Callas, Bernstein - Medea, Scala 1953 - BJR LP Best Sound! Acts 2 and 3

Maria Callas IS Medea! All others are pretending! Although this is not my favourite Medea (perhaps the debut in Florence is my favourite, followed by the 1957 studio, the 1959 London, the 1958 Dallas, then this Scala performance, lastly the 1961 Scala performance), the sound is great, much better than any other edition. Featuring the only proper Act 2 finale phrasing sung live, which is very difficult to pull off, if not as grand as the sustained note in other recordings. Maria Callas: Medea Gino Penno: Giasone Maria Luisa Nache: Glauce Fedora Barbieri: Neris Angela Vercelli: Prima ancella Maria Amadini: Seconda ancella Enrico Campi: Un capo delle duardie Leonard Bernstein conducts the Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala di Milano Recorded 10 December, 1953 at La Scala, Milan.