Montserrat Caballe as Norma "Casta diva" at Bolshoi

[edengirl17]

Que Maravilla! Me encanta! Canta como un angel!

[liguten]

Caballé est l'une des plus grandes Norma jamais entendue, sinon la plus grande. La pureté et la puissance de sa voix sont incomparables. Un bonheur toujours renouvelé de l'écouter dans cet air. DIVINA

[tupfendackel]

@Gheorgyi

Well ... maybe nobody told you yet: Opera is about SINGING. If I want to see a half naked, sexy woman with a mediocre voice, I either go to a striptease show or watch Netrebko. Caballé was a wonderful singer with perfect technique, and at least in the performance I saw her, also a great actress. The expressionless whale is also valid for Pavarotti. But then ... would you want to miss him in opera history?

[MadameBorgi]

Magnifica mezza di voce!!!!



[SPTN58]

Fabulous performance. I'm glad the Russians salute great singing. Mme. Caballé very properly moved the proceedings forward. Brava, diva!

[KissaMyEyes]

There is not an instrument on earth I would rather hear in sotto voce / pianissimo than Caballe's soprano.

[Kievest]

Shimmering, intoxicating magic as timeless as the moon! Thank you Onegin65

for posting these golden moments where beauty and meaning come together

and thank you, ingriddoppler, for sharing.

[zingare11a]

FLAWLESS.



[ingriddoppler]

SUBLIME , Art at it´s highest level !!

[ditogam]

@ingriddoppler Glorious singing of immortal aria ... what a voice, feeling ... Madame Caballe is amazing as always, and very great personality as well. Thank you for reminding me wonderful performance.

[Jeanne90275]

Incomperable! The last oft the truly GREAT ones!

[joaosistelos]

Ja nao se faz disto :D

[philipc67]

The 20th century saw 3 great Normas, in chronological order they were Rosa Ponselle, Maria Callas, and Montserrat Caballe. Suliotis, Gencer, Scotto and Ross had their moments. Sutherland had some beautiful passages but terrible diction and zero stage acting, Anderson and Gruberova were approximations who do not even enter the discussion. Who could be Norma today? Gheorghiu? Maybe but getting older now. Fleming? Old already and she is no belcanto singer. Netrebko, Bartoli? Please get serious...

[FlGARO]

No! It is not possible! It just can't be a human voice. There has to be "something" deep in her throat..Something particularly placed there by the god..

[thomastmwc]

omg her pianissimo

[htshoward]

IMO Caballe and Callas own Norma and Casta Diva...I don't much care to hear anyone else sing the aria. Brava!

[montsyblackmadonna]

The only person that ever bested Montserrat Caballe as Norma is Caballe herself.

A performance for Eternity.

10/10 !!!

[NIROYAK]

thank you DIVA for taste of heaven.

[sam0xin]

NO she is not a gift ! Caballe IS THE ONE of the WONDERS of planet earth !

[georgerannie]

Caballe at her very best--sing it diva!!

[TheWisemonkey8]

4:56 ...

[Jeanne90275]

I wish they would remaster this performance for DVD;

even with the cast change (Baglioni replaced Cossotto

@'Oh, rimembranza') the CD clearly shows this was a

truly exceptional "Norma." Too few of Caballe's filmed

performances during her prime have been remastered

and reissued on DVD...what a loss!

[MrMRAF]

incredibile!!

[philipc67]

I think she sang her best Normas in 1972-74 (La Scala, Bolshoi, the magnificent Orange performance). So lyrical, so immobile, so beautifully sung. The three great Normas of the 20th century were, in chronological order, Ponselle, Callas, and Caballe. Sutherland? Not a chance. Anyone worth mentioning today, after Gruberova, Anderson, Papian, Vaness, Miricioiu, Plowright, Eaglen? Not really. I wish Gheorghiu would attempt the role, Netrebko should stay far, far away.

[vonDali]

La Divina!

[ZRR777]

монсерат лучшая!!!

[Tobytib]

just incredible ! waow !

[AlcidesConstante]

Echoing ClaudiaSwann, Caballé is a wonderful gift to the earth, from a time which do not return...

[JURONO71]

This Woman... this voice... is way beyond our years. The new commers have no companion. Caballe will chamion us all!

[galapz]

1974 was perhaps on of her best singing years

[wieslawaify]

Niezwyklego uniesienia duchowego doznaje gdy slucham tego.Plyna dzwieki jak welon panny mlodej....

