Historical Recordings - up to 25% off

Cerquetti became well-known in the mid-fifties and “inherited” roles that Maria Callas had abandoned such as Abigaille, Gioconda and Aida. Her singing career was short and she only made two commercial recordings. This collection includes a recital of arias recorded in 1957, excerpts from La Giaconda, recorded in the same year and some RAI broadcasts dating from 1955 and 1956.

Continuing Preiser’s critically acclaimed series, Legendary Singers, featuring Ester Mazzoleni. She was renowned in her day for choosing repertoire that was considered (at the time) to be rather exotic!

1954 Recording. 1954 was for Callas an exceptionally busy year. As well as appearing regularly at La Scala, Milan and elsewhere in Italy, she made her American debut at the Chicago Lyric in November. Her September 1954 Watford Town Hall sessions featured on this recording were released on two albums, one devoted to Puccini arias, not without blemishes, and the second featuring a selection entitled Coloratura Lyric Arias, which remains justly famous to this day. In the two arias from Cilea’a Adriana Lecouvreur, Callus’ interpretation benefits from her remarkably expansive breath span. In Boito’s L’altra notte Callas revolutionises performance practise: she not only correctly sings all the written notes, but she understands implicitly what the dramatic situation calls for in her treatment of the cadenzas at the end of each verse. Throughout the remarkable length of her phrases, her choice of vocal colours, her command of rubato and her dynamic range reveal much more than one had thought the music contained.

A 2-CD set of some of her most famous performances.