La Scala Milan Chorus & Orchestra

Callas live, and at the peak of her powers – inspired performances that put her studio sets in the shade…. In the case of Ballo the context of an evening in the theatre makes this a more arresting, vivid interpretation on all sides than its studio counterpart of a year earlier, with Gianandrea Gavazzeni galvanising his fine cast to great things. As the late John Ardoin put it in his study of Callas’s recordings: ‘The La Scala performance is sung with more vivid colours, with accents more etched and a general intensification of Verdi’s drama.’ …. Ettore Bastianini’s forthright Renato, the only role he sang in London and one of his best in an all too short career, and Giulietta Simionato’s classic Ulrica are huge assets.” (Gramophone)

“How beautifully she caressed the phrases [in the final duet] starting “Vedi? di morte l’angelo”, touching gently the notes marked staccato, ravishing the ear with the downward portamento from the high B-flat.” Opera

‘A highly desirable conflation of one and a half LPs on one generously filled CD, which allows us to hear Callas’s unique voice and art with even greater faithfulness. Serafin gives admirable support throughout.’ (Gramophone)