The "Son vergin vezzosa" Contest - Montserrat Caballe

[7441338norman]

the phone rang i should not have posted { this a contest] i should have wrote .

{this is a contest !} sorry for the error .

[7441338norman]

{4/5} with great warmth charm as a spinto , should do. only the trills . i marked the voice a{ 4 }this a contest .

[Dianaemanuel]

Yes, I find it a bit flat without the high note. I do appreciate that many of them were never included in the score. However, that's part of the fun of opera isn't it? Sutherland and Callas understood how to give the audience 'value for money' so they usually interpolated them. How thrilling to hear they are too! I adore Caballe's voice but I do wish in this case she'd 'go for broke'! And ficfan there's no need to be silly. Life's too short for nastiness about such things! :-)

[Dianaemanuel]

Caballe is such a wonderful singer - but why doesn't she include the thrilling high note at the end? It's so boring without it.

[flicfan416]

@Dianaemanuel Boring without the high note? The high note isn't even in the score. And if you think that one detail makes this entire performance boring, I suggest you stop listening to bel canto

[RoOodOoOloOmeg]

I think this is the first time I listen to Caballe to produce a real trill on 1:30 or something like that.

That's something new

[liguten]

Merci pour cet air magistralement interprété. Montserrat est vraiment unique et ses capacités vocales sont exceptionnelles. BRAVISSIMA

[leprincebeaumont]

Orrenda!



[kgarmaker123]

I have conflicted opinioins about this version . Some is pretty, but definitely not Bellini, while the high stuff, is pushed at times.. and is not pretty/ sort of screamy.

I am always puzzled why she never had an upper extension, as.. those High B's when not pushed sound easy and it would seem there would be notes above them.. I do not think she had great training.

[wotan10950]

I just listened to Caballe's Salome, and now I hear this Puritani. How can one voice be so fantastic in both?! Of course, we expect to hear a Nilsson/Jones voice in Strauss or a Sutherland/Sills voice in Bellini, but Caballe brings her own fantastic qualities to both.

[16thCenturyArt]

I have this particular renditions of I Puritani with Caballe and is just as good as Sutherland's in the same role. I d love both of them and cannot possibly dislike either one of them. Caballe's renditions sounds at time s ethereal ad sublime while Sutherland sounds powerful and embelished with very high notes.x

[VolkgartenBySquirrel]

Rossini wasn't any kinder to his supranos than to his tenors! Thank you for posting such a wonderful ear banquet. What do I envy more, the air supply or the incredible control required to support the piece? Not sure, but I am going to enjoy every one!

[AmericanEvita]

I found myself enjoying Caballe as Elvira in Puritani. It's beautiful. Yes, I love Sills and Sutherland who had better command of coloratura and higher notes, but Caballe has excellent technique. Her pianissimi and legato is like a dream. She was just as much a bel canto specialist as Sutherland and Sills. These 3 ladies were excellent in bel canto, the best during their time. Each was fantastic in their own way.

[dialectgirl]

Wonderful! Even after almost 3 years after your upload, I found this contest and want to say thanks for it - very nice and all the ladies doing wonderfully! :)

[raigekimaru]

how does she sing this and then turn around and do turandot? (and do both well no less!)

[09avenger]

AMAZING! Bravo!

[Sudschick610]

@montsyblackmadonna Thanks for your comment. I've been looking around You Tube and found some other videos that are so nice. They give me chills!

[vully70]

Not her best recording - the voice sounds quite strained, unfortunately.

Still tastefull, elegant phrasing, but just a few years late in her carreer - listen to her Traviata (1967?) under Pretre, if you want her at her best.

In this performance: 3/3

[Sudschick610]

So many 'opera snobs' commenting and picking apart her performance. I know nothing about opera and would have never heard of this woman except for Barcelona with Freddie Mercury.I only understand Freddie's half, but even still my morning begins with coffee and Barcelona full blast every morning. No, I don't understand, but I think her voice is beautiful. WHY MUST you compare singers? Why can't you just enjoy this lovely music? Such snobs! NOBODY'S perfect...even you.

Sudsy

[listoestudio]

@Sudschick610 I complety agree..!!

[Cass730]

Caballe is in a class of her own.

