What a wonderful memory - my first opera in the park. I recall the rehearsal when M. Caballe was cracking jokes and kind of goofing off for the audience. This was really a golden period for SFO. The Semiramide performances they did together that season were one of my opera life highlights. Thanks so much for posting (although one minor correction - it was 1981).
This was my first Opera in the Park, what an afternoon. Life changing and fabulous fun. Both Caballe and Horne were spot on, having fun and it was a picture perfect San Francisco day. Great to relive it again.
These ladies are both experienced and they show great wisdom in approaching this piece with sensitivity and emotion instead of power (although they are not lacking). They focus on expressive control and the meaning of the song. This is very well done and they are well matched. 4.9 of 5.
What did Horne slow it down to accommodate Caballe? Horne's rendition with Sutherland is much better. They blend better and don't drag the duet on and on and on....this is painfully slow!
@kaleonani77 I love this slow tempo. You prefer Horne's rendition in Norma's recording with Sutherland, but perhaps is not because of the tempo but because of the age... this recording is from 1964 and this clip was recorded 16 years later. I think both are really great here.
My absolute favorite duet in opera betw. women. This is fantastic -makes me feel like I'm there, differences and all from my usual recording of this with Caballe amd Cossoto. Brava
This comment has received too many negative votesshow
Caballe is so emotionally uninvolved it's boring to watch.
And I think her voice gels better with a lyrical mezzo than with a coloratura mezzo. Dramatic Coloratura Norma + horne = awesome! Caballe + Horne = Not so. Caballe + lyric mezzo Adalgiza = great!
Well, Horne and Caballe said that her voices sounded perfect together. That's why they sang often together in those years. Try to listen here in youtube to their Semiramide in 1980 in Aix en Provence. It's an historical record, the duos of this two incredible singer are perfect.
Yeah, Monsterfat seems to be all shifty-eyed, like wha are all these people doing out here sweating? Squint squint. At least she seems to be free of her later warble wobble. Ghastly outfits and what's with the grave flowers? But nice to hear someone else with Jackie. It can't always be Joanie. Thanks fot the post!
No, Bellini ha scritto questo duetto, e tutta la parte precedente, in Fa maggiore. Per "tradizione" si abbassa di 1 tono. Ma se ascoltate su youtube Mira o Norma con Stignani e Cigna lo sentirete nella sua tonalità originale, Fa.
Ok I think the matter needs clarification: ORIGINALLY, as 99isher correctly says, it was written in F. The lower version, in Eb was accommodated for later versions but even during Bellini's time. The F key is particularly high so it later became a "specialty" of dramatic coloratura sopranos such as Sutherland, Anderson (or Cigna-more dramatic, less coloratura, but that's another story) leaving the Eb version to be the most performed one even by famous Normas such as Callas, Caballé, Gencer etc.
Since you know that, I thought you might shed a little light on this subject. Why is it everyone freaked out when Sutherland transposed "Der Holle Rache" down, so she was singing Eb's instead of F's, but no one really cares that almost all sopranos transpose the Lucia Mad Scene down?
"...title character, the High Priest of the druids, has been abandoned by her Roman lover, Polioni" HAHAHAHA. Priceless. The singing is priceless too, but in the non-funny way. ;-)
I wish I was alive to have witnessed this...
Petitvoix 3 months ago
the voices blend perfectly....who woulld have thought!!
Rattywotin 4 months ago
ya know sadly to say i think i was the one clapping thinking it was over....how embarrasing
jeff57612 6 months ago
What a wonderful memory - my first opera in the park. I recall the rehearsal when M. Caballe was cracking jokes and kind of goofing off for the audience. This was really a golden period for SFO. The Semiramide performances they did together that season were one of my opera life highlights. Thanks so much for posting (although one minor correction - it was 1981).
wilderblue 1 year ago
Simply beautiful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Gary2837 1 year ago
absolut perfection
Agatarco 1 year ago
This was my first Opera in the Park, what an afternoon. Life changing and fabulous fun. Both Caballe and Horne were spot on, having fun and it was a picture perfect San Francisco day. Great to relive it again.
