Bellini

A thrilling programme and a valuable calling card for the art of Eleonora Buratto [GF]

Committed, full-throated bel canto singing – but it must be measured against formidable competition [RMo]

By general consensus, the essential Norma recording, now in a superior transfer [RWe]

Five stars for Pristine’s sound rejuvenation but apart from Callas, the performance doesn’t live up to the quality of the transfer [MP]

A truly great lyric coloratura soprano of the early 20th century, showcased in first-rate transfers [RMo]

Simply one of the greatest ‘bel canto’ performances on record [MBu]

Callas’ voice restored for a film score; if you love her voice, maybe this is one for you [KT]

Pristine’s remastering into Ambient Stereo both enhances the beauty of Callas’ Norma and amplifies that which is less admirable here [RMo]

A pleasure to be reacquainted with Callas’s Norma in this remastering of her second studio recording [PT]

An interesting and enterprising recital but a question mark over the suitability of the voice for some of the material [PT]

By far the best mezzo-soprano to emerge for a generation [RMo]

A classic ensemble recording further enhanced by Pristine’s remastering into gloriously full and detailed, if slightly over-reverberant, sound [RMo]

I enjoyed some unhackneyed repertoire and the marvellous singing [GF]

A pleasing concert that will almost certainly cheer you up [MMB]

Anyone contemplating purchase of this set will be buying it for Maria Callas, and it is worthwhile for this alone [JP]

An enterprising collection of Bellini songs is unfortunately let down by less than ideal performances [PT]

A survey by Ralph Moore

A first video release of Bellini’s early work features some attractive singing and an elegant, if quirky, production [MP]