[baird292]

Fantastic singer with almost no emotion on the face but in the heart. She makes me feel that it's so easy to sing. That is her artistic talent.

[beachfrontal]

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh­hhhhhhhhhh.

[billyflynn2]

It doesn't get any better than this no matter who you personally prefer.

[ilincaz]

@billyflynn2 In fact, the version of 1974, at the Theatre D'Orange, is much better than this!

[TheWisemonkey8]

Lost for words..

[tneprescintr]

i keep listening to that final stunning trill hoping some day i can actually believe she did it.

[muzetta100]

Пипец!Как можно Нетребко сравнивать с Кабалье в этой арии...Люди!Ухи ваши где?Кабалье=бельканто...Нетреб­ко до нее пахать и пахать...

[TheWisemonkey8]

wonderful!!!

[ertzike]

superbe !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[IAMTHEANGELNEGRO]

I loving it!

[MARJALET2]

Imoresionante,casi mejor que la de Orange diría yo.

Al menos tiene mejor sonido

Esto es "cantar sobre el aire" como un maestro del Belcanto dice que hay que cantarlo

Bueno,eso y nucho mucho mucho control fiato

[20vancouver12]

Almost as good as her later Orange performance where she knew she had nailed it and fluttered her eyelids to indicate her appreciation of the audience. No such reaction here, although it was an amazing performance.

[tneprescintr]

a true bel canto performance! AMAZING!!!!!

[LjubljanaSI]

Dear rlee1976, I hope you succeeded at the Caballé competition in Zaragoza. Good luck.

[trumansf]

What an instrument she had, my God! What a Heavenly sound!

[saturne46]

Extraordinaire !

[snappycruise]

Génial! great! she is awesome, I love her voice. I see comparion with Callas I know nothing about it and who's the best but I can say they both make me dream: Callas with Ave maria & Caballe with Barcelona (with Freddy!)

*

[focamoura]

I LOVE her! I saw her in an interview here in Brazil, she's adorable, a wonderful person! She's my favorite soprano.

[Jeanne90275]

I didn't think anything could even come close to her Antique Orange performance, but this performance, a month before, is stunning. She

looks so incredibly beautiful...so regal. Thank

you for posting it...I can't find this video anywhere.

[filifero]

Any suggestion for other great performances of her?

[Orfeus80]

check most things she did before 1975, especially bel canto composers Donizetti, Bellini, Rossini.

[calaf75]

yes, everything before 1976 is incredible and perfect. try de verdi's requiem in 1970, and everything!

[victorvei]

UNA GRAN CANTANTE Y MEJOR PERSONA

[rlee1976]

Brava, diva, brava!  I'm entering her opera competition in Zaragoza, Spain and am awaiting word on being accepted. Wish me luck! I'm a countertenor and I adore this woman!

[acitipo]

La mejor aria casta Diva que he escuchado.

[asai1981]

Великолепно!

[eddyarias2]

What a long ovation, this is how good of a singer she is. Only Caballe!!!!!

[ceb2633]

What a voice! What a voice! WHAT A VOICE!!!!! Thank you for posting.

[Siriusmusik]

What a singer!!!!She is really the Queen!!!

[belleangele]

la reina.

[dolicimani]

I love her stillness! She is completely in control!

[ClaudiaSwann]

Caballe she is a wonderful gift to the earth.

[TheWisemonkey8]

@ClaudiaSwann Yes. La Caballe’s voice has kept me company since I was around 12 years old. I remember saving up my weekly pocket money to by a compilation of various arias. To be honest a day really passes without my listening to this great singer.She is the greatest and most versatile singer in recorded history. The best!

[ClaudiaSwann]

sick and tired of people comparing 'callas' to apsolutly every other female singer ¬¬

amazing as she was, she was just famous... and by stating that she is greater than singers on videos that have nothing to do with her,

just makes you look like a lemming.

[ctenor06]

Peut-on rêver mieux pour Norma que ce fabuleux témoignage ?! Merci Onegin !

[SENAFOREVER]

OMG it would be so nice to upload the whole video where you know....

[pertrujo]

No sirve para nada es horrendo!

[xafnndapp]

si, si, ok ok...

[mtnmanjt]

Caballe is magnificent, but still, nothing compares to Callas.

[xafnndapp]

comparisons are so sterile...

Callas was Callas, no question about it, but saying that Caballe was "nothing" is quite stupid.

[sirenadellopera]

This woman, this singer has "faith": she can just stand there and "calmly" sing, and then wait for the next phrase, and then sing again...and be physically calm...she has faith in her "technique", she has faith in everything that is behind her technique. She is great. I admire her so much.

