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Visconti’s sensational 1955 production of La Sonnambula for La Scala, Milan, was revived and recorded two years later. As a girl, Callas had fallen in love with the role of Amina; as an adult it suited her voice perfectly, and her interpretation set a benchmark that few have equalled.
Among the many highlights of Callas’s profoundly satisfying performance is her cadenza for Ah non giunge in which she executes a remarkable diminuendo on a stratospheric E-flat, a feat unrivalled in the history of the gramophone.
This is by any standards a classic recording.
“Callas does not appear to ever strain for a note. Her voice is always agile and flexible, with an upper register that is forceful but transparent. Callas always retains her lyric sweetness, She sings with nearly perfect evenness through passages of florid ornamentation.” Audiophile Audition on this recording
Vincenzo Bellini: La sonnambula
Act I Scene 1: Viva! Viva Amina! (Chorus)
Act I Scene 1: Tutto e gioia, tutto e festa (Lisa, Chorus, Alessio)
Act I Scene 1: In Elvezia, non v'ha rosa (Chorus, Lisa, Alessio)
Act I Scene 1: Care compagne (Amina, Chorus)
Act I Scene 1: Come per me sereno… Sempre, o felice Amina (Amina, all)
Act I Scene 1: Sovra il sen la man mi posa (Amina, all)
Act I Scene 1: Il piu di tutti, o Amina (Alessio, Amina, Lisa, Teresa, Notary)
Act I Scene 1: Perdona, o mia diletta (Elvino, Amina, All, Notary)
Act I Scene 1: Prendi: L'anel ti dono (Elvino)
Act I Scene 1: Scritti nel ciel gia sono… Ah! vorrei trovar parole (All, Elvira, Amina, Lisa)
Act I Scene 1: Domani, appena aggiorni (Elvino, All, Amina)
Act I Scene 1: Come noioso e lungo il cammin… Vi ravviso, o luoghi ameni… E gentil, leggiadra molto (Rodolfo, Lisa, All)
Act I Scene 1: Contezza del paese (Elvino, Rodolfo, Teresa, Chorus)
Act I Scene 1: A fosco cielo, a notte bruna (Chorus, Rodolfo, Teresa, Amina, Elvino)
Act I Scene 1: Basta cosi. Ciascuno si attenga (Rodolfo, Teresa, All, Elvino)
Act I Scene 1: Elvino! E me tu lasci (Amina, Elvino)
Act I Scene 1: Son gelosa del zefiro errante (Elvino, Amina)
Act I Scene 2: Davver, non mi dispiace (Rodolfo, Lisa)
Act I Scene 2: Che veggio? (Rodolfo, Amina, Lisa)
Act I Scene 2: O ciel! Che tento? (Rodolfo, Amina)
Act I Scene 2: Osservate: L'uscio e aperto (Chorus)
Act I Scene 2: E menzogna (Elvino, Chorus, Lisa, Amina)
Act I Scene 2: D'un pensiero e d'un accento (Amina, Elvino, Chorus, Alessio, Teresa)
Act I Scene 2: Non piu nozze (Elvino, All, Amina, Lisa, Alessio, Chorus, Teresa)
Act II Scene 1: Qui la selva e piu folta ed ombrosa (Chorus)
Act II Scene 1: Reggimi, o buona madre (Amina, Teresa)
Act II Scene 1: Vedi, o madre… E afflitto e mesto (Amina, Elvino)
Act II Scene 1: Viva il Conte! (Distant Voices, Elvino, Amina, Teresa, Chorus)
Act II Scene 1: Ah! Perche non posso odiarti (Elvino, Teresa, Chorus)
Act II Scene 2: E fia pur vero, Elvino (Lisa, Elvino, Rodolfo, Alessio, All)
Act II Scene 2: Signor Conte, agli occhi miei (Elvino, Rodolfo, Chorus, Lisa, Teresa)
Act II Scene 2: Signor?… Che creder deggio? (Elvino, Rodolfo, Teresa, Chorus)
Act II Scene 2: Oh! Se una volta sola (Amina, Rodolfo, Teresa, All)
Act II Scene 2: Ah! Non credea mirarti (Amina, Elvino)
Act II Scene 2: No, piu non reggo (Elvino, Amina, Rodolfo, Chorus)
Act II Scene 2: Ah! Non giunge uman pensiero (Amina, All)
Luigi Cherubini: Medea (Medee)
Medea, Act I: Dei tuoi figli
Gaspare Spontini: La Vestale
Act II: Tu che invoco
Act II: O nume tutelar
La Vestale, Act III: Caro oggetto
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Act I Scene 1: Viva! Viva Amina! (Chorus)