For those who can only judge Callas' voice, any recording can be very disapointing. To enjoy listening to her voice, one must be aware of her work as a dramatic performance rather than a technically perfect and beautiful voice. She sang with her soul, her heart and all the deep feelings a human being can experience and this led her to the top of the opera world, although her voice never achieved beauty and evenness as it would be expected of an opera Diva. Listening to Callas is for those who really want to experience a deep and strong experience within themselves. If you want a beautiful voice, try Tebaldi, Mirella Freni or so many others who did achieved voice perfection -- but could not touch one's heart as deep as Callas did.

I had heard a lot about the stories of Maria Callas as cited in reviews for La Davina 1. I saw La Davina 2 on auction. My heart beat faster. I won the bid.

When this CD arrived I was even more eager to play it. The cover is more beautiful than its picture. Callas's voice cannot be adequately described either.

I did not give the CD a thorough studious listen like other reviewers. I played it three times while surfing. Each time I became more entranced. This CD is now on a lamp atop my CPU. It has twelve CD slots. Callas has one. Her voice is so clear, crisp, moving and meaningful that regardless of the song (track) selected, a listener will hear and feel true joy.

This review is not as sophisticated as many others. I am writing it to create some awareness of La Divina 2. Callas is not SECOND to any singer. The ADD mono stereo has been boosted. The CD challenges my Astec Lansing speakers. EMI has a winner.

Opera and classic music lovers might start their journey with La Divina 2. I know of few finer recordings. This CD gets 5 1/2*. Bravo to Callas, EMI and supporting conductors Tullio Serafin, Georges Petres, Nicola Resecigno and Frano Ghione. While dated 1993 the sound is 2000 quality.

Add this to your collection before the supply runs out.

This cd is great ...it shows both the power and agility of Callas.....it has Bolero that shows her amazing earth shattering agility with a perfect hi e flat at the end......and has Ritorna vincitor from aida which shows her power...now this aria might have slight mixed feelings because of Leontyne Price and Renata Tebaldi but she still does a great job in this aria..The mad scene from lucia also beautifully done....this cd just proves again that maria callas is one of the best if not the best opera singer of all time among the sopranos

La Divina means "The divine one"!! The greatest title ever given to a soprano. And only Callas deserved it! An amazing recital from beginning to the end. My first Callas-CD, I made an excellent choice!

Maria Callas may be the only female operatic 'superstar' working in my lifetime. In the 1950s and early 1960's, she had all the star power and paparrazi draw of Jackie and Marilyn, far outstripping the fame to the world at large of her primary rival, Renita Tibaldi. I am not an expert, or even an experienced amateur at evaluating operatic sopranos; however I've listened to several of the modern crop, and while the newbies probably do a better job of keeping on key, none of them can match the drama emoted by Ms. Callas on any given aria. All three releases are especially good buys, as they all run to over 72 minutes; however the recording quality does show its early (pre-multitrack, pre-digital) recording technology. Each is as good as the next regarding content, but 2 and 3 are a bit better in sound quality.