This interpretation by Maria is an astonishing miracle! The phrasing, legato, musicality and laser ray acute notes ,the exquisite high pianissimi, this is other world singing. Brávissima! Unforgettable diva Maria Callas❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤
It is hard not to cry listening to the way Callas sings this aria. She conveys a tormented soul in such deep despair. There will never be another Tosca like Callas.
When I played this piece, usually the 53 version, my mom used to come into my room tears running down her face to thank me for the experience. She is now almost too deaf and far gone with dementia to be able to enjoy any music. I was very alone in my appreciation of classical music and my loud playing of opera was a source of displeasure frequently for others. But my beloved mother never curtailed my weirdness in this regard. This and Eben ne andro lontano always had profound impact on her. She was literally the only other person in my life who displayed such a genuine visceral reaction and appreciation for the power of Callas. I miss that terribly.
Thank you for sharing. I was the different one too. No one liked or listened to or even wanted to innerstand classical music. To me it was natural and obvious.
Your story resonates with me as well. The tears. Yes. It’s one of my best measures of how great an aria and the singer is; whether I am moved to tears or not. Callas never fails to move me with her depth of feeling. So many people do not get it. Your story is lovely. Sad your mother’s illness, but so great she appreciated the emotion in the arias you played. As others have said here you are not alone! Opera singers, sopranos and tenors in particular, are simply the greatest of all voices.
There are no words in the Tongues of Man than could describe that ........ So i will sit in stunned silence forever knowing i was in the presence of Perfection ..... We miss you Maria ..........🙏💙
Thank goodness man invented the recording, since I wasn't even born to see that. I can only imagine what would be like to listen to her personally, since from a video I already feel spiritually elevated to tears. Something happens again, like the first time I read Proust's "In Search of Lost Time", I thought I would never be able to read other authors and novels since nothing seemed to compare to him, fortunately it was only temporary; and now since I discovered Callas, I can only listen to her over and over again, and all other singers seem irrelevant.
C Henrique ", since from a video I already feel spiritually elevated to tears" That happened to me as well. What kind of person can dislike this? Even while the last note seems to be slightly off.
her sense of music and drama is beyond anything on the stage today. It really is a shame that it is unlikely that there will never be anyone like her to grace this world again.
Vedere Maria quando interpreta qualsiasi opera è un’esperienza esaltante. In questa Tosca poi l’immedesimazione totale di Maria è la sua voce così piena di dolore e di passione si rivolge a Dio in modo disperato. Ma l’effetto che sprigiona è incomprensibile e sublime
It's funny coz Sutherland said when she lost the weight her voice was never the same! But we can't all be wrong can we? I think this is incredible! The best Tosca by far!
This is probably her best Tosca dramatically speaking but the voice started to decline here unfortunately. In the 1940's and early 1950's, before here weight loss, she was even greater. A voice so so full it's unbelievable. Here you can hear wooble, thinness sometimes. She used her vocal weaknesses and turned it into dramatic strength. She was the greatest. Still here with half the voice she had in 1950 she is at a level rarely equaled by her predecessors and never equaled since.
Many people have criticized her voice range etc. etc. However, she was an artist at 360 degrees. Her acting was superb. For example, she perfectly interprets how Tosca would have felt then. Her eyes, her struggle, how can you not be moved by that. No autotune, no color, no fancy effects, just the voice, and the acting how it should be!
@@bunnybgood411 technically speaking I would agree with you for the singing part but also opera is singing and acting together - being the best at both perhaps is a little bit too much to ask for 👍🏼
She had tears in her voice and true and convincing attitude . No fake gestures nor grimaces like most of others singers in this role who cannot sing with so much emotion.
When Maria Callas first sang at Convent Garden many years before this performance, it was her famous 'Norma' . . . she exited after the first scene, and the audience did not applaud. She turned to the director, surprised, and said 'what did we do wrong?' He replied, 'oh, the London audiences don't interrupt the opera, Maria, with applause.' It's a marvelous quality, really, because they are so absorbed in the drama, and of course, she sang there many times in many of her great roles, which you can hear in live recordings. ** However all that being said, this entire performance of Tosca is on youtube, so you can see and hear the tremendous ovation at the end of Act II . . . that's when the London audience went wild. When the curtain fell after Tosca has killed Scarpia, places the candles around him, the cross on his chest, and sobbing runs offstage, that's when the London audience silent and respectful of such great acting, expressed their appreciation. Unforgettable! Anthony Plumer
As a historical note, especially approaching the centenary this month of Rosa Ponselle's Met debut, Covent Garden audiences sure made an applause exception for her. In spite of having been patronizingly warned by Melba to expect applause only at an act's end, Madame Ponselle received a six minute ovation after "Casta diva." (Ponselle: A Singer's Life p. 122)
riascoltare la Divina in quest'aria in questo momento così triste per il COVID19, mi ha rasserenato l'anima e mi ha convinto ancora di più che l'arte e la cultura sono determinanti nella vita di una persona se vuole vivere con pienezza e in armonia con il mondo. semplicemente meraviglioso
Thank the stars that these few recordings of Callas were made, little as they we might very well have been left with only the audio records of a great artist.
Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore, non feci mai male ad anima viva! Con man furtiva quante miserie conobbi, aiutai. Sempre con fe' sincera, la mia preghiera ai santi tabernacoli salì. Sempre con fe' sincera diedi fiori agli altar. Nell'ora del dolore perché, perché Signore, perché me ne rimuneri così? Diedi gioielli della Madonna al manto, e diedi il canto agli astri, al ciel, che ne ridean più belli. Nell'ora del dolore, perché, perché Signore, perché me ne rimuneri così?
