Overrated Recordings
Sun, Jan 1 2012, 6:34PM
#2
RE: Overrated Recordings
I'm with you, GH, as for Callas' voice. In her recordings, her voice rarely sounded that good or pure (maybe, only in the 50's). However, for those who have seen her even once, even at her last performances, they could "visualize" in her recordings what she was actually capable of achieving in a comprehensive performance of the role in question. So, she had always one reputation; the one she deserved. Even, if Sutherland, Caballe or Tebaldi had better, much purer voices.
For some people (not me), what she managed to bring to Opera was more important than any bella voce could attain. They saw the theatre coming to the fore (maybe for the first time in such intensity and conviction) rather than the bel canto. Anyway, it's rather late to dethrone a late "queen". She was one of a kind, after all!
Parla
I would suggest that a lot of people miss the point with Callas. Her reputation came mainly from performance, in an era that still accepted the 'stand up and sing' approach she was a reformer. Her voice could always be ugly at times, but dramatically so. Again, on the stage, this could be powerful. Her recordings vary in quality, but peolple find it hard to separate the Callas the performer/ Callas the studio recorded singer. It is as if she were allowed only one reputation. She had a beautiful voice and could act in a way Caballe and Sutherland could not, but Caballe had a purer 'recording voice'.
As for most overated recording, ummm which to pick. I have to agree with the Rattle Mahler 2, but would add (in Mahler) Abbado Mahler 6 (Berlin).