Casta Diva -- Maria Callas (Best)

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Vincenzo Bellini
NORMA

Casta Diva, Norma's aria from Norma

Casta Diva, che inargenti
O pure Goddess, who silver
queste sacre antiche piante,
These sacred ancient plants,
a noi volgi il bel sembiante
Turn thy beautiful semblance on us
senza nube e senza vel... Unclouded and unveiled...
Tempra, o Diva,
Temper, o Goddess,
tempra tu de?cori ardenti
The brave zeal
tempra ancora lo zelo audace,
Of the ardent spirits,
spargi in terra quella pace
Scatter on the earth the peace
che regnar tu fai nel ciel...
Thou make reign in the sky...
Fine al rito : e il sacro bosco
Complete the rite : and the sacred wood
Sia disgombro dai profani.
Be clear of the laity.
Quando il Nume irato e fosco,
When the irate and gloomy God
Chiegga il sangue dei Romani,
Asks for the Roman blood
Dal Druidico delubro
My voice will thunder
La mia voce tuoner?
From the Druidic temple.
Cadr? punirlo io posso.
He will fall ; I can punish him
(Ma, punirlo, il cor non sa.
(But my heart is unable to do so).
Ah! bello a me ritorna
(Ah! Return to me beautiful
Del fido amor primiero;
In your first true love ;
E contro il mondo intiero...
Il protect you
Difesa a te sar?
Against the entire world.
Ah! bello a me ritorna
Ah! Return to me beautiful
Del raggio tuo sereno;
With your serene ray;
E vita nel tuo seno,
Il have life, sky
E patria e cielo avr?
And homeland in your heart.
Ah, riedi ancora qual eri allora,
Ah, return again as you were then,
Quando il cor ti diedi allora,
When I gave you my heart then,
Ah, riedi a me.)
Ah, come back to me.)

Channel: Music
Uploaded: June 4, 2007 at 9:46 am
Author: FlorenceAshley

Length: 00:05:43
Rating: 4.82
Views: 109196

Tags: Casta Diva Maria Callas Vincenzo Bellini NORMA Opera

Video Comments:
trebormiz (October 10, 2008 at 11:54 pm)
Maria Callas's instrument had been damaged, but she did her utmost to use it effectively and sung with great pathos - making her great. She commented that Renata Tebaldi who she admitted had a better instrument than hers, was like someone who had a Rolls Royce and didn't know how to drive it.
Aetion (October 5, 2008 at 2:15 pm)
You are histerical and that's proved by your many "comments" against Maria Callas!
Aetion (October 3, 2008 at 8:03 pm)
Even if this aria didnt exist, it should have been composed for Maria Callas. I think none can sing Casta Diva like this, NONE!
Thanks FlorenceAshley for the video and the info. Perfect job!
gillyenigmatic (October 4, 2008 at 6:52 pm)
I quite agree. No one could ever sing this as she did.
Her voice is perfect!
jimthewriter (October 3, 2008 at 8:02 am)
My friend Edward saw her in a performance of "Medea". He told me:"In my entire life I have never seen such a tremendous operatic performance. She was magic. She was unique."
dollenberg (October 2, 2008 at 9:59 pm)
Maria Callas was a very great artist, Her dramatic intensity and wonderful interpretation gifts were unique. She was a powerful actress and a great musician. However, she was not a great singer. Early on she developed a vibrato and her pitch was unpredictable. The top notes sometimes were very strident. None of this matters because she was a great diva, but she was not the best singer.
vereda61 (October 10, 2008 at 3:25 pm)
Let's listen to your version of Casta Diva and then we can compare. I imagine you do it better than Callas. Go ahead, show us how is done!
seleuco33 (October 1, 2008 at 9:58 pm)
Melodie divine per una donna divina!!!
FabioIagnocco (September 28, 2008 at 4:39 pm)
La migliore versione, come del resto tutte le opere da lei interpretate.
lothanbr (September 26, 2008 at 7:10 pm)
Oh Maria, my darling. You do it to me everytime. I'm in love with this woman!