Okay, Callas has won the argument, probably because she was in the news a lot more than Tebaldi. It's very hard to really know who was the better singer. I preferred Tebaldi when I was younger but for the past few days I have been listening to the Callas version with Nicolai Gedda and Herbert von Karajan at La Scala. It would be hard to top it.
However, I could not find a really good version of "Un Bel Di" by Callas. So, here is Renata!
It's hard to believe she was stricken with polio at an early age. For me, Callas has the edge - 'edge' being the operative word as I felt she had a slightly 'edgier' voice than Tebaldi, particularly on those high crescendos. But this can only be mere comparison, not criticism. Two great operatic divas, both so sadly missed.
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