Maria Callas sings 'Casta Diva' (Bellini: Norma, Act 1)

The great Maria Callas performs an aria from her signature role, Bellini's druid priestess Norma, with the Orchestre de l'Opera National de Paris and Georges Sebastian. Recorded live at the Palais Garnier on the 19th of December 1958, this concert marked the soprano's debut at the Paris Opera, a major social event for Parisians and for which Callas donned her most elegant couture and a million dollars' worth of jewelry.

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Warner Classics is the home of classical music, featuring iconic high audio quality recordings from the greatest classical legends, opera stars and orchestras of the last century.

Discover our unique collection of live performances, studio sessions and films featuring Maria Callas, Jacqueline du Pré, Nigel Kennedy, Mstislav Rostropovich, Yehudi Menuhin, Itzhak Perlman, Herbert von Karajan, Berliner Philharmoniker and more.

Along with its sister label Erato, Warner Classics continues this tradition with today's most in-demand classical artists, such as Philippe Jaroussky, Joyce DiDonato, Diana Damrau, Emmanuel Pahud, Alexandre Tharaud, Sir Antonio Pappano, Christina Pluhar and Renaud Capuçon.

Enjoy this ever-expanding library of official performance videos and exclusive interviews from the classical greats. Check back regularly for more music from your favourite composers including Bach, Mozart, Chopin, Debussy, Satie, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Handel and more.

#ClassicalMusic #Opera #MariaCallas

[eitanjakoubovitch]

Unbelievable. This concert was in 1958, 66 years ago and still, no other singer sings like Maria.
Who's listening in 2024??

[artadervishi]

I’m here on August 30, 2024 deeply thankful for the music of Bellini and the voice and soul of Callas. ❤

[nathelondon]

She stood on the stage silent for over 5 minutes and the entire audience was spellbound. You could hear a pin drop. Then she didn’t play Norma she became Norma as she did with every role. She was not only the greatest soprano ever but an intelligent actress, musicologist, multi linguist, teacher, recording artist. Actually, she revived and modernized opera single handed. RIP Ultimate Diva.

[doctorshoot]

September 2024
We are all alone but together united in beautiful music

[vivajah]

Brings tears to my eyes…. 2024 we are still listening to you Maria.

[davidschmidt]

I actually met this incredible singer when I was 16 (I'm 64...edit: now 66). She came to Pittsburgh for a performance, (long past her prime but still revered as a legend) and paid a visit to a music program, sponsored by the city's public school system, in which I was enrolled on Saturdays for musically gifted students (not a snob, the name of the program was actually 'Centers for the Musically Talented' ). The program gave private lessons, theory, ensemble and Master Class lessons for those who were selected. The Master Class periods were classes where local and, at times, national level professionals were brought in to discuss their aspect of music (composition, orchestration, recording, arranging, accompanying, etc.) I had auditioned for, and was admitted to the program, which also included being 'drafted' into the Pittsburgh All-City Choir.
At this time, I was your typical, 16-year old long haired, rock-n-rolling, weed-smoking, blue-jeaned hot-rodding teen guy (this was the '70s), singing in two different rock bands, and the only 'opera' or 'classical' songs I knew were the ones that my private-lesson teacher selected weekly for me to develop my voice. So I was unaware of who the top level opera singers of the time were, and so I had NO idea who she was.
I can remember on that day, the program's admin people were all in a tizzy about her impending visit. I didn't know that, to them, this was a visit by royalty. So I just figured it would be another class by someone in the (I thought 'boring') opera field, and in whom I had no interest. But to the day I die, (and I mean this most sincerely) I will never forget her voice. Let me tell you, until one hears a world-class opera singer, really opening up their voice, IN A CLOSED ROOM, one has no idea of the sound-level they can generate!!
We were in a choir room with the chairs on semi-circular steps. She stood by the piano at the front of the room and I was in about the 5th or 6th row, so about 10 or 12 feet away. She began singing an aria, absolutely beautiful, and the word 'tone' stuck in my mind. As it progressed, she then cranked up and hit a couple of notes that actually made the fabric of my sport-shirt flutter. I mean, I literally FELT it, wondered what was going on, and I looked down in surprise and SAW the fabric of my shirt fluttering in the invisible 'breeze' of her voice.
There is no other way to express this : Just amazing!
At the end of the class, we were allowed to ask questions, and she answered them, usually questions about technique or breathing. Tactless as it seems now in retrospect, I wanted to ask her about her nose and her sinuses, as I had just learned that year from my vocal teacher the role that sinuses play in the timbre of our voices. Her nose was a strong, what they used to call a 'Greco-Roman' nose, and I was so clueless that I actually thought I would be able to ask her about how that contributed to her amazing voice. But when I tried to speak to her, my mouth just didn't seem to be working right, ( I had NEVER been a stutterer but I was that day...) and I KNOW my eyes felt like they were going to pop out of my head... That was the first time in my life that I was actually facing someone, literally FACING them, of whom the term 'larger-than-life' seemed to apply, and it was as intimidating as all hell.
She had that kind of face that BELONGED on a stage, HUGE EYES, and even when she was just standing there among us, she was an incredibly imposing figure. That sense of power only really settled into my mind later on, after class. She had the power to COMMAND attention just by standing still. I think she could sense that I was a bit overcome by her 'presence', but no doubt she'd had that experience before, probably ESPECIALLY with teen-age boys. But she was gracious, and she gave me that 1000watt smile and let it go. Just an amazing talent and wonderful person.
She passed away too young. RIP Diva Maria!!

[johnnyramistella]

I’m here! August 2024. Can never here enough of this angelic music ❤

[thelmacharles]

Not so. I am from Jamaica 🇯🇲. We were poor financially, but, rich in music. My mother was a mezzo soprano. She sang with a group and of course, in church. We went to bed listening to opera. Looking back, I wonder how my parents could even afford the gramophone much less the vinyl records. We have been blessed. Family members now attend the opera in Miami on a regular basis.
You are not alone in 2024.

[maiaw]

Who’s listening to her music during COVID-19? Her music keeps me calm whenever I feel angry, frustrated, sad or upset during a hard time.

[aleksandrrozhnov]

Я слушаю в 2024 году и всегда буду с восхищением слушать гениальную Марию Каллас. И мои дети и внуки будут слушать этот божественный голос. Никакие искусственные "интеллекты" не заменят подлинного высокого искусства. НИКОГДА!

[pirantotto]

2023, still listening to Maria. Eternal pleasure.

[cristianmicu]

this recording is among the few rare treasures of humanity imo

[FCBalletTheatre]

Que estén felices en el cielo, nunca les olvidaremos.

[DesireeEgloffstein]

As long as there is music you are never alone

[tatiananecrasova]

Нет, вы не один в 2024 г. Есть ещё ценители высокого искусства! И их очень много!

[rafikasplanet]

Still listening to this masterpiece ❤️❤️❤️

[moesauce]

Madam Callas did not just have the gift of this angelic voice. She had beauty (which she never admitted). She spoke 4 languages fluently (French, Italian, greek, and english). Was articulate and extremely sharp and handled interviews gracefully. What a loss to this world that she have died at a young age with a broken heart.
Forgot to mention that she was shortsighted and could not see the conductor!!. She was literally singing in her own world.

[irenastoic]

Listening in 2021... unforgettable.... who else?

[BargainChad]

People all over the world listen to her videos. She's a tribute to musicians everywhere. Just by having walked the earth and poured honey in people's ears.

[michele]

Here I am in 2024. Still listening an Angel.