Montserrat Caballe as Cleopatra "Se pieta" G. Cesare

[alyzst]

To hell the looks, but Ms. Caballe doesn't care that Cleopatra is not Norma, it seems.

[MrNicomiami]

un sogno



[callas777]

ah,divine singing

[Azzenstudent]

This is not good although Caballe posseses a great voice. Baroque is simply not her metier. I've heard her sing other things where she's clearly not imaginative enough to do justice to the material (say, Four Last Songs), but this is almost painful given her emotional detachment. Music is about communication, not just lulling us to sleep with beautiful pianissimi.

[idaspe]

This is Cio-Cio-Spatra'aria "Se pietà di me non senti, Pinkerton" from Georg Friderich Haencini's opera "Giulio Butterfly" :o)

[dfgrbtr]

@idaspe Haha, there might be something to what you say... :D

[idaspe]

@dfgrbtr ;)

[mspg2]

Who cares what you look like when you can sing like this it is shere beauty. Ranks with Price and Troyanos - all could melt any heart of stone with their rendition of this Handel masterpiece.

[dsenRuskin]

Supreme and Heavenly singing! Could it be that the make-up artists did not intend her to be viewed close-up? Hideous as it is in this video clip, it may have been fine for the theatre. What do you all think?

[AminasDream]

The beauty of her voice is astonishing. My heart actually hurts everytime I hear her rendition of this aria.

[Ivanbelastegui]

She sounds well but looks weird in those costumes. anyway the most important thing is the voice and the singing, and she does it brillantly. thanks for posting

[baunajuergen]

Esta es la consumacion.

Voz pura, sin cuerpo.

[baunajuergen]

This is the consummation.

Clean vocals, disembodied.

[baunajuergen]

Das ist die Vollendung.

Reiner Gesang, körperlos.

[rabit818]

She ate Anthony for lunch.

[bjmiceli]

MC is wonderful here. As far as the costumes go, what can one say? Montserrat is over the top in every way so why dress her like a normal person? Even a normal queen?

[GeorgiNM]

Well said!

[felisdomesticus5676]

Wow, that is a BIG Cleopatra :-)

[SENAFOREVER]

I always had the feeling that Montsy's sound was devine itself, beyond reality.

[Caredhel]

Her *technique* is unreal. The way she maintains that tiny piano without ever compromising on color--stays soft and full and free. I swoon.

And yes, whoever did her makeup needs to be shot.

But I wish one could still be fat and get JOBS. :p

[ericscam]

SHE IS OFF KEY MOST OF THIS ARIA! YIKES!

[Noeliamenendez]

HUAH!!!

ES LA MEJOR CANTANTE QUE HE ESCUCHADO!!! y el aria preciosa!

GRACIAS por este video!!!!

[johngotwalt]

am now listening to her 'Tu che la vanita' which is supreme

Don Carlo is the most luxuriant opera music I know, and the the final duet, well, uh ..........

[montsyblackmaddona]

Her make up costume hairdresser queen should have been shot!

Her singing is fantastico!!

[johngotwalt]

ok, bitches -- she is truly the LAST Prima Donna, costume/production temps notwithstanding. Understand, dears, costume and makeup are THEIR compensatory fantasy.

Ever seen her Tokyo "Poveri Fiore" from Adriana ?? With one breath, her last, according to the book, she traverses the entire width of the stage.

And you carp on about the excesses of costume/makeup lackeys.

Re-group, dudes.

[gemmadivergy]

sure she is, I do agree with your comment on the Tokyo Adriana, unbelievable, one of the most beautiful arias ever sung, whatever the costume, who cares?

[sicuro75]

She looks like Bozo the lady clown. Any more paint and her face is going to peal.

[billyguns2]

One of the greatest singers of the 20th Century looking like a drag queen and sounding like a goddess; this is my favorite aria from the magnificent opera GIULIO CESARE.

[CarnitineDeficiency]

Hahaahahaha! But yes, I do love her voice!

("drag queen...")

[SENAFOREVER]

But aren't drag queen looking singing goddesses precisely what opera is all about?

[dangmills]

uh no... look up Charlottle Hellekante, Tuva Semmingsen, Magdalena Kozena, and Inger Dam Jensen... they are so not drag queens!

[Gigglingatagas]

A wonderful feat of vocalism, but the diction is almost unforgivable. The alteration and, ahem, the omission of a good portion of the text does bother me quite a bit.

[benjaminvox]

The alteration and/or omission of segments of the text when ornamenting in the baroque rep was pretty standard performance practice when this was performed. It is a fairly modern affectation is to sing most everything without variations, because it is the fashion to think it's more authentic. Schools of thought come and go. Superb singing lives forever.

[marioj34]

the legato, pianis, song in all its splendour. A wonder!

[davidperk]

To hell with the words when they get in the way!

[lostgirl842]

un reina por donde se la mire y escuche! brava!

impresionante

[SergioOliver]

Sin palabras. Nunca deja de sorprenderme, qué voz!! Qué belleza, qué delicadeza, qué sentimiento!!! Qué diosa, BRAVO!!!!

[davit1982]

Ist this possible? Just amazing! BRAVA Caballe, angelic singing... almost on the evrge of impossible!

[tamerlano]

Hideous make up, awful costume, GLORIOUS singing! What an unexpected thing this is -- Caballe a consummate Handelian, who knew.

[chacowhacko]

friggin' glorious