This is a reissue of
Maria Callas' first Norma at Covent Garden. In fact, it was her first production of any opera there, one that marked the beginning of a long and fruitful relationship. As you would expect from a live recording made in 1952, the sound is not spectacular, but it is better than many from that era, and the performance is worth putting up with the noise. Norma was a signature role for
Callas, and for good reason. She knew how to make bel canto work, how to find the essential and elusive balance between music and drama; every phrase is filled with pathos, but that pathos is communicated primarily through line and color -- very rarely through obvious emoting. Since she was still near the beginning of her international career, the freshness of her voice is still intact. This performance also features the legendary
Ebe Stignani in the role of Adalgisa (one of her best), and the lesser-known but terrific
Mirto Picchi and Giacomo Vaghi as Pollione and Oroveso, respectively. And, for the "before they were famous" file, listeners can find a young
Joan Sutherland singing Clotilde -- ably, but not yet with the vocal presence that would mark her mature career. The package comes with a complete libretto and excellent notes.