Audio CD review:
Gioachino Rossini, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Maria Callas, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Nicolai Gedda, Mariano Stabile, Piero de Palma, Franco Calabrese - Rossini: Il Turco In Italia (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

Gioachino Rossini, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Maria Callas, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Nicolai Gedda, Mariano Stabile, Piero de Palma, Franco Calabrese - Rossini: Il Turco In Italia (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan

Band: Gioachino Rossini, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Maria Callas, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Nicolai Gedda, Mariano Stabile, Piero de Palma, Franco Calabrese Title: Rossini: Il Turco In Italia (complete opera) with Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Chorus & Orchestra of La Scala, Milan Rating: Release Date: 19 August, 1997 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Il Turco In Italia: Sinfonia 2: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene 1- Nostra patria (Zaida, Albazar) 3: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Ho da fare un dramma buffo (Poeta, Coro) 4: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Ah! se di questi zingari l'arrivo (Poeta) 5: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Vado in traccia di una zingara (Geronio) 6: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Chi vuol farsi astrologar? (Geronio, Zaida, Coro) 7: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Ah, mia moglie, san chi sono (Geronio, Zaida, Coro) 8: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Non si da follia maggiore (Fiorilla) 9: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Voga, voga, a terra, a terra (Coro, Fiorilla) 10: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Bella Italia, alfin ti miro 11: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Serva...Servo... (Selim, Fiorilla) 12: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Amici...soccorretemi 13: Il Turco In Italia: Act I: Un marito-scimunito! 14: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Ola tosto il caffe (Fiorilla, Selim) 15: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Siete turchi, non vi credo 16: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Io stupisco, mi sorprende 17: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Come! si grave scorno soffrir potete in pace? (Fiorilla, Selim, Geronio, Narciso) 18: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Un vecchio far non puo maggior follia (Geronio, Poeta, Fiorilla) 19: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: Per piacere alla signora 20: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene II: No, mia vita, mio tesoro (Geronio, Fiorilla) 21: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Gran meraviglie (Coro, Zaida) 22: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Per la fuga e tutto lesto (Selim, Poeta, Zaida) 23: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Perche mai se son tradito (Norciso) 24: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Evviva d'amore il foco vitale (Coro) 25: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Chi servir non brama Amor s'allontani (Fiorilla, Selim) 26: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Qui mia moglie ha da venire 27: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Ah! che il cor non mi'ingannava (Geronio, Fiorilla, Selim, Narciso, Poeta, Zaida) 28: Il Turco In Italia: Act I Scene III: Vada via, si guardi bene di cercar l'amante mio (Zaida, Fiorilla, Selim, Narciso, Geronio, Albazar, Poeta) 29: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: A proposito, amico (Selim, Poeta, Geronio) 30: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: D'un bell'uso di Turchia 31: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Se Fiorilla di vender bramate (Selim, Geronio) 32: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Non v'e piacer perfetto se nol procura amor (Coro, Fiorilla) 33: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Che turca impertinente! (Fiorilla, Zaida, Selim) 34: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Credete alle femmine che dicon d'amarvi! 35: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: In Italia certamente non si fa l'amor cosi (Selim, Fiorilla) 36: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Fermate...Cosa c'e? (Poeta, Geronio, Narciso) 37: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: E Selim non si vede! 38: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene I: Oh! guardate che accidente! (Fiorilla, Narciso, Selim, Zaida, Geronio) 39: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene II: Dunque seguitemi 40: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene II: Questo vecchio maledetto (Selim, Narciso, Selim, Zaida, Geronio) 41: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene III: Si mi e forza partir 42: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene III: Son la vite sul campo appassita (Fiorilla, Poeta, Geronio) 43: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene III: Rida a voi sereno il cielo 44: Il Turco In Italia: Act II Scene III: Restate contenti (coro, Selim, Zaida, Poeta, Fiorilla, Geronio, Narciso)

