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Puccini’s Turandot, first performed in 1926, was the only work in which Callas sang that was younger than herself and is a perfect vehicle for a dramatic soprano with a steady, steely and brilliant voice capable of rising to top C. Although she had last sung the strenuously demanding title rôle on stage in 1949, her subtlety in is apparent in this dramatically and musically effective 1957 recording.
Schwarzkopf (Liu) and Fernandi (Calaf) perfectly complement Callas as the legendary Chinese princess whose icy heart is melted by the power of love.
"Callas had not performed the role of the formidable princess for eight years, but her first entrance in ‘In questa reggia’ is commanding… the taxing high tessitura seems to pose her relatively few problems…Not a role that was central to Callas’s repertoire but a good example of her ability to breathe new life into an old warhorse.” MusicWeb International on a previous issue
Act I: Non indugiare! (Ghosts, Prince, Ministers, Timur)
Act I: Signore, ascolta! (Liu)
Act I: Non piangere, Liu! (Prince, Liu, Timur)
Act I: Ah! Per l'ultima volta (Timur, Liu, Ministers, Prince, Chorus)
Act II Scene 1: Ola Pang, Ola, Pong (Ministers)
Act II Scene 1: O Cina, o Cina (Ministers)
Act II Scene 1: Ho una casa nell'Honan (Ministers)
Act II Scene 1: O mondo, pieno di pazzi innamorati (Ministers, Chorus)
Act II Scene 1: Addio, amore (Ministers)
Act II Scene 1: Noi si sogna (Ministers)
Act II Scene 2: Gravi, enormi ed imponenti (Crowd)
Act II Scene 2: Un giuramento atroce mi costringe (Emperor, Prince)
Act II Scene 2: Diecimila anni al nostro Imperatore (Crowd, Mandarin, Boys)
Act II Scene 2: In questa reggia (Turandot, Crowd, Prince)
Act II Scene 2: Straniero, ascolta! Nella cupa notte (Turandot, Prince, Wise Men)
Act II Scene 2: Guizza al pari di fiamma (Turandot, Emperor, Crowd, Liu, Prince, Wise Men)
Act II Scene 2: Gelo che ti da foco (Turandot, Prince, Wise Men, Crowd)
Act II Scene 2: Gloria, o vincitore! (Crowd)
Act II Scene 2: Figlio del cielo! (Turandot, Emperor, Crowd, Prince)
Act II Scene 2: Tre enigmi m'hai proposto (Prince, Emperor)
Act II Scene 2: Ai tuoi piedi ci prostriam (Crowd)
Act III Scene 1: Cosi comanda Turandot (Heralds, Distant voices)
Act III Scene 1: Nessun dorma! (Prince, Women's voices)
Act III Scene 1: Tu che guardi le stelle (Ministers, Prince, Women, Crowd, Soldiers)
Act III Scene 1: Principessa divina! (Ping, Turandot, Prince, Liu, Crowd)
Act III Scene 1: Quel nome! (Ping, Liu, Timur, Prince, Crowd, Turandot)
Act III Scene 1: L'amore?… Tanto amore, segreto e inconfessato (Turandot, Liu, Ping, Prince, Crowd)
Act III Scene 1: Tu, che di gel sei cinta (Liu, Crowd, Prince, Timur, Ping)
Act III Scene 1: Liu… bonta! (Timur, Ministers, Crowd)
Act III Scene 1: Principessa di morte! (Prince, Turandot)
Act III Scene 1: Che e mai di me? Perduta! (Turandot, Prince, Chorus)
Act III Scene 1: Del primo pianto, si… La mia gloria e il tuo amplesso! (Turandot, Prince)
Act III Scene 2: Diecimila anni al nostro Imperatore! (Crowd, Turandot)
2010 edition
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“With Callas, the character seems so much more believably complex than with others, and this 1957 recording is one of her most thrillingly magnetic performances on disc. Schwarzkopf provides a comparably characterful and distinctive portrait as Liu...Serafin's masterly conducting exactly matches the characterfulness of Callas and Schwarzkopf”
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Act I: Popolo di Pekino! (Mandarin, Crowd, Liu)
