New Classic Releases! Swan Lake & Verdi Arias

Dear master tape friends,

today we have some new releases from the domain of classical music. Now available on tape are Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake performed by the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by André Previn and Maria Callas singing Arias from Verdi’s operas Don Carlos, Aroldo as well as Otello.

Tchaikovsky - Swan Lake

The LSO conducted by André Previn

Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, with its story of magical transformations, love and deceit and its irresistibly melodic score, defines Romantic ballet. It is no coincidence that conductor André Previn has described himself as “a complete romantic” and that this recording has become a classic of the catalogue. When it was made in 1976, Previn had spent the best part of a decade as Principal Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra. With their combination of show business flair and deep sensitivity, he and the LSO’s players proved to be the ideal team for Tchaikovsky’s glorious ballet music.

Maria Callas - Verdi Arias

Callas sings Verdi

Only one of the roles represented in this Verdi recital figured in Callas’s stage repertoire: Elisabetta in Don Carlo, which she performed at La Scala in 1954. From the same opera she also sings Eboli’s mezzo-soprano showpiece “O don fatale”, a feature of her recitals in the early 1960s. An adventurous choice are Mina’s arias from the rarely-heard Aroldo (Verdi’s reworking of Stiffelio): ‘The vivid pronunciation of the words, the burning emotion conveyed by tone-colour, and the powerful and eloquent sense of rhythm, are all memorable. So is the fearless quality of Callas’s singing,’ said Gramophone. When it came to Desdemona’s scene from Act IV of Otello, the critic wrote: ‘Verdi’s music is brought to life as by no other artist. Her voice is in fine state: very beautiful, and drawing a full glorious line.’