When the legendary Maria Callas died in September 1977 at just 53 years old, she was a recluse. During the last deeply unhappy and lonely years of her life, she could not have known that more than three decades ahead, in the next Millenium, her recorded heritage would create almost as much impact as she had achieved in her short career. This was patently evident when that heritage, including a small but invaluable handful of video materials, was reissued by EMI Classics on the 30th anniversary of her death, in 2007. Although she still had her detractors as she had in her lifetime, the huge range of dynamics, expression and colours, the panoplies of details and nuances, and the intensity, imagination and subtlety in her acting created a major impression anew. That could be palpably felt in an anniversary memorial the WFMT Radio Network aired called MARIA CALLAS – THE LEGEND LIVES ON, which is being posted here now in the Singers on Singers collection. In it, many distinguished singers, conductors and others who knew and worked with Maria Callas recall her qualities, and Callas herself reflects on some aspects of her life and career. Details of music illustrations follow below.

–Jon Tolansky

Listen to the documentary immediately below (in two parts; total length of approx. 1 hour, 51 min.)

Host:

Jon Tolansky

Some of the special guests include:

• American musicologist Edward Downes
• Conductor Sir Edward Downes
• Stage Director Piero Faggioni
• Soprano Mirella Freni
• Bass Victor Godfrey
• Scholar Lord Harewood
• Conductor Bernard Keeffe
• Tenor Albert Lance
• Record Producer Christopher Raeburn
• Conductor and Accompanist Nicola Resicgno
• Tenor Giuseppe Di Stefano

Most of the musical excerpts in this program can be found in Maria Callas: The Complete Studio Recordings. Some are also available on separate albums.

Musical excerpts included in this feature:

• “Pace, pace, mio dio” from La Forza del Destino (Verdi) – WARNER EMI – 09463680232
• “Vieni! T’affretta” from Macbeth (Verdi) – WARNER EMI – 09463680282 (recorded in 1959)
• “Vien diletto” from I Puritani (Bellini) – WARNER EMI – 0094639591824 (recorded with the Turin Radio Symphony, 1949)
• “Liebestod” from Tristan und Isolde (Wagner) – WARNER EMI – 0094639591824 (recorded in the Italian language, 1949; also available on the album Maria Callas: Birth of a Diva)
• “Casta Diva” from Norma (Bellini) – WARNER EMI – 724356266827 (a live recording from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, 1952; also available on the album Norma)
• “Ah, fors’è lui” from La Traviata (Verdi) – WARNER EMI – 09463680252 (a live recording of a rehearsal in Dallas, 1957; also available on the album Rehearsal in Dallas 1957)
• “Dite alla giovine” from La Traviata (Verdi) – WARNER EMI – 724355633026 (a live recording from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, 1958)
• “Addio del passato” (end) from La Traviata (Verdi) – WARNER EMI – 724355633026 (recorded in Lisbon, 1958; also available on the album La Traviata (Lisbon))
• “Dei tuoi figli” from Medea (Cherubini) – WARNER EMI – 724356790926
• Excerpt (with Tito Gobbi) from Tosca (recorded live at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, 1964; also available on the album Tosca)
• “Vissi d’arte” from Tosca (Puccini) – WARNER EMI – 724356267527 (a live recording from the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, 1964; also available on the album Tosca)
• “Parigi, o cara” (with Giuseppe Di Stefano) from La Traviata (Verdi) – ARCHIPEL – ARPCD 0048 (recorded in Mexico, 1952; also available on the album La Traviata)
• Act 2 Duet Extract (with Giuseppe Di Stefano) from Un Ballo in Maschera (Verdi) – WARNER EMI – CDS 556 3202
• Act 2 Short Extract (with Aldbert Lance) from Tosca (Puccini) – WARNER EMI – 724349250291 (recorded at the Paris Opera, 1958)
• “Che tua madre” from Madama Butterfly (Puccini) – WARNER EMI – ZDMC 568022 (1971-1972; also available on the album Maria Callas At Juilliard – The Masterclasses)
• “Che tua madre” from Madama Butterfly (Puccini) – Performance – WARNER EMI – ZDMC 5658022 (recorded at La Scala, 1955; also available on the album Madama Butterfly)
• “Air des letters” from Werther (Massenet) – WARNER EMI – ZDMC 5658022