Maria Callas : Voices of the Opera Series   

Maria Callas was a New York-born Greek soprano and one of the most renowned opera singers of the twentieth century. She combined an impressive bel canto technique with great dramatic gifts. An extremely versatile singer, her repertoire ranged from classical opera seria to the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini, and Rossini; further, to the works of Verdi and Puccini; and, in her early career, the music dramas of Wagner. Her remarkable musical and dramatic talents led to her being hailed as La Divina.These two collections feature celebrated arias as interpreted by Maria Callas, arguably the most influential singer of the recorded era. In addition to a brief biography of Callas, each selection, in standard voice and piano format, is followed by notes which indicate the variants, breaths, fermatas, and all of the nuances that Callas employed to turn these arias into masterpieces of interpretation. A wonderful reference tool for vocal coaches, professional singers and voice students, these two books are also indispensible items for the libraries of all opera enthusiasts.

Songlist: Ah fors'? lui che l'anima, Ah! non credea mirarti, Ardon gl'incensi, Casta Diva, La luce langue, Merc?, dilette amiche, Suicidio!.., Vissi d'arte

Maria Callas : You're the Voice: Maria Callas   

The You're the Voice series is a wonderful collection of books containing stylistic songs arranged for voice, piano, and guitar as performed and recorded by such legendary entertainers as Carole King, Maria Callas, Tom Jones, Celine Dion, Aretha Franklin, George Michael, and Nina Simon. The accompanying CD contains full backing tracks for each song, professionally arranged and recorded to recreate the sounds of the original recording. Titles are: Addio, del Passato * Casta Diva * Ave Maria * J'ai Perdu Mon Eurydice * Les Tringles des Sistres Tintaient (Gypsy Song) * Un Bel Di Vedremo (One Fine Day) * Vissi D'arte * Porgi Amor.

The documentary portrait Biography: Maria Callas travels into the stormy and colorful personal life of Callas, the woman regarded by many as the single most accomplished diva of the 20th century. From her birth in the United States to her adolescence in Greece and early professional accomplishments in Western Europe, Callas accomplished an overwhelming amount despite numerous personal hardships that included a tumultuous romance with (and divorce from) Aristotle Onassis, extensive vocal difficulties, and ongoing contractual disputes with the Metropolitan Opera. Nevertheless, her reputation persisted. This program draws from extensive archival footage and interviews to tell Callas's incredible story.

Within her lifetime and posthumously, opera diva Maria Callas's astonishing musical and cultural legacy far outstripped the woman herself; Callas transcended the elite appeal of her musical genre and inspired numerous motion pictures, a stage musical, and an opera based on her life - meanwhile obtaining a rare and unique degree of success that enabled her to dramatically expand the audience size (and demographics) of the opera fanbase. Callas also honed and sustained a reputation as one of the earliest harbingers of intense and histrionic dramatic portrayals on the opera stage. The classical compilation Eternal Maria Callas brings into one collection a series of Callas's most memorable and acclaimed performances, from such productions as Il Trovatore, Tosca and Manon, coupled with a documentary segment on her life, a gallery of Callas photographs, and a series of revealing interviews with Callas conducted by Lord Harewood.

Songlist: Vanne...lasciami, D'amor sull'ali rosee, Miserere d'un'alma gia vicina, Una voce poco fa from Il Barbiere di Siviglia,, Tu che le vanita, Oh! s'io potessi dissipar le nub, Pleurez, Mes Yeux, L'amour est un oiseau rebelle, Seguidille, O don fatale, Vissi d'arte' Narration/Interviews, Je ne suis que faiblesse....Adieu, notre petite table, Oh, se una volta sola ....Ah! non credea mirarti, O mio babbino caro (Lauretta), Maria Callas in conversation with Lord Harewood, Maria Callas in conversation with Bernard Gavoty, Retiring from the Concert Stage, Being an Artist

This video captures a pair of performances from the revered opera diva Maria Callas. Her authoritative voice delivers work by beloved composers Verdi, Puccini, and Bizet, at Covent Gardens, one of the most famous opera venues in the world. The concerts date from 1962 and 1964.

Songlist: Tu che le vanita, Prelude, Habanera (Acte I), Entracte (Acte III), Seguedille (Acte I), Tosca (Atto II)