She's controversial but you have to appreciate what she can do, and care little for what she fails to do because that is all overshadowed by what she gives. And, what she gives is unreserved guts and heart, she carries the suffering right out of the character and gives it to the audience in a big package. She sets a standard and if you listen to later soprano's they will say just that, she was the benchmark for everyone that came after her. Besides she is quite possibly the operatic soprano of the 20th century, if not for the purists then for a large majority. None of this is to detract from the greatness of, for example, a Renata Tebaldi, I mean she's up there too and I wouldn't argue against anyone promoting her achievements. Yet Maria Callas is a legend for a reason and I believe you observe it here in these clips. It is probably worth noting that by general reckoning she had peaked by 1954, the famous Tosca recording is 1953, her voice being damaged, particularly in the upper register and even still these clips are a tremendous archive. They are currently available in two separate DVD releases on EMI, (here in the UK, anyway):Maria Callas - La Callas... Toujours - Paris, 1958,
Maria Callas - Live In Concert Hamburg 1959 And 1962
Callas & Gobbi in "Torture scene" from Tosca Paris 1958
Maria Callas "Vissi d'arte" Paris 1958
Maria Callas - O Mio Babbino Caro