I know she was a legend and critics raved about her and they were right. Brilliant sopranos have come and gone, but Maria Callas was in a class of her own. Awesome performance of Visi d'arte.
I have listened to this version of Vissi d"arte Each time I have learned more about the depth of Tosca's feelings and the composer/librettist intent which Mme. Callas brings alive. This time I heard something different. Her sadness, her disbelief of what has is happening, is what every woman who has been or exposed to possible sexual assault. The sadness, the anger, the lifting up to the Diety why has this happened, Now I understand why many women friends who were exposed to possible or actual assault responds with tears, and anguish. Callas interpretation touched them to feel their reality. RIP Mme Callas -- you were an interpretive musical genius. RIP
Callas is simply beautiful. She achieved her divine status because of her colossal talent, the ability to be the story and at the same time, tell the story of opera with her voice, mind and heart. May the haters continue but they won't succeed.
As Beverly Sills once said about the affectations in Callas' voice that some people disliked, "Who cares? Just give me goosebumps!". I saw a video of Callas in recital with full orchestra from the early 60's. Part of the concert was a medley from 'Carmen'. As the orchestra played the intro to act 2 you can plainly see on her face the transformation from Maria to Carmen. It was eerie and magnificent.
You can say what you want about her approach and technique, but she did something very special in this aria. She approached it like you approach sacred music, with complete renunciation of the ego.
Oh my dear Maria, the media treated you harsh and you died of heartbreak! But I hope you know even 40 years after your death you still inspire! I wrote just now about Caballe's version, her technique especially her breath control was spot on! But who needs to hold that final note when you give us 3 minutes and 20 seconds of something that can never be copied, never replicated, you really were the ultimate Soprano, you could act you could sing, and even though my Italian is rusty you made me believe every word! The critics said your voice was never the same again after your weight loss, to hell with them! You proved them so wrong and my God were you beautiful! And for the record I heard your early "Sempre libera" titled like a wildcat on RU-vid and no one has ever or will ever sing like that! So to hell with the haters people will always put you down! I might be a tenor but you've inspired me in ways no one can explain! I hope you are happy now, and I hope to get to sing with you in Heaven one day!
This is why she is matchless and uniquely perfect: An angelic voice plus true emotions and excellent acting. She will be dearly loved and missed for centuries to come. Thank you for posting!
Maria Callas è unica! Spiace affermare che la enorme differenza ancora oggi esistente con altri soprani lascia pensare che sarà così per sempre. Grandissime qualità di recitazione e altissima esecuzione di qualsiasi brano d'opera, lasciano molto indietro tutte le altre anche bravissime.
When singing and acting and feeling it all with your soul really become as one in a truly magical performance! Nothing could ever compare to this 💚 oh Maria
A voice like that comes not only from talent but a passionate and troubled life. It comes out through her wonderful voice. She can also act her part while singing. Not easy
Maria Callas was, is and will be forever the one and only Divina soprano, as a Greek Goddess!I love her great unique disembodied voice .She is the the opera and drama together.
My father cried listening to this "romanza" and I cry too. We cry because in the question that's shouted and sung "Perché Signor?" ie "Why Lord?", in that scream (2:37- 2:42) there is the despair, the fear, the need and the life of humans.
È davvero meravigliosa, entra davvero nel cuore. Credo che con la Callas si sia raggiunto il top della lirica, mi emoziona questa sua interpretazione. Arte che oltrepassa l'arte. ❤️
The expression she has in her voice is just incredible. It just gives me goosebumps every single time I listen to it. If you've heard Vissi D'arte sung by Callas once it's done, that's it, you just compare every other version to her. But at the end she's incomparable, she's L'Assoluta, La Divina after all.
Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore Non feci mai male ad anima viva Con man furtiva Quante miserie conobbi aiutai Sempre con fe' sincera La mia preghiera Ai santi tabernacoli salì Sempre con fe' sincera Diedi fiori agli altar Nell'ora del dolore Perché, perché, Signore Perché me ne rimuneri così? Diedi gioielli della Madonna al manto E diedi il canto agli astri, al ciel Che ne ridean più belli Nell'ora del dolor Perché, perché, Signor Ah, perché me ne rimuneri così?
Her first voice teacher said that she was the first one to arrive and last to leave. Apparently it was talent, vovation and very hard work. To see her in this aria is almost unbelievable.
I feel like for her, the role of Tosca was like drinking water. It was her first leading role after all, so she probably had a lot of experience playing this part. She said she never liked Vissi D'Arte, and even said that Puccini felt conflicted in adding this aria as it made no sense to the movement of the act, which she agreed, but of course Puccini felt compelled to add a soprano aria just for the sake of the opera. Of course, it turned out to be one of Puccini's most famous arias. But it is so ironic how Maria didn't give much care for this role, when it is one of the most we associate her with, well at least the younger audience who never seen her live, since this is one of few clips we have of her live performances. But if I were to pick her top roles, they would certainly be Medea (probably her best), Norma, Abigaille, Tosca (the best one I've seen thus far), Violetta, Gioconda. Her strength was certainly in more dramatic roles.
What a blessing that this performance by Maria Callas has been recorded. The climax ooooooh is just stunning beyond words. One can almost see the sheer appreciation and gratitude on Maria's face as she is creating the sound. This is the strongest climax I have seen performed for this aria. And then to her last breath she gives it her all! Astonishing. Such control of voice and emphasis! Such enunciation!
Today (16/09/13) But from 1977 the entire world lost one of the most wonderful shinning stars of the opera... Maria ! "La Diva" Everyone still loves and enjoys your singing !.
