Maria Callas

Such theater, such voices! Nothing about this 1953 mono recording sounds dated. Victor de Sabata keeps the orchestra taut for these three major talents. Maria Callas (in the title role of Floria Tosca) is at her most brilliant, fiery with moments of sublime tenderness. Her friend Tito Gobbi, as Scarpia, goads her on to rare form and Giuseppe DiStefano plays a sweet Cavaradossi. Of course, they all get it in the end, but never has a recording captured such a grand struggle so eloquently.