Maria Callas was probably the most famous operatic singer of the last century. As much for her personal life as much as for her musical talent. But what a voice! And she was wildly beautiful.

I am not a huge fan of complete operas, whcih tend to be dramatically varied and sometimes difficult to listen to. If you can even maintain your attention for the two, three or even more hours length, I enjoy attending them but would never settle in to listen to a complete recordings.

This style of record then is ideal for me, a quick run through the most memorable and enjoyable parts of different operas. Interesting because the great operas are normally in Italian and German. For this record Callas sings completely in French.

What's on the menu? Excerpts from the following, Gluck's Orphee and Eurydice, his Alceste, Bizet's magnificent Carmen, Samson and Delilah by Saint Saens. Side two throws up Romeo et Juliette by Gounod, Mignon by Barbier and Cerre, Le Cid by Massenet, and Charpentier's Louise.

My favourites here, and the best known to me, are the Carmen excerpts. Its a vibrant exciting tory full of passion and fire and the music represents this wholly.(Isn't that the point of opera?)

Valse - Je veux vivre from Romeo Juliette is a playful piece and Maria makes full use of the range allowed her in perfect style. The famous cliche of an opera singer cracking glass is apt here.

Le Cid brings us the story of a Spanish lady who's father is slain by Le(El) Cid and despite loving him feels the need to ask the king for Le Cid's life. This is a nice ominous change from teh rest of the proceedings. Louise sings to us at the end recalling the first blossoming of true love which leaves us with a hopelessly romantic last taste of the record.

Plain sleeve with a less severe, very pretty Callas on the front. Good protective inner sleeve. The usual excellent liner notes, for a classical release, on the back sleeve, and nicely, an inserted leaflet with the lyrics of all the arias, in French and English with explanatory notes for same.

I do have the feeling with some of these older recordings(although not with all) that if they were recorded more recently the music, and usually vocals, would be somewhat more distinct. Pressing however is exemplary.