Since you are interested in Rigoletto (complete opera recorded in 1955), here is a list of other items that you may find interesting.
VERDI
La Traviata (complete opera recorded in 1955) Antonietta Stella (soprano) Giuseppe di Stefano (tenor) Tito Gobbi (baritone) / Milan La Scala Orchestra / Tullio Serafin [ Naxos Historical / 2 CD - released 1/Dec/2007 ] Having already recorded La Traviata for CETRA Maria Callas was contractually barred from taking part in this 1955 recording of the opera, which featured, instead, the emerging Italian soprano Antonietta Stella, who went on to become an acclaimed... |
RICHARD STRAUSS
Strauss, (R.): Salome (Complete opera recorded 1954) Plus additional earlier recordings Herbert Alsen / Walter Berry / Franz Bierbach / Christel Goltz / Julius Patzak. Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra. Clemens Krauss, conductor [ Naxos Historical / 2 CD - released 16/Jun/2005 ] Salome was possibly the most important event in German opera since those of Wagner. Its creation marked a new development in operatic art with its concentrated power, its eerie and sinister harmonies and its extraordinarily exotic and colourful... |
W. A. MOZART
Così fan tutte, K588 (complete opera recorded in 1934-35) Ina Souez, Luise Helletsgrüber, Heddle Nash / Chorus & Orchestra of the Glyndebourne Festival, Fritz Busch [ Naxos Great Opera Recordings / 2 CD - released 20/Aug/2011 ] Recorded 1934-35 |
GOUNOD
Faust (complete opera) Jussi Bjorling (tenor) Cesare Siepi (bass) Dorothy Kirsten (soprano) Frank Guarrera (baritone) Lawrence Davidson (baritone) Anne Bollinger (sop) [ Naxos Historical Great Opera Recordings / 3 CD - released 27/Jul/2005 ] 1001 Classical recordings you must hear before you die (1851-1900) - "This 3 CD set contains some of the most glorious tenor singing ever recorded. Buy it!!!" - Göran Forsling, MusicWeb international, July 2005 |
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Verdi: Rigoletto (complete opera recorded in 1955) [with other operatic excerpts featuring Robert Merrill] Jussi Bjorling (tenor) Roberta Peters (soprano) / Robert Merrill (baritone) / Rome Opera Chorus & Orchestra / Jonel Perlea [ Naxos Historical Opera / 2 CD - released 1/Jul/2008 ] When this 1956 recording of Rigoletto was first released in Britain, The Gramophone reviewer commented: "under Perlea, the orchestral playing is firm and dramatic, well balanced with the voice. |
VERDI
Aida (complete opera recorded in 1955) Plus highlights from Un Ballo in Maschera (rec 1955) Jussi Bjorling (Tenor) / Zinka Milanov (Soprano) / Fedora Barbieri (mezzo-soprano) / Rome Opera House Orchestra / Jonel Perlea (Conductor) [ Naxos Historical Great Operas / 3 CD - released 16/Jul/2006 ] The Aida recording was transferred from the best portions of three American LP pressings, while the Ballo highlights came from an Italian LP. |
VERDI
Il Trovatore (complete opera recorded in 1956) Maria Callas, Nicola Zaccaria, Giuseppe di Stefano / Milan La Scala Orchestra / Herbert von Karajan [ Naxos Historical Opera / 2 CD - released 10/Feb/2008 ] Before Maria Callas made this August 1956 recording of Il Trovatore, at La Scala, Milan, she had been singing it often since 1950 and with notable success. Her 1953 Covent Garden performances earned golden opinions. The Times critic considered the... |
GIACOMO PUCCINI
Puccini: Turandot (Complete opera recorded in 1957) Maria Callas / Renato Ercolani / Mario Borriello / Elisabeth Schwarzkopf / Milan La Scala Orchestra / Tullio Serafin (Conductor) [ Naxos Historical Great Operas / 2 CD - released 2/Feb/2009 ] Puccini's Turandot , first performed in 1926, was the only work in which Callas sang that was younger than herself and is a perfect vehicle for a dramatic soprano with a steady, steely and brilliant voice capable of rising to top C.Although she had... |
PUCCINI / CILEA / GIORDANO / CATALANI / BOITO
Puccini Heroines / Lyric Arias (recorded 1954) Maria Callas (soprano) / Philharmonia Orchestra / Tullio Serafin, conductor [ Naxos Historical / CD - released 14/Feb/2008 ] 1954 was for Callas an exceptionally busy year. As well as appearing regularly at La Scala, Milan, and elsewhere in Italy, she made her American début at the Chicago Lyric in November. |
PUCCINI
Manon Lescaut (complete opera) Miriam Gauel / Vincente Sardinero / Kaludi Kalundoy / BRT Philharmonic Chorus & Orchestra / Alexander Rahbari [ Naxos Opera Classics / 2 CD Box Set - released 1/Jun/2008 ] "Naxos has distinguished itself over the past few years by a series of new opera recordings of a consistently high quality at enticingly affordable prices. This time, though, Naxos has surpassed itself...At Naxos prices, why deny yourself the... |