Most Callas compilations are from the late period in her career when she was well past her prime or were of the prime period, but the recording sounds terrible. This one catches one of the great voices ever right at her peak and is beautifully mastered to sound as fresh as if it were recorded today. If you an keep a dry eye all the way through this one you're tougher than I am. Everyone expects to be stunned by the Puccini selections, but wait untill you hear Saint-Saens' Mon couer s'ouvre a ta voix!

Is Callas' voice per se exceptionally beautiful, bearing in mind that once upon a time the standard was gracefulness and pleasentness to the ears? Before Callas, we have Tebaldi and Schwarkopf...

Nevertheless with Callas, we surely have a most incredible voice of the century. Incredible in the sense that she could cover literally a range of 2.5 octaves with ease (not even Caballe could do that), and she could change her timbers anytime and at any register. Coupled with a profound understanding of the characters that she sings, this makes her suitable for almost all opera parts. That explains why her singing could be so moving, so powerful and so full of drama.

But Callas with really beautiful recorded sound is not easy to come by, leave alone those recorded when she was in her prime. This is exactly such an album. Furthermore, most of the arias here are from famous operas, quite a few from what people would name the "top ten" operas. Last but not the least, Alfred Brendel, one of the topmost pianists, used to listen to Callas a lot partly to see her phrasings! Highly recommended for all opera, in fact all music lovers.

I am quite pleased to have purchased this compilation of Callas' recordings. There is a good balance between more popular arias and those from lesser known operas. The aria from La Wally is a favorite, along with Mamma Morta and J'ai Perdu Mon Eurydice. The CD begins with Casta Diva, which showcases her more famous vocal style. Later in the CD, there is a trilogy of arie from Carmen, and you are stunned to hear her sing mezzo soprano- I had not ever heard the Maria Callas recordings of Carmen, and was really taken aback by her in this performance. It was almost as if another person altogether was singing!

My only letdown with this CD is that there is nothing from Turandot, which is supposed to be a magnificent opera, although I have not heard it. That one minor complaint withstanding, I am quite happy with this purchase

I once read a story about a man in the audience who was so moved by Callas' "Vissi d'arte" that he had a heart attack, and I understand why. What I wouldn't give to have heard her in person.

All other extraneous facts of her life be damned: Callas was born to play Tosca...also Carmen, Mimi, Butterfly, or any role, for that matter, that she ever threw herself into. This CD's a wonderful short collection, and even includes a recording of "L'amour est un oiseau rebelle" which I don't believe I've ever heard before. It's a great buy, also a great gift.

What a wonderful CD that helps one listen to one of the most amazing voices of the 20th century! I was lucky enough to have seen Mrs. Callas live, and although I was a young child at the time, I never forgot the beautiful voice that stayed in my memory. This CD has helped me re-live those memories!