“In all the major Puccini parts, and most of the Verdian, she recorded in the studio for Decca, that gratifying centrality of voice and interpretation that makes her still beloved by many admirers can be heard. Security, broad phrasing, exciting tone were of the essence in her art. She was undoubtedly a grande dame of the lyric theatre in a way now inexorably of the past. So much the worse for the present.”
– Alan Blyth, The Guardian (obituary for Tebaldi), 20 December 2004

Renata Tebaldi was one of the supreme sopranos of the recording era whose voice was captured in all of its glory at the dawn of the LP era. Alto brings together essential arias by Puccini and Verdi taken from Tebaldi’s great Decca recordings — legendary sessions that partnered her with such luminaries as Carlo Bergonzi, Herbert von Karajan, and Mario del Monaco.

Giuseppe Verdi

• 1 La Forza del Destino – Son giunti… Madrre pietosa vergine 6:22
• 2 La Forza del Destino – Pace, pace, mio Dio 5:52
• 3 Aida – Ritorna vincitor 7:13
• 4 Aida – O patria mia 5:21
• 5 Il Trovatore – D’amor sull’ali rosee 3:36

Giacomo Puccini

• 6 Manon Lescaut – In quelle trine morbide 1:55
• 7 Manon Lescaut – Sola, perduta, abbandonata 4:08
• 8 La Bohème – Si, mi chiamano Mimi 5:30
• 9 La Bohème – Donde lieta usci 3:28
• 10 Turandot – Signore ascolta 2:39
• 11 Turandot – Tu che di gel sei cinta 2:55
• 12 Madama Butterfly – Un bel di vedremo 4:49
• 13 Madama Butterfly – Che tua madre 4:55
• 14 Madama Butterfly – Con onor muore…Tu,tu? Piccolo iddio 5:12
• 15 Tosca – Vissi’d’arte 3:16