Lady Macbeth is a role that La Divina was born to sing. She has exactly the right physiognomy for the role, as well as the ideal vocal colours and features demanded by Verdi. She had auditioned for the role in Milan for Toscanini in September 1950 for performances in Verdi’s hometown Busseto as well as New York and Toscanini was so impressed that he declared he found the ideal voice for Lady Macbeth. Unfortunately, Toscanini’s illness prevented the performances from being realised. Later, Maria sang Lady Macbeth’s aria for the first time in a Radio Italiana broadcast concert in Turin in February 1952.
When La Scala announced that Maria would be given the honour of opening its 1952-53 season as the leading lady in MACBETH, the scheduled performance was billed as a major event and expectations ran high. Things did not turn out smoothly as there were controversies and disturbances. The opinion of the critics were divided as some were unable to understand her interpretation. Moreover, a member of the pro-Tebaldi claque pre-arranged a whistle that was blown after the sleepwalking scene to disrupt the performance. However, by and large majority of the Milan public were conquered by Maria’s Lady Macbeth and the disturbance only led to even more overwhelming ovation and seven solo curtain calls for her.
Callasiana Ultra 