Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della Rai

Maria Callas, Fedora Barbieri, Maria Amadini, Giulio Neri, Gianni Poggi, Paolo Silveri, Piero Poldi, Armando Benzi, Coro Cetra, Orchestra Sinfonica di Torino della RAI, Antonino Votto – Ponchielli: La Gioconda (1952/2014)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 02:47:28 minutes | 1,66 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Warner Classics

Although Maria Callas is perhaps most closely associated with the roles of Norma, Violetta and Tosca, Ponchielli’s passionate, generous, and ironically named heroine Gioconda played a major role in the diva’s life and career. Following the war, Callas came from Greece to New York in an attempt to launch a major career. After several setbacks, including the cancellation of a high-profile debut as Turandot, the 23-year old soprano auditioned for retired tenor Giovanni Zenatello, who was casting about for a Gioconda for the Verona Arena’s summer season. Callas landed the part, and made her Italian debut on 3 August 1947. Although Richard Tucker, the Enzo on that occasion, walked away with most of the reviews, this engagement effectively launched Callas’s career in other ways: she met and married Giovanni Battista Meneghini, who gave the penniless singer the financial security to pursue her art, and she first worked with conductor Tullio Serafin, who became her mentor and supplied subsequent bookings before Callas’ extraordinary gifts were recognised.
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