Is there a gold standard recording of the opera “Carmen”?
Personally, I would go with the recording with Maria Callas. I happen to think that she was the greatest opera singer ever. My undergraduate degree is in music and I was trained classically, but I still would not consider myself an “opera buff”. My best friend from undergraduate school IS an opera fanatic (think opera recordings on his stereo 24/7 and a pitch pipe handy so that he could tell what high note the singer just nailed. crazy….In any case, he would definitely tell you to choose the Maria Callas recording. Callas actually never performed this role on stage. However, she has always been the kind of singer who can become a character through her voice alone. She had some tough times and tough critics during her singing career, but I stand by my decision to recommend this recording. It is, in most circles, considered the definitive recording. You’ll have to judge for yourself, but I think it is most powerful. I don’t generally like to listen to an opera without being in the audi