[pagerbear]

You have no idea how much study and practice it takes to achieve that kind of faith!

[sirenadellopera]

I do, actually! ;-)

[RivaJane]

Wow, her voice control is amazing!

[pertrujo]

Nose puede negar aqui esta ella realmente excelente!

[xafnndapp]

asi es, es definitivamente su mejor "Casta diva" en absoluto, hasta mejor de Orange para mi.

[arissss1962]

Montserrat...God sings along with you.

[vocedivino]

Although I prefer tenor voices Montserrat is my absolute favourite soprano. She is simply divine and such a wonderful human being, full of humour. May she have a long, healthy and happy life! Viva la Diva! :-)

[gondorado]

Nothing to say but Brava, Montserrat!!!!!!!

[klitenmestre]

Pueden decirme, si es posible cantar esta aria mejor ???? creo que es imposible. Cuando Caballe dejaba su huella era imposible mejorarlo. Gracias Montserrat, por tanta belleza.

[settemesi]

grandiosa

[lumpylumps579]

All I can say is wow. wow wow wow. I think I have to go out and buy all of her CDs now.

[angelexa1]

Unique , unbelievable , angelic voice and such great performance ..Thank you Oneguin65 for this video !

[sam0xin]

Everyone search in utube_____ Montserrat Caballe "Casta diva" Norma Orange 1974_____

You'll be listen THAT PERFORMENS for good....

I guarantee it !.

[NegroideAsecino]

FAntastico, nadie como ella interpretando la Casta Diva

[yodavidnavarro]

I think no one can say any bad comment about this performance. I think is flawless!

[CanadaPisces]

A glorious voice! Words cannot do justice to describe one of the great divas in her prime.

It would have been wonderful to have been there to hear her in person!

[WolfgangSebastien]

Yes! it achieves beautiful cadences of start to finish.Next to Savall,Casals; Monserrat is a pride of the Catalan music!

Thanks James for sharing this wonderful and congratulations Oneguin65 for publishing this beauty +*+*+*+*+*

[colibridelapampa]

Absoluta perfeción!!! Impecablemente cantado e interpretado!!!

[silviafrizzera]

Maravillosa! Insuperable!

[sulfurico1967]

The opera is not finished, there`s no entre-acte yet. She must stay in role, she is Norma, not Montserrat at that moment, the public in ovation applause breaks the theater's fourth wall and she finally has to get out of role and ask the public to stop so the opera can continue. This is The Great Art Ladies and Gentlemen...

[WiseMonki]

When La Caballe was in her prime... she was the greatest during her long vocal career. Waht a great year 1974 was for this lady. Kindest regards,

[miamibetch]

holy shxxxx!!!!

awesome awesome awesome

[sam0xin]

So Solemn and fantastic.Montserrat=Perfectio­n+Living Legend.But to me The Best version is 1974 here is YT Orange 1974,it's seems unreal,just unbelievable...getting speechless...every time listening like 1st time.GOD BLESS MONTSERRAT.

[robertto1954]

I can´t explain with words what my soul feels when I listen this wonderful singing. All I can say is that my eyes crayed, I am very touch every time I listen this marvelous artist.

[tenorojuke]

Amazing true diva! Bravissimo

[geomusic]

Wonderful!!!

[rrgallo]

¿quién condujo?

[chobrusad]

Montserrat, toda mi admiración para ti, por cantante, por persona y por española.

[b2367]

perfect

[genfox3]

perfect

[Asarim]

Soberbia. Asarim.

[ALESSIAlala]

è davvero fantastica,maestosa...grazie

[meinfb]

the prima donna assoluta at the height of her powers....

[Mercurina89]

Mio Dio, non ci sono parole...quando canta Montserrat è come se tutto si fermasse...un incanto angelico!

[trumansf]

I just felt like sharing my opinion. Callas and Caballe are very different in this role. Not only vocally but dramatically, because of the voice. Callas was a strong Norma, a strong woman , a woman in love, a strong woman suffering. Caballe is different, she is just a woman in love with a burden of power and responsibility to her people. Each variant is magnificent in my opinion!!!

[sam0xin]

MONTSERRAT = PERFECTION, But 1974 version of Casta Diva THE BEST EVER...PERFORMED....THE BEST....THE BEST !

