Maria Callas
Norma
Vincenzo Bellini
Teatro alla Scala, Milan
December 7, 1955
Complete Opera – Live Recording
151 min. (mono)
DVN-17
DESCRIPTION
• Remastered from a first generation copy of the original master. Best sound available.
• Unfortunately, the first 15 minutes of this 1955 La Scala performance were not recorded. All previous LP and CD editions filled in the missing portions of music using diverse uncredited sources. In order to preserve a sense of completeness for those who wish to listen to Bellini’s opera in its entirety, Divina Records has chosen the same option, but not without providing appropriate credits.
• This CD edition contains all known surviving material from December 7, 1955; unlike other labels, Divina Records has not replaced any portion of this material by parts from other, inauthentic sources.
• Reviewed at the Maria Callas International Club magazine
Sound Restoration © 2004 Divina Records
Restored and remastered by Pablo Berruti
FREE EXTRA MATERIAL: click here (interactive PDF)
• Liner notes in English
• Full libretto with stage action in Italian
• 124 photographs
• 6 newspaper reviews (scans)
• Hand program (scans)
CAST
Norma: Maria Callas
Pollione: Mario del Monaco
Adalgisa: Giulietta Simionato
Oroveso: Nicola Zaccaria
Clotilde: Gabriella Carturan
Flavio: Giuseppe Zampieri
Orchestra and Chorus of the Teatro alla Scala:
Antonino Votto
Teatro alla Scala, Milan
COMPACT DISC 1
1 • Overture*
ACT I
2 • Ite sul colle, o Druidi*
3 • Svanir le voci!**
4 • Ma nel mio core è spenta
5 • Meco all’altar di Venere
6 • Odi?… I suoi riti a compiere
7 • Me protegge, me difende
8 • Norma viene
9 • Sediziose voci
10 • Casta diva
11 • Fine al rito
12 • Ah! bello a me ritorna
13 • Sgombra è la sacra selva
14 • Deh! proteggimi, o Dio!
15 • Eccola! va mi lascia
16 • Va, crudele**
17 • Vieni in Roma
ACT II
18 • Vanne, e li cela entrambi
19 • Adalgisa! – Alma costanza!
20 • Oh, rimembranza!…
21 • Ah sì, fa core abbracciami
22 • Ma di’, l’amato giovane
23 • Oh, non tremare
24 • Oh, di qual sei tu vittima
COMPACT DISC 2
1 • Perfido! – Or basti!
ACT III
2 • Introduction
3 • Dormono entrambi
4 • Me chiami, o Norma?
5 • Deh! con te li prendi
6 • Mira, o Norma
7 • Cedi, deh cedi!
8 • Sì, fino all’ore estreme
ACT IV
9 • Non partì?
10 • Guerrieri, a voi venirne
11 • Ah! del Tebro al giogo indegno
12 • Ei tornerà. Sì!
13 • Guerra, guerra!
14 • Nè compi il rito, o Norma?
15 • In mia man alfin tu sei
16 • Dammi quel ferro!
17 • Qual cor tradisti
18 • Norma! Deh Norma! Scòlpati!
19 • Deh! Non volerli vittime
* CD 1, tracks 1 and 2: Nicola Zaccaria (Oroveso), Chorus and Orchestra of the Teatro alla Scala conducted by Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Milan, January 13, 1965.
** CD 1, track 3 [complete]; track 16 [0.49-1.19]: Mario del Monaco (Pollione), Athos Cesarini (Flavio), Orchestra Sinfonica di Roma della Radiotelevisione Italiana conducted by Tullio Serafin; Radio broadcast of June 29, 1955, Rome, Auditorium del Foro Italico RAI.