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TURN-ONS AND TURN-OFFS IN CURRENT HOME ENTERTAINMENT RELEASES : ****Excellent ***Good **Fair *Poor : VIDEOCASSETTES

<i> Compiled by Terry Atkinson</i>

“Maria Callas Hamburg Concert, 1959.” “Maria Callas Hamburg Concert, 1962.” Kultur. $39.95 each. Filmed in black and white at performances during the soprano’s prime, these are cherishable mementos of an art too rarely preserved on film. In two hours of singing (one hour per tape), Callas presents 11 arias--from “La Vestale,” “Carmen,” “Macbeth,” “Le Cid,” “Cenerentola,” etc.--backed solidly by an orchestra conducted by Nicola Rescigno (1959) and Georges Pretre (1962). The format did not hinder the artistic penetration in Callas’ even-then technically inconsistent singing. And the musical satisfactions--of style, word-savoring and dramatic nuance--are abundant. Information: (800) 458-5887. ***

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