[moghedien13]

not for her, but she still does a very nice job with good tone and its nice to hear a "clean" version of this aria.

[Lanark8]

Now here is the lady! After Turandot, Salome...etc. This! Ha! Great recrding... Kraus, Caballe and the sensitive approach of maestro Muti. Thanks for post.

[niallguinan]

3/3

[cetusra]

How easy to write criticisms....how diificult to be able to actually perform these works.

[minkoss]

@cetusra I absolutely agree!

[AulicExclusiva]

I love Caballé, but this is not really for her. It requires high-register ornamentation which she just didn't have.

[Pawobrat]

Caballe as a very great Elvira; excelent

[TBer50]

No one sings this area like Caballe.

[leoperarm]

Ehem, "aria" :P

[LeonConrad]

Singing 4.5 / Characterisation 3.5

One of my favourite singers, but in this recording a couple of the top notes were slightly forced, and the diva chose to coast on the sublime line rather than render any in-depth characterisation. Sublime - but is this what the drama calls for?

[noncondition]

She's great even when she's not so good at all ... The best, the great one, the Best Soprano In Opera History.

[noncondition]

By the way, score is 4/4 out of 5.

[motardbear15]

Every body knows that Caballé registred Lucia and I Puritani too too late in her career.....Unfortunatetly....S­he had already sang some Tosca and other Turandot (title role) !!Just sad!!

[sulfiatto]

Before making comparisons between singers we should know their age when they performed. The orchestra director and the tempo are also important.

Here Montserrat sounds tired. Because the orchestra and the choir are a little bit slow?

[jjvd01]

Callas + Tebaldi - Sutherland = Caballe

Flowers from the prima donna!!

[andrecueca]

she never did that...show me the record and i´m sure i can show you that some crazy callas maniac twisted around a nice complement caballe said about callas...they were friends and callas said that only caballe could continue what she had started and it shows they respected each other...stop haunting every soprano in the world with callas ghost

[martinkoklingacik]

True, I hate when people talk so badly about Montserrat. They were friends- why don't people watch more interesting videos about them? I found one where she talks about Maria, after her death about their relationship....there are plenty of them.

[JackyinHK71]

and yet you guys recognised being iferior to trash

[sparkupthequirk]

Listen to her Violetta though. It's perfect. That whispered coloratura works so well in Traviata. Here it's a bit annoying but then again so is the aria. I prefer her in dramatic roles where she truly shines.

[andrewoconnorblue]

its very good sound wise

BUT the coli is bounced too much and the ensemble is a little rigid. this needs to be a little more free and less bounced, with that it would be amazing

[NannerlSullAria]

what is coli?

[andrewoconnorblue]

i abbreviated collatura

basically fast moving passages usually set high in the voice for sopranos

bass collatura examples are things like judas macchebeus and the messiah and belcore in l'exila d'amore by donizetti etc.

[slobone]

collatura is not a word. Do you mean coloratura by any chance?

[LindoroRossini]

Well, I'll start by asking you not to be so discouraged by the other comments, that is each person's personal opinion, and really, I don't see anything to be offended by in the presented comments. Plus, I'm sure that Caballe doesn't require any defence, she is wonderful as she is in many things: I would single out her Il Pirata as one of the best Bellini recordings. And, really, her voice is a bit heavy for Elvira :-), still, it doesn't mean that she was all around awful :-).

[comey717]

i am very sorry but if i was famous i would not like somebody to critize me if they just are nonfamous most of the time they are jelous and i again am sorry i shouldnt get so defensive and i agree she should take more dramatic roles

[LindoroRossini]

What bugs me, why do you have to be famous to express your opinion of a singer? I don'r like this usual point of defence :-(. Come on, I'm sure that there are singers you don't like and you express your dislike freely :-). I don't think that we should be so defensive about singers, we don't want to become "Diva-guys" like the Britney Spears guy :-).

[tena2]

I am ever so sad to see that people can just say what they think without someone losing their temper. There is no reason to talk in unrespective way and i am sorry to observe your luck of manners, i cant believe the way to have got to make a point across.

