Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
EMI's 1955 recording of Madama Butterfly features three of the brightest stars of the era: Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, and Herbert von Karajan. Callas hadn't yet sung Cio-Cio-San on-stage when she made this recording, but she fully inhabits the role and brings penetrating insight to it. She's completely convincing as an adolescent, a remarkable feat in this role, which requires a voice of considerable heft. Callas beautifully captures Butterfly's vulnerability and sensitivity with an astonishingly youthful-sounding vocal freshness, and she's compellingly poignant as Butterfly's dilemma becomes clear to her. The only caveat about her performance is the intonation and purity of her sustained notes above the staff and several of them are painfully strident. Gedda is thoroughly caddish as Pinkerton, and he sings with passion, but his voice shows some strain in the upper register.
Mario Borriello is a resonant, compassionate Sharpless, and Lucia Danieli sings with warmth and security as Suzuki. Karajan, leading the Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, has a sure grasp of the score's dramatic contour and makes this a highly charged reading. The orchestral playing is of the highest order. The recorded sound is clear and balance is good, but it shows its vintage; it's somewhat cramped and lacks depth.
© TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From £10.83/month
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor, MainArtist - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor, MainArtist - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor, MainArtist - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor, MainArtist - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Enrico Campi, Bass Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Plinio Clabassi, Bass Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Mario Carlin, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Mario Carlin, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Renato Ercolani, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor, MainArtist - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor, MainArtist - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Coro Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Chorus, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor, MainArtist - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor, MainArtist - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor, MainArtist - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Tenor Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Luisa Villa, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Luisa Villa, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Mario Borriello, Baritone Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra - Lucia Danieli, Mezzo-soprano Vocals, FeaturedArtist
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Herbert Von Karajan, Conductor - Giacomo Puccini, Composer - Nicolai Gedda, Vocals, FeaturedArtist - Maria Callas, Soprano Vocals, MainArtist - Orchestra Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano, Orchestra
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 1955, 2014 Parlophone Records Limited
Album review
EMI's 1955 recording of Madama Butterfly features three of the brightest stars of the era: Maria Callas, Nicolai Gedda, and Herbert von Karajan. Callas hadn't yet sung Cio-Cio-San on-stage when she made this recording, but she fully inhabits the role and brings penetrating insight to it. She's completely convincing as an adolescent, a remarkable feat in this role, which requires a voice of considerable heft. Callas beautifully captures Butterfly's vulnerability and sensitivity with an astonishingly youthful-sounding vocal freshness, and she's compellingly poignant as Butterfly's dilemma becomes clear to her. The only caveat about her performance is the intonation and purity of her sustained notes above the staff and several of them are painfully strident. Gedda is thoroughly caddish as Pinkerton, and he sings with passion, but his voice shows some strain in the upper register.
Mario Borriello is a resonant, compassionate Sharpless, and Lucia Danieli sings with warmth and security as Suzuki. Karajan, leading the Chorus and Orchestra of La Scala, has a sure grasp of the score's dramatic contour and makes this a highly charged reading. The orchestral playing is of the highest order. The recorded sound is clear and balance is good, but it shows its vintage; it's somewhat cramped and lacks depth.
© TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 39 track(s)
- Total length: 02:18:44
- Main artists: Maria Callas Orchestra del Teatro della Scala di Milano Herbert von Karajan
- Composer: Giacomo Puccini
- Label: Warner Classics
- Genre: Classical Opera
A Warner Classics release, © 2023 Parlophone Records Limited A Warner Classics release, ℗ 2023 Parlophone Records Limited
Improve album informationWhy buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.