[Great sound] Maria Callas & Giulietta Simionato, a perfect blend in "Oh! rimembranza" (Norma) 

Every time I begin to think that some singer [past or present] matched or exceeded Callas, I return to one of her performances and am reminded that there is no match for the miracle that she brought to opera. Her technical skills were unmatched [the legato, the varying types of trills, the runs and other additions when needed but never out of character], her voice has so many colors, including uncomfortable ones which is essential to true expression, her understanding of the words and how thay create the character, and her willingness to give us everything needed for complete experience of the character have never been, and probably never will be, matched. Other singers have certainly been great in some of her roles but none has ever matched the complete embodiment of any character that she produces in any role she takes on. We have been given a unique experience in hearing her, and that experience is made more profound when she is matched to a singer such a Simionato whose dedication and skill were equal to hers.

I am nearly 90 years old now, but I have excellent memory. This is one of the best performances I saw at La Scala.

I would pay a lot to hear a mezzo like Simionato today. WHAT a voice-the beauty and power together are unmatched.

This is exquisite, the two artists are listening to each other and communicating, superior musicianship and partnership, true to the requirements and subtleties of music and the Italian text. Everything rides on the smooth breath, each note spun so it moves naturally to the subsequent note, and the listener follows the line through to the end of each phrase. The listener breaths with the artists. The essence of "bel canto.*

Sublime and utterly unmatched.....then and now!.....

Oh to have been there to hear and see these two tremendous singers - what one would give for a time-machine🙏

Sucht a Gift from God! Callas was an Artist ... she was able to speak whith notes!!!

Amazing how at times it sounds like 2 mezzo then Callas just hit those high notes, full voice!

I have this recording. It is the greatest performance of Norma that I have ever heard. I wish that Corelli had been singing with them. Then it would have been perfect.

Divina Simionato, a great voice projection

I wasn't really aware of Simionato until recently. What a technique!

Una dupla perfecta, sus voces amalgaman de manera impoluta, voces grandes, con técnica sin fisura y dentro de estilo belliniano, la Callas es un momento de fulgor en donde ya estaba elevada en los altares líricos como un mito, la Simionato la más grande mezzo posterior a la segunda guerra mundial. Lástima la Scala no montara María Stuardo, porque la escena del enfrentamiento interpretará por este par de monstruo hubiese sido de antología e insuperable, como todos sus dúos, Norma, Aida, Anna Bolena. Hace la celebración del centenario de nacimiento de la Divina. Callas eterna.

Sublime!!! Che voci magnifiche! Avessimo oggi interpreti di questo calibro nel mondo della Lirica...

Bravissime👍

Grande Callas e grande Simionato ma più l'ascolto più mi coinvolge il genio musicale gigantesco di Bellini.

voci e interpretazione preziose.

Every time I hear the voice, the timbre alone strikes me as the greatest sound I have ever heard.

Incredible and beautiful!!!!!!! Thanks a zillion for sharing!❤💖💞💕💓😘💋🌹👏👏

MARAVILLOSAS AMBAS

Absolutly gorgeous. Thaks a lot for sharing this wonderful interpretation. Ut Benedicat tibi Dominun. Warm greetings from Santiago de Chile. Dr. Fernando Rivas-Burattini.

Thank you so much for this wonderful sound 😘😘😘 It seams to be in the theatre..but now we wait for all the opera....😁😘😘😘

Madame Calmas, eterna e perfeita Norma.

What a wonderful version

W O W

Oh and great sound!....thank you 😘

This sounds great my friend.Very good work indeed. Thank you & take care Arnold Bourbon Amaral

Simionato has some high notes honey!!!! Like daaaaaaamn, i can see that she is doing a sexxondary character for Callas here, but the power and the acting makes he Adalgisa first act protagonist along side CALLAS NORMA, thats some crazy pipes going on here... For me this is even better than her Amneris!

I see a drawing by Jacques Louis David-classic, noble, flawless, impeccable art!

I like this duet best as well.

Superb!!

They had mutual respect, admiration and friendship; we can hear it through their interpretation. This synergy didn't exist between Callas and Cossotto. Thanks for the great sound.

This is from what is many ways the most satisfying of all Callas' recordings of "Norma" (live at La Scala, conducted by Votto), although I still love the later studio recording with Ludwig and Corelli. I especially recommend the Pristine label remastering into Ambient Stereo, with pitch problems corrected, too.

Always the usual idiot that don't like and don't understand the art of this such incredible divine artist! I say what Callas sad at that time: "If I don't like one thing I remain at home! " So if you don't like Callas, why do you listen to her! Listen to the singers, and I sad singers not artists, we have today.. you're are just ridiculous..Callas is the greatest artist of opera ever lived!

Almost perfect singers and nobody sounds like this today unfortunately… I also appreciate when this opera is sung by a soprano Adalgisa since the tessitura in the duets more or less is the same and Adalgisa is supposed to be a ”giovinetta” and not an older sister or should sound as such.

Simionato, grande..👏

Can you please point out the moment you heard "one discrete flaw in a high note sung by Callas"?

When Callas hits the high note at 8:56 you can hear the audience exclaim in amazement.

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏❤❤❤💥🙏🏻

Silenzio ,stiamo muti .

La mayor artista Operística tuvo por nombre Giulietta Simionato... 😏💯

Why did they start hissing at 8:56?

No one can.

1953 edition is better than this with due respect to both

Willson Watt Grande Callas ma il trillo della Sutherland (vedi Lucia) mi sembra superiore

Love callas. Can't stand Silliato. She claimed Maria would pat her on the back causing tremendous pain. So she slapped Maria. She said Maria needs a good slap 1 year prior to that. Simionato is ugly.

I preffer Sutherland or Caballé un this part. Absolutely.

Sound just horrible , less good than warner edition ....