MARBECKS COLLECTABLE: Classic Recitals - Elena Souliotis sings Verdi and Donizetti

But it was as Abigaille (Nabucco) that she caused a true sensation first at La Scala in 1966, and then in a concert performance in London in 1968. Souliotis first appeared at both the New York Met and Covent Garden in 1969 when she sang Verdi's Lady Macbeth. Abigaille was one of her great roles and is preserved complete in the Decca recording of Nabucco with Tito Gobbi and Lamberto Gardelli (417 407-2); she also recorded a complete Norma for Decca. This recital, made for Decca in 1966, perfectly demonstrates the phenomenal qualities of Souliotis's voice and its inherent dramatic capabilities.

Decca's recorded legacy is dominated by the huge number of complete opera recordings and vocal recitals. While a vast number of these recordings have seen CD release in the past 20 years, many of the original LP recitals have been reissued with other material in order to increase the overall playing time due to the longer time available on CD and modern covers have replaced the originals.

This new mini-series is unashamedly nostalgic and presents original recitals as they were first published during the 1950s and 1960s. Original LP cover art is reproduced and the original back of the LP is used as the inside of the digipack. A clear tray is used with a detail from the original LP sleeve as a background, and the back of the digipack gives the tracklist and artist details in a uniform, current style.

This is the second group of Classic Recitals.