[rickyelmeio]

BELISSIMA VOCE,PORTAMENTO PERFETTO

[DiegoMartinazzoli]

Sicuramente meglio della Callas, grazie anche al timbro vocale molto più piacevole. Andavano un po' migliorate la dizione e la scansione delle parole e alcuni particolari della tecnica vocale. Comunque non male

[JackyinHK71]

everytime hearing this I feel sick! Yes! Callas is good. But it is not because Callas is good, others then are not good! Caballe is great as well for not only her talent, but also her super skill to control breathe and vocal line. Her ability to use belcanto to convey the most beautiful and deepest feeling is unparalleled in this era! I think you really need to learn how to appreciate operas but not only to be an ignorant Callas fan who knows nothing but Callas this and Callas that!

[sevoflurane]

I have to agree! I adore Callas but these narrow-minded fanatics have started to get on my nerves! What are we supposed to do? Listen to her recording 24 hours a day 365 days a year? Let's move on! She was great because SHE HERSELF MOVED ON!

[55patri]

Magnífica Montserrat, a tus pies

[noncondition]

Cada vez que lo escucho, las piernas no me sostienen.

[altanotte]

The way she sustained the legato on the long, long vocal line is a miracle in itself. I've seen other sopranos gasping for air in this aria, but not Caballe. Her pianissimo and glissando on "Tu fai nel ciel" were stunning too. Brava Caballe and thank you for this video clip!

[xafnndapp]

You said well.

The diminuendo on the B flat at the end is fabulous, perfect, and the scale sounds like a glissando.

The problem is that it should be a chromatic downward scale, not a glissando...:)

My only little remark to this WONDERFUL renditionof Casta diva.

[doddsalfa]

Caballe ends were callas starts.

[olgidi]

Very very nice, but I think Maria Callas has sung this better..No offence...

[Frufrucucu]

Montserrat Caballé was one of the first sopranos I ever listened to, along with Callas, and she left an impression on me as well. I have always found her voice to be a buatiful and full spinto. She is really lovely

[iriisblue]

Caballe was exceptional in this role for a few years, this being one of the last. Since she didn't have a trill, it would preferable to omit it here, but her call. Callas also had a few good years as Norma, but sang the role well beyond her ability to execute it with anything more than physical histrionics.

[healer422]

Her singing is like a prayer

[dontellmamaplse]

caballe es la mejor prueba de que dios existe!

[noncondition]

claro, es ella.

[musicfanat]

This was the first Norma that i have seen and heard in Russia as a teenager. It left an impression for the rest of my life.

I never imagined that a singer can sound so heavenly and look so goddess-like. Thank you Onegin, I have been a life long fan of Caballe ever since. For me she still rules.

[pertrujo07]

Ya es hora que dejen de decir que esta es mejor que aquella, eso solo muestra ignorancia y complejo de inferioridad. Las dos fueron magnísficas interpretes y virtuosas. Cada una de ellas son únicas y especiales. Viva la Caballe y viva la Callas. Viva el arte y punto!

[meinfb]

Callas and Caballe each brought something unique to the role and both were judged successful by their contemporary critics and audiences. That's all that counts. Comparisons by some know-it-all is an exercise in futility.

[calaf75]

I'm in love with Caballe, but Callas was awesome also. Why don't we just enjoy the music, and stop making comparisions?

[MadameDeces]

What a Jewel!!!

The best interpretation ever of Casta Diva :)

[noncondition]

before, during and after Callas

[Andante735]

Always after Maria, everyone comes after Maria's Casta Diva. That's just how it is for so many reasons. Montse is in the same category as Callas for this, but never before. Maria brought Bel Canto back to the world, and she was the supreme musician. Then Caballe of course. The '74 Orange is still the most equisite singing she's ever done, and this too.

[ffyoungster]

i agree completely.. everybody's after callas.nobody can reach her expression in the face, her moves and the singing. montserrat is perfect, no doubt, but callas is best!

[egymagyar1111111]

Dear Oneguin65 you have jewels, thanks...

[marioj34]

Probably its best casta diva. To fall to knees! Montserrat Cheer! As for Bartoli, it is straightforwardly to forget

[juanmsotog]

She is the Best Casta Diva

[oleganna]

The best 'Casta diva'. BRAVISSIMA!!!

[michael24h]

Brava! Brava! Brava! Brava! Brava!

[Pawobrat]

Wow! She sing as a Goddess! Bravisima: Caballe the best Norma ever; wath gorgeous voice ans expression; this is out from this wordl

[lvesckbtch]

her version trumps callas's. sorry. she provides the mood and control. callas does not.

[noncondition]

Yes, yes, and yes ! Montse beats Callas as usual, and it's time to say this ! Montse you are the unique, the best, the great one !

a clever comment, Ivesckbtch !

