First Recordings (1949)

Recorded in 1949 when Maria Callas was just 25, this debut recital encapsulates the young soprano's astonishing maturity, versatility and technical finesse. She had already sung all three roles showcased here - Wagner's Isolde and Bellini's Norma and Elvira (I puritani) - in the theatre. As Gramophone, which described the recital as 'incandescent and spellbinding', wrote: 'The Liebestod is a beautiful example of sustained interpretation, with a long line running through the whole piece, each phrase finding part-fulfilment in the next until the climax is reached,' concluding overall that: 'The eloquence of phrase and the technical control put at the service of a discerning heart and mind are obvious to hear.'