[zurriuss]

By the way, Caballe arrives in my country, Georgia. I'm trying to reserve one place in the Opera House, even the worst one. I was dreaming of Pavarotti to arrive, but he couldn't. Now I can hardly wait to see Caballe!

[zurriuss]

Caballe has the best "piano" and "mezza voce"! But as for high C or D... She can hit high C, but not high D. I have never heared her note higher than C.

[VivaMariaCallas]

She sang high Ds in the end of some acts/ensembles- for example, act I of Anna Bolena and (sometimes) act II of Maria Stuarda.

Caballe is a fantastic singer, but I find her coloratura a bit artificial here.

[dessayfan]

I'm sorry but her voice isn't right for Elvira. Callas or Sutherland's performances are better than hers. Coloratura is not for Caballè. About Mado Robin, I don't like her: the fact you can reach the highest note of soprano range doesn't mean you are a great singer! Nightingales are boring!

[gencerito]

aca nadie comenta que hay agudos empujados y notas estridentes en elregistroagudo sin duda algunaa la actitude caballe de haber cantado todos esos roles pesados y veristas como tosca,turandot,balli in maschera..lafecha de este puritani en su toma de estudio ronda 1978/9 y la voz de la caballe funciono con su terciopelo caracteristico hasta 1975, una pena,.luego seempezo a hacer sentir el sonido gutural y la famosa vcoz metalica

[Vaikinas]

Like nightingale!

[gspichuni2]

Monserrat Caballe's voice is better than the harsh and unpolished Callas' voice. Sometimes the greek singer was out of tune like her last O Mio Babbino Caro. No voice and she is screaming.

[dugbin]

What can we expect from somebody who is deaf? Have your ears checked, gspuchini2. Engot!

[jetatorre]

I also respect anyone's opinion bur to say such things about probably the most beautiful voice ever... I sugest to look for all her recordings in '75 or 76 ( Gemma di Vergy or Parrisina d'Este), try her Norma's (Bolshoi), her Turandot with Pavarotti (uau!)our friend is talking about and then please try Il Trovatore (Spiess). You may start to worship her (The only Gemma in almost 100 years!) after that. Still in this interesting contest the Dame wins in my opinion.

[floraloles]

That they could sing it, and gorgeously, is plenty. I may choose Sutherland but Caballe is wonderful if only because she dares. Have you heard her last minutes of Don Carlo from the Met in 1972? Amazing!

[liou97490]

Caballé is the second best with La Divina sharing the podium - 4.5/5

[dugbin]

Caballe has a wonderful voice, but I think she should have been a little wiser on choosing the operas that suit her voice; for instance, I think Turandot is a little to heavy for her voice, and so is Gioconda. But I listened to her Gioconda and its not really bad. But don't get me wrong here, I am not opposing Caballe. She has a wonderful voice, but she has to choose the right operas for her.

[mdancer01]

i am agrre with the critics

callas + tebaldi is caballe

[meltzerboy]

Perhaps Caballe did overextend her voice into heavier repertoire, and perhaps she should have stopped singing a few years ago, but she did have a very beautiful voice, a refined technique, and great artistry. I also remember Cruz Romo as a very fine singer who was underappreciated, and Arroyo as especially a great Verdi soprano.

[lungdoc]

Agree 100% about Arroyo. She is not even on youtube!!!

[Dondinin]

You snobish people,she does a very professional rendition, and very nice at some points. Can be question of taste, but such barbarities that some people write...OMG

[troppofiato]

Far from Caballe's best. This was recorded in '79 or '80 when Caballe was doing Turandot, Gioconda, etc. on a regular basis. The voice by this time had lost a lot of its flexibility, agility, and also effortlesness and velvet at the top (her Normas at this time also suffered). Had she recorded this in the 60's or early 70's she would have been sensational.

[janejones11]

Yes I completely agree. She greatly damaged her gorgeous voice by singing such heavy repitoire. Her coloratura was in fact virtuoistic which is well documented by her bel canto rarities Cds.

[moreno2394]

Poor woman, attempting to sing Turandot and La Gioconda.I saw Caballè in 1966 and her voice was barely heard in the house, small and hollow voice, uneven, I never understood her success.Gilda Cruz Romo had a better voice than Caballè not to mention Martina Arroyo both from the same generation of Caballe

[Atrix12]

you should listen to the live recording of turandot in san francisco with caballe and pavarotti. Then you'll understand how inaccurate your comments are.

