Montserrat Caballe as Lady Macbeth "Sleepwalking Scene"

[gustopheles]

That piano D-flat is astonishing - a far cry from her explosive verismo D-flats in Lucia.

[OperaMystery80]

Excellent really, definitely grand. But like with Leontyne Price who sang this wonderfully, it's just a recital or concert version; like others have mentioned, Caballe's unsuited for the role in it's entirety. I prefer the icy blast of Birgit Nilsson, or the evil grandeur of Leonie Rysanek, Maria Callas and Shirley Verrett. Ghena Dimitrova is also electrifying. Caballe is good, but she doesn't thrill me as Lady Macbeth.

[pproust]

@gustopheles

Absolutely correct. Callas had exactly the voice Verdi intended. He faulted the original singer Tadolini for being 'good and beautiful, but I would like Lady to be deformed and ugly.Tadolini has a marvelously bright, clear voice,but I would like Lady to have a stifled, hollow harsh, voice. The voice of Tadolini is that of an angel, the voice of Lady needs something of the devil." Tadolini=Caballe, Callas=devil. ;-)

[opera75frfr]

Superbement chanté, bien sûr, mais comme Medea, comme Gioconda, et à l'autre extrême comme Lucia ou Fiorilla ce n'est ni elle ni pour elle!!

[StuartLou]

... for me it's a tie between Callas and Marisa Galvany. And dat's my story.

[Hugbutt]

Unfailingly excellent. Callas is still my favourite Lady Macbeth.

[MastersoftheOpera]

Did Caballe sing the entire role of Lady M on stage or just this aria ? It was wonderfully sung, very grand but I agree with other comments here in that she doesn't fit the part. This was a Maria Callas deluxe role, and I also love Rysanek Nilsson, Bumbry, Verrett and Dimitrova. This is a devilish role that very few sopranos can actually handle. Caballe is too lyric for the part.

[godivapaw]

No one can float those high notes like Caballe can!!!

[andrecueca]

the last note just makes you dream awake

[ketillflatnefur]

what is it about opera that makes so many non-talented people judgmental and ridiculous, i really should say petty and mean? she's great and you're not!! OMG, I just did it myself....................

[montsyblackmadonna]

This is heaven !

[AGM1951]

I'd put this in third after Price and Verrett. It's a great performance.

[EnricoAtHome]

I think Montse is great in this performance. She cannot take out the smoothness of her voice, but the low notes are great and the acting is well done just conveying the idea of remorse.

[iriisblue]

This nonsense about being too "lady like" for Lady MacBeth is just sexist claptrap that is smeared all over operaphile speak. Reminds me of the nitwit who wanted to argue that Dessay was better as Lakme because she was more "french," although the character is a Hindu princess. A great voice like Caballe's was perfect in this repertoire, and she sings this scene with command and presence.

[moghedien13]

@iriisblue not only that but she manages to be vocally beautiful and convincing.

[ininacsot]

@iriisblue bonjour, nous sommes sur un site qui permet de profiter de belles images et grandes voix,chacun a une idée differente ce qui est normal mais pourquoi traiter de crétin celui qui n'a pas les mêmes idées que vous?c'est domage,maintenant pour cette vidéo la voix de madame caballe est superbe c'est une des meilleurs dans macbeth, merci

[helenaprice]

@iriisblue As a huge fan of Caballe (and a woman myself) it pains me to disagree with you. The role of Lady Mac was originally meant for a deeper ... "rougher" voice. La Caballe is fantastic (in everything, really. Her and Diva Devia!), but her voice is so clear and refined, for some of us, she's not the right fit for the role.

That said, I'm not really complaining. Beauty is always appreciated.

[jirizika1962]

I am always pleasantly surprised hearing her in something what was not her "typical" repertoire. Her Lady is very good. It is personal taste question whether Lady must be screaming and have only "dark thick" voice. Velvet smoky colour in Montserrat voice is good enought for me to imagine Lady Macbeth.

She is still one of the most versatile soprano of our century.

[Hantiac]

not bad....but Leontyne Price is better¡¡¡ or Shirley Verrett.

[mm9913]

Buttery. Smooth. Enchanting.

[godivapaw]

@mm9913 Like a warm moist chocolate brownie!!! **drool**

[AmericanEvita]

The thing about Caballe is no matter what she sang, her huge, matronly, dark but lyric voice took over even the text of the aria or the acting...this was the same with Leontyne Price..I think they were both very similar...Caballe didnt have a Lady Macbeth in her but she sings with her usual wonderful voice so we overlook it...

[yodavidnavarro]

I don't think Caballé's voice is DARK!

[BGSourgas]

words fail...

Really like the brisk tempi also: sometimes this piece gets dragged out

superb, and 1970!!!what a gem

[DukefromMantova]

Amazing! Especially the phrase "E mai pulire e mai, e mai pulire, queste mani io non sapro" is sung really "con forza"! Moreover, my beloved D-flat major!

[glottide60]

La Signora Caballe mi sembra troppo "materna" in questa scena, ricordiamoci che per questo ruolo Verdi voleva un voce ...brutta , diabolica...la Signora Caballe' possiede tutto tranne che una brutta voce

[semiramide1945]

Does anyone know when she actually sang the role on stage? She seems far to lady-like for such a ferocious role

[andrecueca]

i believe she never did this on stage..only these recordings for a CD

[semiramide1945]

Some of the pictures included looked like live stage pics, just led me to think that perhaps she might have sung this role in the theater. I'm glad we have at least the sleep walking scene

[MisterSoprano]

I agree, great singing, but no Lady.

And I am fan of Caballe!

[operaspark]

Listen to those excellent lower notes with real depth to them. Lovely end note too.

[yodavidnavarro]

Luxury...Sumptuosness...Elegan­ce...Caballé!

[melomania58]

nessuna oggi è in grado di eguagliarla.... altro che storie

[neronnenn]

Comunque il re bemolle finale è tenuto l'espace d'un matin...Monserrat è lontanissima da Lady, pur colla sua superba tecnica!

[aquax9]

shattering! is this the emi cd? i'm getting it

[agnellodei]

That pianissimo high D-flat is HEAVEN!

[john5748]

Canto eccellente, ma dov'è la Lady?

Excellent singing, but where is the Lady?

[amlirco]

Non ci sta. Absolutely disconnected.

[winedirt]

La Superba at her finest!!

[zurriuss]

BRAVO!

[mm9913]

Ahh what a treat.

[gildosalerno]

Vocalmente suberba (compreso il re bemolle finale in pianissimo), nonostante i soliti suoni gravi gutturali, tuttavia ben controllati. Grande controllo, in più, niente scivolate. Ma l'interprete dov'è? Ci si scorda la Lady e si pensa solo alla voce. anche il fraseggio è tutto pensato in funzione del respiro, della voce: "chi poteva ... tanto sangue " - pausa per preparare il fiato successivo - "immaginar". Grande comunque, ma...un'occasione un po' sprecata.

[neronnenn]

Finalmente qulacuno che commenta con cognizione di causa...grazie!