This is quite wonderful. I was skeptical at first, but the coloring, beauty of voice, phrasing are supreme. That said, I still think (imho), the definitive performance of this is with Eileen Farrell and Thomas Schippers. Farrell has the voice quality of a Greek column (even, gorgeous and POWERFUL from bottom to top) and incredible breath control and coloratura facility for the end.
Her's was no small voice. Marcia Liebman, a friend of mine, sang Elvira to Caballe's first Anna as well as one of the Walkure's with Caballe as Segliende and Nilsson as Brunhilde around 1977 and she swears that from onstage you couldn't tell which of the two was louder...unfortunately, as she grew older it became louder and a little raucous at the top end. But when it was glorious, it was glorious!!!
This is magnificent. Commenters before say quite rightly that Caballe is no stentor. But, actually she has a voice very "piercing" in quality and liquid-cristal in texture. This, while devoid of Nilsson-like volume, is none the less audible enough (and in later years, judging by testimonials, notably from some New York Aidas in 1972 I think, QUITE audible, people actually present described it as HUGE) But volume or not, Caballe here phrases and nuances to give us a truly idiomatic rendition.
C'est magnifique , surprenant. Cette musique allemande est arrachée à des duretés germaniques et attirée vers des inflexions plus latines qui la font découvrir sous un jour nouveau. pas orthodoxe, mais INTERESSANT. Et quelle maîtrise, y compris de la langue, me semble-t-il.
Montserrat Caballe provides the impetus and frantic emotional turmoil that the role of Rezia encompass. This is a difficult aria to perform, but Montserrat Caballe provides the depth and characterization which makes this a special and unique performance. Thank you for another great video.
As pertinently said BeauTenor, this is not the stentorian voice we use to hear in this role, but still, Caballe can find with her own means - and what means in 1969 !!! - the appropriate dramatism for this aria.
Wow...wow wow wow wow. Is there ANYTHING Caballe DIDN'T sing? Seems like every time I'm online I find something else I never heard her sing. This is FIRST RATE. Not exactly the stentorian voice we might be used to hearing, but gorgeous nonetheless.
Well, that's not all that surprising, is it? Callas actually had a rather limited repertoire (that she performed on stage, anyhow) when you compare her to someone like Caballe, whose rep encompassed well over 100 roles. Then again, almost anyone looks limited when you compare them to Caballe's rep. The only comparably versatile singer is probably Domingo (who also has well over 100 roles to his credit).
Well, Callas' repertoire went from the assoluta heroines of bel canto to Wagner, Verismo, Verdi, Puccini, etc...it was quite a lot compared to other singers at the time who were merely singing one or two composers at the most and repeating the same roles over and over (and no more than 6)
This is quite wonderful. I was skeptical at first, but the coloring, beauty of voice, phrasing are supreme. That said, I still think (imho), the definitive performance of this is with Eileen Farrell and Thomas Schippers. Farrell has the voice quality of a Greek column (even, gorgeous and POWERFUL from bottom to top) and incredible breath control and coloratura facility for the end.
mwk12kev 1 year ago
Her's was no small voice. Marcia Liebman, a friend of mine, sang Elvira to Caballe's first Anna as well as one of the Walkure's with Caballe as Segliende and Nilsson as Brunhilde around 1977 and she swears that from onstage you couldn't tell which of the two was louder...unfortunately, as she grew older it became louder and a little raucous at the top end. But when it was glorious, it was glorious!!!
Dymension 1 year ago
This is magnificent. Commenters before say quite rightly that Caballe is no stentor. But, actually she has a voice very "piercing" in quality and liquid-cristal in texture. This, while devoid of Nilsson-like volume, is none the less audible enough (and in later years, judging by testimonials, notably from some New York Aidas in 1972 I think, QUITE audible, people actually present described it as HUGE) But volume or not, Caballe here phrases and nuances to give us a truly idiomatic rendition.
GeorgiNM 2 years ago 4
Germaine Lubin admirait beaucoup la Caballé, en particulier dans le répertoire allemand.
SENAFOREVER 2 years ago 3
sure, coz Weber is Wagner. Shut the fuck up.
primohomme 3 years ago
That's an unflattering pic of Montserrat...but the singing is glorious.
agnellodei 3 years ago 3
Which one of the screenshots displeases you?
GeorgiNM 2 years ago
C'est magnifique , surprenant. Cette musique allemande est arrachée à des duretés germaniques et attirée vers des inflexions plus latines qui la font découvrir sous un jour nouveau. pas orthodoxe, mais INTERESSANT. Et quelle maîtrise, y compris de la langue, me semble-t-il.
opera75frfr 3 years ago 2
Montserrat Caballe provides the impetus and frantic emotional turmoil that the role of Rezia encompass. This is a difficult aria to perform, but Montserrat Caballe provides the depth and characterization which makes this a special and unique performance. Thank you for another great video.
tHEnOOSEsWING 3 years ago 6
As pertinently said BeauTenor, this is not the stentorian voice we use to hear in this role, but still, Caballe can find with her own means - and what means in 1969 !!! - the appropriate dramatism for this aria.
PonselleLover 3 years ago
Wow...wow wow wow wow. Is there ANYTHING Caballe DIDN'T sing? Seems like every time I'm online I find something else I never heard her sing. This is FIRST RATE. Not exactly the stentorian voice we might be used to hearing, but gorgeous nonetheless.
BeauTenor 3 years ago 3
She actually had a wider repertoire than Callas.
agnellodei 3 years ago 4
Well, that's not all that surprising, is it? Callas actually had a rather limited repertoire (that she performed on stage, anyhow) when you compare her to someone like Caballe, whose rep encompassed well over 100 roles. Then again, almost anyone looks limited when you compare them to Caballe's rep. The only comparably versatile singer is probably Domingo (who also has well over 100 roles to his credit).
BeauTenor 3 years ago 4
Well, Callas' repertoire went from the assoluta heroines of bel canto to Wagner, Verismo, Verdi, Puccini, etc...it was quite a lot compared to other singers at the time who were merely singing one or two composers at the most and repeating the same roles over and over (and no more than 6)
agnellodei 3 years ago
I think Lilli Lehmann had the widest repertoire in history. She had over 140 roles.
comey717 3 years ago