[kngiht84]

Sorry ? What ? Have you ever heard her live ?

[beefnotfish]

oh - never heard her do this rep...definately not her thing! I do love her though - ever heard her Manon Lescaut(Puccini).it's heaven!!!!!

[colibridelapampa]

Si se tiene tanto terciopelo en la voz, es dificil tener la coloratura afilada. Ella era mejor para arias como las de IL PIRATA y NORMA, con ligados continuos y pianos espectaculares.

[justj314]

Have you heard Zeani's redition? Fantastc!

[Alcisko]

I don't like Caballe very much,but that is really ok.She has wonderfoul pianos.

[Cramnella]

I love Caballe's voice, but think she just barely manages the coloratura.

[meltzerboy]

I think Caballe "holds up" better in Donizetti's and Rossini's music than in Bellini's. Even though they are all Italian bel canto repertoire, they make different vocal demands on the singer. For example, I think her Lucrezia Borgia is superior to her Norma. But, of course, I am speaking in generalities, and one can always find exceptions. Somehow I like certain passages in this performance, despite the vocal imperfections, and I find the characterization interesting. 3.5/4

[LindoroRossini]

Thank you for your comment. I agree with you, though there are "exceptions" when we talk about Caballe in Bellini: her early "Il Pirata" is absolutely stunning, I think it's her best recorded performance on disk. If you don't already have it, I really recommend it :-) .

[dugbin]

Why did she not end this with a High D? Isn't the last note supposed to be a High D?

[Henric967]

The score doesn't give a high D, but the one an octave lower. And with Riccardo Muti conducting, singers aren't allowed to hit unwritten high notes.

[doperasinger]

Montserrat was great, but she never holds up in florid bel canto works...especially in comparison to Sills, Callas, and Sutherland.

[LindoroRossini]

Well, that really depends on the work and the time her performance was recorded. I think her early contributions to belcanto are wonderful: "Il Pirata" and "Lucrezia Borgia" are two good examples. Still, thanks for your comment.

[sevoflurane]

Not a patch on the best coloraturas... and the phrasing is uninteresting. Muti does not help, though! 3/3

[SirGeorg]

This is definitely not the best thing Caballe's done in her career. Her voice is too heavy for this even though her pianis are always a delight. Grandpa Kraus in the choir sounds awful. 3/4

[Andante735]

I believe you're referring to Alfredo Kraus as "Grandpa Kraus". I think a little more respect for a great artist such as Kraus would be in order.

[SirGeorg]

"Grandpa" is not an insult; and it think calling Kraus this way is quite accurate considering the way he sang at this time.

[drdre333]

I do like Caballe a lot as a singer, but she didn't do a good job in the recording of this work at all. Sloppier than usual in the coloratura in some spots (and in non-coloratura! yikes!), while really detached in the coloratura in other areas. And I'm sorry, but Maestro Muti's ideas about performing "as written" are absolutely ridiculous, especially when talking about bel canto composers - though this isn't Caballe's fault.

Overall rating (sorry): 2/3

[patjan1992]

There's a lot to like here. Certainly not traditional but well-sung nevertheless. 4/4.

[xema2005]

I think she's not for this role, although her singing is great, she doesnt have the voice for Elvira. 4/5 because of the clarity of the voice

[Orfeus80]

Her coloratura is better than Robin's but in general inferior to the rest. Cares about the words. 3/4

[OperaBR]

For a lyric soprano, I think it's a beautiful interpretation. However, as the other competitors are Sutherland, Callas, etc., I have to be tougher when judging her. The characterization is beautiful, the Bel Canto style is impeccable, but she doesn't command the coloratura (especially the staccato parts) and the overall performance doesn't sound spontaneous...

My marks: 3/4.

[coloraturafan]

Poor Montserrat, this is one role, IMO, she should never have sung. And this aria points to all the reasons why. Her coloratura is sloppy, her runs and high notes are all over the place. Even in the recording studio she was out of her elememnt here. So for this one I say nice try, and an A for effort.

singing 3/5

characterization 3/5