slower tempo of the 1958 recording. I think is works better with sleepwalking!! What do you think??

[@judycadana]

Agreed. I much prefer a slower tempo for that exquisite prelude. She's not sleep running for god's sake. But as usual, her performance rides above all environmental obstacles.

[@mavavz]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@Ariadne7710]

Her amazing colouring and phrasing make this scene so real, you can actually see Lady Macbeth sleepwalking. The whole scene sends chills down your spine and that last high D fading away is an impossible miracle

[@kia-yw2zb]

Insuperabile...semplicemente ineguagliabile.

[@Olgaalwina]

Unerreicht, sie wird unerreicht bleiben !!!

[@marylambcarter]

UNICA

[@SteveODonnell25]

Sadly she was not able to repeat the role at the Met because fired her over a disagreement. Waht a loss.

[@josedomingosgiffonirosa8362]

Callas sempre arrebata e marca de forma indiscutível tudo o que canta. Única. Perfeita e, até hoje e para sempre, insuperável. Ninguém, antes, durante ou depois chegou perto de suas memorav6 performances. Callas é Eterna.

[@josedomingosgiffonirosa8362]

Callas sempre marcou tudo o wue cantou com uma profunda aproximação psicológica com o personagem. Ela não cantou o papel de Lady Macbet, no palco ela era a própria! Ela foi a maior artista operistica do século CC. E até hoje jamais foi superada por ninguém!

[@ransomcoates546]

This is the voice in its prime -- huge. But frankly the interpretation is rather hammy. Unlike her, who never resorted to shredding scenery.

[@MultiZahl]

Very amazingly sound-Thank yo dear John for the wunderful recording- kind regard´s michael

[@agataconti88]

Genio incompreso!

[@EricAkif]

Were they booing her???

[@revmiguel2000]

Tebaldi fans?

[@galehout]

at the end, with long whistles