Customer Reviews A Funny side we dont hear often The La Divina is so versatile and talented that people almost forget that she is equally good in tragic and light comedy roles. Callas is so associated with her roles of tragic women such as Norma, Lucia ,Violeta and Tosca that her talent for other roles are overshadowed. The light and comic side of Callas is not often revealed. This recording proves that the charming and witty music that suites the character of Fiorilla is suited for the great talent of Maria Callas . The other performers in this recording did a superb job in their performances. Selim is a charm, Nicolai Gedda shows youth, and Stabile creates an impression in his role as Prosdocimo. Overall this is the Best Il turco in Italia among the three versions I have heard. So for Callas fans who want to hear the other side of Callas purchase this recording its worth every penny. Delightful and surprising Callas I had an old set in tape format. I have been looking for this CD for a long time. When EMI first remastered this performance in CD, it was very expensive for me at the time. This performance goes in and out of production, I guess it does not sell well, which it is a shame, because these are superb performances from all the principals and supporting cast. This recording is a joy to listen to. Who knew that all these singers known for their powerful dramatic performances in heavy hitters such as Bellini's "Norma" could be such great comedians. Their performances are a feast for the ears. My most favorite scene is from Disc 1 tracks 18 to 21. It is hilarious to hear Callas singing the crafty Fiorilla, playing the "offended" wife to her husband's attempts to rein in her roving eye!. When she sings "No mia vita. . . mio tesoro" (No my darling. . . my treasure) with such fake sticky-honeyed-tongue,you can HEAR her fake tears. Callas subtly overplays her singing from such roles as Elvira and Medea in this very small scene alone. She does it with such mastery, you can hear the musical threads of Elvira from "Qui la voce" in Fiorilla's "voi crudele!. . . mi fatte oltraggio! mi offendete!" (you cruel one!, you humilliate me!, you offend me!) in such pitiable tones that her husband bids good-bye to his courage after listening to such demonstrations of wounded dignity and pride. She sings her fake tears in such a way, that, for a moment you feel sorry for this wronged woman! then, through a subtle change in the shading of the notes,you realize, she's faking them! thorough the music, you can picture Fiorilla, looking thorough her fingers at her husband, pouring it on, laying it on thick, watching the effect her "tears" are having on the poor chap. When he kneels at her feet defeated, begging forgiveness, she rounds on him with such a Medea-esque fury in "ed ossate minnaciarmi! maltratarmi, spaventarmi! (and you dare to threaten me, mistreat me, scare me!) that the unhappy, innocent, unsuspecting, antler-addled man has no idea how he lost the argument!!. When Fiorilla knows she's won, you can hear again on her music, how blythely, happily and carefree, she goes out enjoying her power. I replay this scene over and over. And along with her husband, I am caught unaware and became dumbstruck by her tears and her fury. My other favorite scene is on track 28, when Fiorilla and Zaida have a fight. The have such a row, you cannot help but to picture these two women in an Italian open-air market, among the produce and fish stalls with those typical italian gestures, being dragged away from each other by their embarrased lovers hurling abuse at each other trying to have the last word. If you want a more musical critique regarding this opera, John Ardoin's "The Callas Legacy" book is a superb source explaining Callas' musical genius. Ardoin will give you greater details on the music execution of the entire cast and interesting tidbits on one of the cast members, Aureliano Pertile. The booklet that accompanies this set is very informative and in various languages. I love this set and hope that whoever listens to it will enjoy as much as I do. I wonder how Cecilia Bartoli's Turco would measure against Callas'. Although I love and admire Cecilia's ability to sing bel canto roles and her deft handling of Rossini's music,but, I'm afraid I know and love Callas's singing skills even more. . So funny Her Fiorilla is deliciously funny. This is proof that those who say that Callas couldn't sing happy or funny parts. Absolutely exquisite, a must!. . You can see a complete list of all Gioachino Rossini, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Maria Callas, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Nicolai Gedda, Mariano Stabile, Piero de Palma, Franco Calabrese discography, or go back to the Gioachino Rossini, Orchestra e Coro del Teatro alla Scala, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Maria Callas, Nicola Rossi-Lemeni, Nicolai Gedda, Mariano Stabile, Piero de Palma, Franco Calabrese tabs