Maria Callas

From: Henry Wisneski Book:

Norma was chosen for the opening night of La Scala's 1955-56 season. The new production was directed by Margherita Wallmann and designed by Salvatore Fiume. Antonino Votto conducted and the cast included Giulietta Simionato and Mario del Monaco. The December 7 prima is unquestionably the finest total performance of ali the Normas with Callas which exist on tape or disc. Del Monaco's rich voice rang out with extraordinary power in the climaxes. In the softer passages, he phrased his lines with a sensitivity seldom to be found in his commercial recordings. Both he and Simionato gave the impression of being totallyinvolved in the drama. Callas was at her absolute best, both vocally and histrionically. In the final act, during her singing of "Deh! non volerli vittime del mio fatale errore" ("Do not let them be victims of my fatai mistake"), the Scala musicians began to play as if they avere inspired. They "sang" with their instruments, matching the intensity of Callas's performance on stage.