[141407078989]

Well, I must say that I still haven't find the perfect singer for casta diva, this is awsome, I still like Calla's better, but this music is out of this world, it's too big for singers of this world, some day, somebody will sing THE Casta Diva, until that day, I'll keep enjoying this wonderful versions

[supermen26zg]

godzi1974, NONSENSE, bARTOLI is ok mezzosoprano,but this is recording in studio and sung with half voice!

[godzi1974]

Its very good. But If you really want to hear the greatest prayer please listen to Cecilia Bartoli. Thats a real magic and transcendental experience. Of course we are talking here about creating a new tradition after the legendary Callas and many people will want to throw stones at me but listen at least 3 times to Cecilia in the room without lights and if still want to throw anything at me I will give you my adress:)

[Marcelisa]

I have just fallen in love with opera. This was magnificent!

[odanaradost]

Caballe as Norma is the best what i found on youtube. In nowember I was in Pargue National teatre in Norma with Olga Makarina and it was great, interesting scene - no Lord of the Ring.

[hwhap13]

Well, well, well... It's not Callas, not Tabaldi, not Sutherland, not... OK, it's Caballe.

Brava!

[ruggerbruno]

This is spectacular.

[KenViewer]

Listen, watch and you shall believe. This is the greatest recording of "Casta Diva" I've ever been lucky enough to watch. Thank you so much for sending it here.

[noncondition]

I absolute agree. Montse is probably, in the best rendition of an aria in her 50 years career.

[condorice]

brilliant.

[Auxxsr1]

This is the fourth one I have seen her do live in the opera, I think the Madrid one is the best followed by the Orange then this. The La Scala she was not warmed up and/or too nervous. The other three anyone could be first thay are all so good. When it comes to the finale though the Orange runs away with it

[noncondition]

I disagree. My order, as follows: Bolshoi, Orange, Madrid. This rendition is something that can be called the perfection. The great moment ever recorded in opera history.

[nuficuma]

Both are perfect, Monserrat an Joan, but Monserrat is much more elegant with the movement of lips and mouth. She talks and Joan is shouts, sort of speak.

[blueearing29]

On you knees, please...it's like a prayer:)

[boris1281]

This is absolutely transcedental! Amazing. She demonstrates that less is sometimes so much morE! Show me please one of the current Normas who can sing this aria without a slightest trmeble like Caballe does here! A mster of the belcanto!Happy to have these videos, because the greatest hour of opera is gone with this generation!

[noncondition]

I absolute agree with you ! no sopranos today, only stars ...

[noncondition]

The best Norna never performed ... she's here near the absolute perfection. Montse is only one, the unique, the best.

[MadameMarieM]

The best Norma in the wordl.

[AtlasShrugged2005]

So beautiful and yet she makes it seem effortless

[MozStraussiano]

the messa di voce at the end is absolutely unbelievable

[abednego20]

Magia!

[energyandpower]

Paren de hablar de La Callas. Montserrat es simplemente magnifica y sin comparaciones con otras!!!!

[noncondition]

Por fín! llevo 25 años diciendo esto ! Montse es única, inmortal, la más GRANDE.

[pringlesfreak01]

Completamente de acuerdo!

[Kendrick2021]

Caballe is the most beautiful woman in all of opera!

[Oneguin65]

Take the small work in serching for the other parts. There are truely useless people.

[CzarDodon]

!!!! Having a bad day Onequin?

[Oneguin65]

Yes, sorry

[CzarDodon]

Happens in the best homes :-) thanks for all the wonderful vids, found the other Bolshoi clips.... yes it wasn't difficult

[CzarDodon]

What a terrible pity Caballe didn't apply this form of absolute concentration to other things she sang. Here she is truly great, I would love to hear and see other parts of this performance, does she keep it up all the way through? who were the others?

[henryv69]

ma perchè fare paragoni con la callas o con la sutherland? sono tutte Norme storiche ed ognuna ha messo in risalto aspetti di questo monumentale personaggio

[bwtj]

Quite simply the greatest. kelwien is spot on: this performance is absolutely magnificent. Caballe here is sublime and peerless: it is impossible to imagine this aria ever being equalled by anyone, let alone bettered. As near to perfection as it is possible to be.

[manutortosa]

Callas sounds metallic, caballe perform the best mimi and norma ever

[blueearing29]

I don,t give a fuck about her acting. Who cares? The singing gives me goosebumps and I,m already levitating.