Often released in corrupted form, this 1952 performance, without interpolation, of Verdi’s Macbeth features Maria Callas at the near start of her quarter-century professional career as Lady Macbeth, and Enzo Mascherini, generally forgotten now except to the cognoscenti who know him as one of his era’s leading Italian baritones, in the title role. The Orchestra and Chorus of the La Scala, Milan is led by Victor de Sabata, an utterly brilliant conductor who left far to few recordings behind, but more than enough to judge to his true genius.

Cherubini: Ali-Baba, ou Les quarante voleurs (1963)

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (1957)

Wagner: Lohengrin (Live)

Verdi: La traviata

Verdi: La traviata (Live)

Verdi: La forza del destino (Recorded Live 1954)

Bellini: I puritani (Recorded 1960) [Live]

Verdi: Il trovatore

Ignaz Holzbauer (1711-1783) was an extremely prolific composer of symphonies, operas, chamber music and concertos. His opera G�nther von Schwarzburg is rooted in the history of Germany, and it tells the tale of the eponymously named 14th century king. This re-issue of the 1960 live recording is sung in Italian, a first then and now, featuring Luigi Infantino, Raffaele Ari�, and most intriguingly Anna Moffo in her prime along with the RAI Milano conducted by Olivero de Fabritiis.

UN BALLO IN MASCHERA: NELLI-PE

Rossini: Guglielmo Tell (1954)

Puccini: Tosca (Live)

Tchaikovsky: Eugene Onegin, Op. 24, TH 5 (Recorded 1954)