Even to the fickle ears of opera lovers, one album stands out as arguably the greatest opera recording ever made: Soprano Maria Callas’s classic interpretation of Tosca. The album may have long have been considered a high note, but it’s gotten an unusual modern honor, courtesy of The New York Times. That’s because the newspaper’s opera aficionado Anthony Tommasini is singing the praises of the recording, highlight by highlight, with audio provided to make his point. It’s worth the read… and the listen.
“Her opening cries of “Mario” are also panicked, almost desperate. A touch of fragile neediness comes through as this rattled Tosca calls out Mario’s name three more times,” he writes. “This fleeting episode, only a few seconds long, is one of countless indelible moments in an account of Tosca that has often been called the greatest opera recording ever made.”
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