rudyfan1926 1 year ago
These ladies are both experienced and they show great wisdom in approaching this piece with sensitivity and emotion instead of power (although they are not lacking). They focus on expressive control and the meaning of the song. This is very well done and they are well matched. 4.9 of 5.
joecburke 1 year ago
If DG can re-restore the quality of this performance into a dvd would be great ~...
deville49 1 year ago
two good friends:) very nice!
loredinusa 1 year ago
Que maravilla!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
castroosvaldo08 1 year ago
What did Horne slow it down to accommodate Caballe? Horne's rendition with Sutherland is much better. They blend better and don't drag the duet on and on and on....this is painfully slow!
kaleonani77 2 years ago
@kaleonani77 I love this slow tempo. You prefer Horne's rendition in Norma's recording with Sutherland, but perhaps is not because of the tempo but because of the age... this recording is from 1964 and this clip was recorded 16 years later. I think both are really great here.
LeilogOpera 1 year ago 2
saw this was ther
loved it...hey were fabulous
jeffper2 2 years ago
They sound so fab together! Better than with Cossotto or Troyanos...
Dymension 2 years ago 3
My absolute favorite duet in opera betw. women. This is fantastic -makes me feel like I'm there, differences and all from my usual recording of this with Caballe amd Cossoto. Brava
signchris1 3 years ago
I remember this afternoon, the weather was perfect, and the sound of both singers under the blue skies was enthralling.
Hako2004 3 years ago 5
This comment has received too many negative votes show
Caballe is so emotionally uninvolved it's boring to watch.
And I think her voice gels better with a lyrical mezzo than with a coloratura mezzo. Dramatic Coloratura Norma + horne = awesome! Caballe + Horne = Not so. Caballe + lyric mezzo Adalgiza = great!
Liwah 3 years ago
Well, Horne and Caballe said that her voices sounded perfect together. That's why they sang often together in those years. Try to listen here in youtube to their Semiramide in 1980 in Aix en Provence. It's an historical record, the duos of this two incredible singer are perfect.
calaf75 3 years ago 3
Yeah, Monsterfat seems to be all shifty-eyed, like wha are all these people doing out here sweating? Squint squint. At least she seems to be free of her later warble wobble. Ghastly outfits and what's with the grave flowers? But nice to hear someone else with Jackie. It can't always be Joanie. Thanks fot the post!
nmcaia 2 years ago
que cosa tan bella.. esas dos mujeres son fantásticas
carlitos200000 3 years ago
It is NOT in a lower key. It is in Eb which is the key in the score.
XPRT10R 3 years ago
No, Bellini ha scritto questo duetto, e tutta la parte precedente, in Fa maggiore. Per "tradizione" si abbassa di 1 tono. Ma se ascoltate su youtube Mira o Norma con Stignani e Cigna lo sentirete nella sua tonalità originale, Fa.
99Isher 2 years ago
Did they raise the key for the Sutherland / Horne versions, then?
ChrisStockslager 2 years ago
Ok I think the matter needs clarification: ORIGINALLY, as 99isher correctly says, it was written in F. The lower version, in Eb was accommodated for later versions but even during Bellini's time. The F key is particularly high so it later became a "specialty" of dramatic coloratura sopranos such as Sutherland, Anderson (or Cigna-more dramatic, less coloratura, but that's another story) leaving the Eb version to be the most performed one even by famous Normas such as Callas, Caballé, Gencer etc.
XPRT10R 2 years ago
Since you know that, I thought you might shed a little light on this subject. Why is it everyone freaked out when Sutherland transposed "Der Holle Rache" down, so she was singing Eb's instead of F's, but no one really cares that almost all sopranos transpose the Lucia Mad Scene down?
ChrisStockslager 2 years ago
Fabulous, even though they are singing it in a lower key in this performance...
godivapaw 3 years ago 2
magníficas
55patri 3 years ago 2
Son unas Diosas estás mujeres!!!
Rapicienta 3 years ago 3
No deseo delatar mi edad, pero estuve allí ese día. Inolvidable.
MusicaParola 3 years ago
"...title character, the High Priest of the druids, has been abandoned by her Roman lover, Polioni" HAHAHAHA. Priceless. The singing is priceless too, but in the non-funny way. ;-)
drdre333 3 years ago 2
Oh, to have been there.
Jokanaan 3 years ago 2