Montserrat Caballe "Senza mamma" Suor Angelica

[SuperAfalla]

wow



[Rory1956]

Has she ever performed the whole opera? If she hasn't it is kind of sacrilege as it would have had in Caballé an unsurpassable interpreter...

[Giovannilinverno]

An aria which Puccini almost seemed to want to be sung by this glorious voice. My voice teacher always says that you cannot hide your true personality while you are singing. It always shines through. This is a perfect example of this. You can feel the motherly love oozing out of Caballe's voice in this wonderful piece. A true artist, with a heart of gold.

[jillgivler]

The absolute queen of high pianissimo.

[luisfrodrimaz]

Pura belleza. Qué legato!

[vremde01]

indeed, the best version ever !!!

[syretta2]

I'm quickly becoming addicted to Montserrat divine soprano voice.

[montsyblackmadonna]

@syretta2 Caballe's voice is the most beautiful voice in history.

[uniqueattack]

this is a different approach than Callas but it works.  beautiful and moving.

[Shahrdad]

For me, this is the definitive version of this aria. Caballe sings it with such understated simplicity and honestly, she sounds as if she's almost numb with grief at the news of her child's death. There is such pure love and loss in the voice, and she doesn't have to "negotiate" any of the music. It all just happens. If I had to have only one thing sung by Caballe, this would be it.

[jnsii]

Yes quite moving. Lovely. Transcendent. My God what we are capable of. And yet what we do.

[Easter004]

My goodness such control!

[jnsii]

She and Callas. Wow.

[luisfrodrimaz]

@jnsii

Yes, of course. And Tebaldi?

[jnsii]

Beyond moving. Transformative.

[1923pars]

The tenderness in her voice and her phasing is superb.

I'm learning this aria at present, and every time I listen to this version with Monserrat, I end up in tears! Hopeless...

Thank you Onegin65 for posting it.

Ta!

[russellashley]

For me, one of the most moving pieces of opera that I have heard,and like Hopegood I first heard this on Morse. Instead of accepting the role of being a philstine, I am pleased to be a member of the humanist group and hope, I retain the qualities of forgiveness and compasion unlike the underlying story in this work.

I am amazed just how the much variation there is between different devas. For me Cabballe and Gheorghiu add the sadness it deserves whereas Calas brings the drama as always.

[aristopus]

Hopebgood, glad to help. I've been going to opera since the Old Met in the early '60s. The more you know what's it's about, the more you'll enjoy. Il Tritico was Pucini's next to last opera, before he died during Turandot.

The story of Suor Angelica asks an interesting question. Angelic commits suicide from the grief of her baby dying without her. Suicide is a grevious sin. Could a just God actually condemn her to hell for dying of sorrow after what she's been through?

[1923pars]

I have faith that the answer is no.

[SuperGil90]

trovatemi una voce più bella i più importante di questa!!!!impossibile!!!

[2504marcus]

fabulous but i think miraim gauci nails it.

[paolusstefan]

bellisimo, dificilmente se pueden oir voces como esta hoy en dia

[pippofan123]

Uma das melhores intepretações dessa ária e um dos melhores momentos da Caballe. Que maravilha!

[hopebgood]

Lovely! But what the hell is this all about? I've always loved this piece of music. Anyone out there care to tell me what she's singing about and what the opera's about.

I'm more into the Gallaghers (Oasis) than Puccini!

[KirstyGriffiths]

It is about a dying child.... senza mamma translates as "without mummy" ....it is a very beautiful and short opera, a good start for your transition from Oasis to opera. e tu sei morto means and you are dead - senza sapere - without knowing .... very, very emotional stuff!

[qyzuf]

look at scotto's rendition: there are subtitles. Basically, she talks to her son who has just died, without his mother "senza mamma" and longs for him

[aristopus]

Not knowing the story limits the depth of you appreciation, Hope. Suor Angelica is a good loving girl who had a baby out of wedlock which was terrible in those days. Her heartless aunt comes to the convent with the bad news. The nun hallucinates that she sees the baby with God. Notice the exhilaration as she sings "Sea qui" (You are there.)

[hopebgood]

Thanks for that. I first heard it from watching the Inspector Morse TV series. Such a philistine!

