Okay, so here's a fact to make one's jaw drop: lo, these many years into ccm-ing, and I haven't had a Callas recording up until now! My shock is only matched by my embarrassment. Well, better late (very late) than never; now I start to make up for it.

I shan't try to summarize the allure of Callas here. The ccm only has one page, y'know. Suffice to say, simply, that her occasional vocal issues were more than mitigated by her unimpeachable artistry, the conviction and convincing nature of her interpretations, and not least of all, her abilities as a dramatic actress (the usual weakness of divas).

This month we hear her in that great classic, "Vissi d'arte" from Tosca. Enjoy the incomparable Callas in all her emotive glory.