Teatro alla Scala

Medea by Luigi Cherubini( )

50 editions published between 1958 and 2017 in 4 languages and held by 1,221 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Listen to the June 30, 1959 recorded performance of Medea at the Royal Opera House, which received raved reviews on opening day. Other versions of the Covent Garden Medea exist but ICA Classics have very carefully re-mastered some new tapes that have produced excellent sound for their period

Don Carlos by Giuseppe Verdi( )

22 editions published between 1962 and 2013 in 4 languages and held by 1,166 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Don Carlos: Grand opéra en cinq actes. Livret: Joseph Méry et Camille du Locle

Aida by Giuseppe Verdi( )

62 editions published between 1929 and 2014 in Italian and English and held by 1,165 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Recorded 1928 at La Scala, Milan

Anna Bolena by Gaetano Donizetti( )

32 editions published between 1981 and 2017 in 4 languages and held by 1,010 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

One of the absolute highlights of her extraordinary career, Maria Callas' 1957 performances of this Donizetti opera brought new life to a bel canto opera that had long fallen out of favor. The central role was ideally suited to her talents and she once again had Luchino Viscontias her director. Anna's rival, Giovanna Seymour, was sung by one of Callas' most trusted colleagues, the superb mezzo-soprano Giulietta Simionato

I puritani by Vincenzo Bellini( )

25 editions published between 1950 and 2014 in 3 languages and held by 1,007 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

When this production opened, it had been more than half a century since Met audiences had last heard Bellini's gem of an opera. It was well worth the wait. "The best cast in the world," was how one critic described the legendary performers the Met brought together. The pair sent audiences into a frenzy with their sumptuous, dazzling singing. Joan Sutherland, dubbed "La Stupenda" by her fans and the press, is the hapless heroine Elvira who loses her heart--and her sanity--over Luciano Pavarotti, the Cavalier hero torn between love and duty

Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini( )

22 editions published between 1931 and 2010 in Italian and No Linguistic content and held by 918 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Madama Butterfly concerns the disastrous results of a young American naval officer's marriage to a pretty geisha

Rigoletto by Giuseppe Verdi( )

43 editions published between 1928 and 2014 in 4 languages and held by 913 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

This recording contains the complete opera sung in Italian. The book contains the complete text of the libretto with annotations in both English and Italian and a critical historical commentary. The text also includes the background of the composer, biographies of the principal singers and conductor

Norma by Vincenzo Bellini( Recording )

33 editions published between 1951 and 2013 in 3 languages and held by 898 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Pollione, a Roman Proconsul, has two children by Norma, a Druid priestess, in the course of a long relationship. Norma isn't as young and beautiful as once she was. A temple virgin, Adalgisa, is young and beautiful. Pollione must have her. He has importuned the young virgin to run away with him to Rome, and she has finally agreed. When Norma learns of Pollione's faithlessness, she threatens to kill the two children. Before she can do this, the Druid temple priests apprehend Pollione as he attempts to abscond with their sacred virgin, Adalgisa. The priests build a pyre to burn Pollione to death. Norma relents. Instead of killing the children, she blames herself for her misery and climbs onto the pyre to die with Pollione

Simon Boccanegra by Giuseppe Verdi( Recording )

31 editions published between 1977 and 2005 in 3 languages and held by 844 WorldCat member libraries worldwide

Recorded Dec. 1988 at Sala Abanella, Milan

Ifigenia in Tauride by Christoph Willibald Gluck( )

13 editions published between 1957 and 2017 in Italian and held by 787 WorldCat member libraries worldwide