CALLAS/DONDI/SANZOGNO:CND
IFIGENIA IN TAURIDE
OPD-Opera d'Oro
Allegro Price: $11.18

DELIBES: Lakmé (complete opera)

The recent rebirth of interest in the masterpiece of Christoph von Gluck’s maturity, Ifigenia in Tauride, has proved that his art can still cast a powerful spell over audiences. For a long time, Orfeo ed Euridice was the single work by Gluck to keep a toehold in the repertory. It was during this period that Maria Callas undertook two adventurous forays into Gluck’s operas at La Scala: Alceste in 1954 (under Carlo Maria Giulini) and, in June 1957, Ifigenia in Tauride. These were, in fact, the only two productions of Gluck in which Callas participated—and that during some of the most pivotal years of her entire career, as the true scope of her artistry was gaining widespread recognition. As for the beleaguered Greek heroine, Callas gave only four performances of Iphigenia for the 1957 production, which concluded La Scala’s season. Its opening night is the basis for this recording.

Live performance, Milan, June 1, 1957. Features original artwork by Rafal Olbinski, re-mastered sound, extensive booklet with historic photos, and complete libretto newly translated for this release.

A lavish performance by one of the world’s greatest tenors! This exclusive DVD+CD set provides an opportunity to see and hear one of the greatest tenors the world has ever known. The concert covers a wide range of musical offerings, from very well-known works to lesser-known arias and sonnets. Viewers are introduced to Pavarotti through behind-the-scenes interviews and outtakes from the original concert recording that give rare insight into the planning and hard work that go into the creation of such a production. Recorded live in concert in the exciting, vibrant, and colorful Spanish city of Barcelona, this DVD features Pavarotti performing in front of an international audience held spellbound as his dazzling, excitingly powerful voice fills the auditorium. The set also includes a BONUS CD of 20 unforgettable live performances celebrating over 25 years of Pavarotti’s legendary career.

Musorgsky : Boris Godunov (complete opera)

Modest Mussorgsky (1839–1881) was a unique genius who had spotty formal musical training but enormous imagination and creativity. For decades many regarded him as a diamond in the rough, whose ideas needed polishing by other hands. Among other works treated similarly is his operatic masterpiece, Boris Godunov, which Mussorgsky himself produced in two different versions. It was long heard mostly in a later revision by Rimsky-Korsakov, though others, including Shostakovich, have tinkered with it as well. The opera was completed in 1869, but had to wait until 1874 for its premiere. Like Pushkin’s play on which it is based, its subject matter gave the censors fits—though Boris was well received by the public if not by critics. Rimsky published his own edition in 1896 with an update in 1908, after which it began to take its place in the standard repertoire. There are many today who consider Boris Godunov one of the most theatrical, powerful, and profoundly moving operas ever written, despite being strikingly unlike most repertoire operas. The performance recorded here uses the Rimsky orchestration, but slightly changes the order of some scenes. A number of cuts were made by the conductor in order to make this very long opera fit a normal theatrical evening.

MASCAGNI: Cavalleria rusticana (complete opera)

Live 1963 performance from La Scala, Milan, in excellent sound.