Video Discription |
As promised, my restoration of Callas's complete 1953 Florence Medea. See below for complete tracklist and cast.
Notes
On May 7, 1953, Maria Callas made her debut in the role which would become her most unapproachable artistic achievement. Gloriously, the opening night of Cherubini's Medea was recorded and preserved for later generations to hear. Though offering something unique in each of her renditions, no surviving Callas Medea matches the power, ease, and youthfulness of voice the soprano displays in the Florentine recording.
Unfortunately, the Greek tragedy of the performance has often been marred by equally tragic sound. Thanks to the efforts of Cetra and arsvocalis, however, the best sounding transfer of the recording has come into circulation. This is the source that I had on my hands when I began experimenting with re-equalizing the sound. What I stumbled upon was a revelation: buried within the boxy, rotten sound of the age-old recording lay frequencies that only needed a boost, and a whole new sound image came to life. Adding a bit of stereoization, and you can hear the results for yourself.
In honor of the upcoming 70 years since the performance, enjoy my restoration of what may well be Maria Callas's greatest recording of Medea, and no doubt one of the greatest nights of her career.
Tracklist
0:00 Overture
Act 1:
6:34 Che quando già corona Amor
13:32 O Amore, vieni a me
17:58 No, non temer, t’affidi il mio parlar
20:14 O bella Glauce, il grande Giason
24:50 Or che più non vedrò quella sposa crudele
28:49 Pronube dive, dei custodi
37:59 Signor! Ferma una donna a vostre soglie sta
42:24 Qui tremar devi tu, donna rea, empia maga!
44:37 Taci, Giason
47:10 Dei tuoi figli la madre
51:40 Son vane qui minacce, preghi, duol
52:17 Nemici senza cor
Act 2:
57:26 Introduzione
59:19 Soffrir non posso
1:02:10 Date almen per pietà un asilo
1:07:04 Ebben... ebben... tutto mi manca!
1:13:37 Medea, o Medea!
1:15:12 Solo un pianto con te versare
1:21:53 Creonte a me solo un giorno da
1:24:26 Figli miei, miei tesor
1:31:42 Hai dato pronto ascolto al mio pregar
1:37:52 Dolce Nume dal ciel
1:41:25 Deh, posa al crin del sacro mirto il fior!
Act 3:
1:44:00 Introduzione – Tempesta
1:48:31 Numi, venite a me!
1:53:37 Del fiero duol che il cor mi frange
1:56:04 Fu per voi se mia man
1:58:31 D'amore il raggio ancora in lei s'è spento... Neris, che hai fatto tu del dono mio
2:00:35 E che? Io son Medea! Io son Medea
2:08:38 Atre furie, volate a me!
Cast & Other Info
Luigi Cherubini's Medea
Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence May Music Festival)
May 7, 1953, Teatro Comunale, Florence
Medea: Maria Meneghini Callas
Glauce: Gabriella Tucci
Neris: Fedora Barbieri
Giasone: Carlos Guichandut
Creonte: Mario Petri
Un capo delle guardie del re: Mario Frosini
Prima Ancella di Glauce: Liliana Poli
Seconda Ancella di Glauce: Maria Andreassi
Orchestra and Choir of the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino
Vittorio Gui conducts. lX5duz_Ds5U |