[ElisabettaVS]

Maybe just google the libretto, in my opinion it is the easiest way to get to know the real story of an opera by reading the libretto. Don't trust wikipedia or someone telling you, because one simply cannot tell every single, small, important fact, you just have to leave something out, although it is important. I am sure there are translations into your language from the libretto. ^^

[nclysander]

This is probably my very favorite version of this beautiful aria; after hearing it here I immediately went and bought it off iTunes. Her phrasing, particularly of the opening lines, is beautiful and gives a tragic air that beats all other versions. The breath control, of course, is staggering.

[johndlabella]

Most of the performances of this and the final scene on Youtube are vocally inadequate, even desperate. It's a great pleasure to hear thisk the de Los Angeles, the Tebaldi and the few others where you're engaged in the sweep of the music and the drama, rather than nervous about approaching high phrases, or choruses with competing wobbles. Grateful for those who post these videos that I can listen to before going to sleep. :-)

[lojundolo]

Brava Montserrat! But what about Callas and Scotto: does anybody know their SENZA MAMMA? I can feel more heart and blood than Caballé, in them.

[Azzenstudent]

Caballe's voice is ideal for this role. Indeed, it's celestial. I miss the pathos, however, coming from a full interpretation. Musically, this is flawless but the humanity of Angelica is vague.

[eghissoni]

The greatest interpretation I ever seen or felt.

[scorpionero1]

I am about to cry every time i listen to this aria in her singing.........

[ARReith]

the ending is worth the wait! The pianissimo on the A is incredible!

[00ceroalaizquierda00]

Dios que interpretación tan dulce y bella la de la Caballé, totalmente distinta de la de la Callas pero también divina..

muchísimas gracias!!

[33blueberries]

It shits me to tears when people give a thumbs down to a perfectly valid comment. I don't necessarily agree with you, but this is a good comment.

[asisecanta]

Did she sing the full role??

[VivaTebaldi]

As much i love Caballe, Tebaldi is more touching. Still a good interpretation.

[sabinafran]

Finale sublime

[BalletBabyBoy]

She is divine...how I love her..lucky to see her live twice. A voice from beyond.

[Yasmund]

Muchas gracias!

[543johnson]

Did Caballe ever sing Angelica onstage?

[33blueberries]

Very affecting indeed. Ravishing, in places.

[betsywetsy16]

simply gorgeous

[betsywetsy16]

simply gorgeous

[macciboma]

Questa è la Caballè che vale eccezionale, le recenti registrazioni purtroppo offuscano, la gloria di queste interpretazioni.

[Glenmed]

Beautifully sung and with great sensitivity. TY

[clymnestre]

To miding, Yes Caballé sings breathless during that time you mention... She used so well her techical way of breath and fraseggio... with such a sweet "song line...." in mezza voce...a dream! Thank you Madame Caballé and thanks to Oneguin65 for posting that audio!

[Andante735]

Also listen to Mirella Freni and Renata Tebaldi for an equally magnificent, but different approach. I actually prefer them to Caballe.

[drdre333]

There's a reason why so many people favorited this already...

I find it extra pleasing too that a singer who was constantly accused of being out of tune is probably the MOST rock solid on that final note than probably any of the sopranos I've heard sing this aria. HAHA. Montserrat sells it. Just beautiful. Thanks Onegin!

[patjan92]

Wonderful control, focus and poignancy. Gorgeous!

[macciboma]

Devo ricredermi riguardo la Caballè, no la ritenevo così brava,ma questa aria e magnifica.

Brava onegin hai sempre la qualtà migliore.

[clymnestre]

Magnificent great Caballé and extraordinary breath with that "a" final.... I remain breathless hearing that beauty....

[miding]

Not to mention the phrase from 2:49 to 3"11 all taken in one breath.  Amazing.

[gheeah]

such beautiful music, such a sweet voice...

[osvaldito55]

This is, for me, the definitive rendition of this aria (Victoria de los Angeles a close second). Melodically and dramatically, this is Puccini at his very best. Caballé takes great care with the text, and her amazing breathing technique allows her to dazzingly -but tastefully- execute the legato and portamenti. "Dillo alla mamma, creatura bella, con un leggero scintillar di stella..." is breathtakingly poignant. The ending would make a stone weep. Brava!

[paulostroff99]

Gorgeous! Brava! TY