Montserrat Caballe sings IL Pirata (vaimusic.com)

[flextra96]

Great performance by Monsterfat Cowbelly...

[cavallerino]

Caballe has always been a very uneven singer: beautiful voice, but a one-trick pony - that gorgeous pianissimo of hers - that said, her coloratura is awful and her diction is atrocious; even this early in her career she's vocalizing and inventing lines rather than enunciating the text (1:35); still, she's far better than Netrebko and Fleming

[paulostroff99]

TY vai music for posting. Lovely singing

[beckyw100]

Anna Nebs isn't good enough to clean Cablle's boots.

[johngotwalt]

at :16 and :17 is just one small example of why she is my diva !!

[MadameBorgi]

Otro claro ejemplo de que el bel canto no se debe de recargar, debe ser conciso y sencillo pero con gusto y musicalidad, claro que para esto hay que estudiar mucho, pero que mucho.... no como muchos cantantes líricos actuales que lo único que hacen es berrear por pensar que gusta más al publico y carecen de tacto.

[PSaphir]

Wow!  She's the best! Incredible singing and flawless line.

[Loismustdie26]

She looks a bit like a young Om Kalthoum here.

[bachboy111]

i like caballe's performance from a technical standpoint, but i feel that callas emotes more feeling of the widowed woman in this aria.

[cantorandopera]

Am posting this on my homepage - does singing get any more beautiful than this? Maybe in my next life I will sound this way . . .

[OperaMystery80]

Caballe was a magnificent opera singer. Her bel canto has always ranked right up there with Maria Callas and Joan Sutherland. Her pianissimi notes were her trademark but I find her voice in general is exciting. She could play such diverse roles as Aida, Tosca and Salome. This aria from Pirata is rather difficult, especially the cabaletta but Caballe is always right on target. Brava Caballe

[srmerched]

maravilhosa!!!, existem arias nas quais nunhum soprano foi tão perfeita como Caballe!!!

[joanabanyeres]

Que bello cantaba la Montse la música de Bellini. Era el suyo

[amneris54]

qu'est ce que c beau ,,, merci pour cette vidéo

une véritable leçon

[sergiopabloz]

Con todo respeto, pienso que es la mejor cantante de opera de la historia. Primera representante de la cultura de Cataluña. Despues vienen Albéniz, Gaudi, Dali, Miró, Carreras, Serrat, etc., etc.. Es mi opinión. Sino pongan el orden que quieran.

[philipc67]

Sublime. What a flawless voice she had in her prime (this is Paris 1966), like a glowing pearl rolling on velvet. The legato, long breath, elegant phrasing, pianissimos, spinto power, coloratura cadenzas, all is there!

[Tenorbravo]

Ms. Caballe.... did it again.... FANTASTICA INTERPRETATION. A very talented soprano. Magnifique and ORIGINAL.

[muatlas]

Caballe and Domingo singing love duets from Verdi, Puccini, and Boito is my favorite recording.

[iriisblue]

La Superba in action. No one sang this Bellini music better. For a nasty comparison, check out the Callas rendition of the same on youtube. Gawdawful.

[Simdaperce]

@iriisblue Why such a comment when you know that Callas was regarded by all the great musicians of her time as the queen of bel canto. Of course her singing is quite different from Caballé, who by the way thinks that the comparison between the two is nasty... but for Callas (which is not my view in the case of Bel Canto).

[Greg07623]

@Simdaperce - Actually this is a load of crap. Most of the musicians of her generation thought nothing of the sort. (and as a protege singer in NY I knew a LOT of them). They admired her dramatic capabilities, her relentless drive to be in the limelight, but as a singer they regarded here as having a deformed instrument that still managed some remarkable feats, a vocal geek if you will. Sorry to be blunt, & I do love her work, but she does not embody beautiful singing.

[tneprescintr]

@Greg07623 she may not embody a beautiful voice, but she definitely embodied beautiful singing. The first time I heard callas I was 10, and it was casta diva, then I heard her Rosina and, more recently, her Puritani's mad scene. Thus being: I dare you to show me anyone who can deliver I Puritani as well as she did, in technique and theatre.

[cantorandopera]

@Greg07623 Beauty is in the eye - or here, the ear, of the beholder. Is why some people think Callas has a beautiful voice, and others find it ugly . . . the list goes on - a la Sills, Sutherland, and today - Dessay, Damrau, Netrebko . . . however, in my opinion, heavenly singing is just that - and this is what you are listening to on this clip - and who are these "musicians" of her generation and their thinking? are they on youtube - with thousands of uploads?

[MusicVocalism]

@cantorandopera I love the legends of Caballe, Vaness, Scotto, and so on but we all must move on and accept our newest and brightest singing stars like Netrebko :)

[cantorandopera]

@MusicVocalism Interesting list - although I love this clip of Caballe she is not of one of the greatest singers of all time - but had some unbelievable gifts - her floating pianissimos and endless breath control. Her line and overall musicianship for bel canto, in particular is a model for any singer. I have enjoyed Vaness and Scotto as well but they aren't in the "forever" category IMHO.

[TheVaughan5]

@MusicVocalism Sorry, but Netrebko is truly second rate compared to the best of the past. There are certainly some very fine singers around at the moment but also far too many who may be promoted as great but are simply not up to it. I am not the greatest fan of Caballe although at her best she could be wonderful but like Sutherland she continued singing too long and became a pale shadow of her former self.

[MusicVocalism]

@TheVaughan5 If you have read my comment I said "Move on" I have several recordings of the legendary voices but with Anna she is a wildcard b/c there is always something different about her when she performs. Opera isn't all just about singing its now becoming about appealing to more people through a full theatrical performance full of interest that brings more audiences to the opera. I know that I'm only a teenager but we are the next group of people to carry on this beautiful tradition :)

[johngotwalt]

@MusicVocalism no, we don't have to accept anyone - can Nebs sing this ?

[mugrad25]

@Greg07623 are you serious? They must be jealous because her tone is always on point and she's always musical.

[SuperAida2010]

Maravillosa!!!

[stingabe]

Now this is a true Italian soprano!

[liedersanger1]

@stingabe Well, a Spanish one anyway.

[lingeranacaona]

superbe!

[sugarshula64]

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is the greatest singer in the world.

[liedersanger1]

@sugarshula64 Not quite. There's always Leontyne.

[Malegnius]

I feel really sorry for critics, they can't enjoy good music. Nothing is good enough for them. Give it a BREAK enjoy this beauty! Don't criticize her eyebrow hairs!

[louanfono]

Soprano Lírico de Coloratura

[americangalbasseyfan]

Impeccable. Seamless lines in her singing. Flawless. Her voice does not waver. Always a delightful experience listening to Montserrat.

[DottoreJojo]

I have so much admiration for her. A bit self-indulgent, but that's OK.

[sfopera]

No singer was ever more suited to "Pirata" than Caballe. Her unique ability to float lines in the stratosphere is just flawless here. It can be a bit mannered in other roels, though i adore her; but here it's as close to perfection as it gets.

[nauJRodriguez]

I would not have the nerve to say anything negative about a singer like this.

She is wonderful.

[mattyslipp]

Look at that tongue wobble away.... I've never understood the love for Caballe. Meh.

[musoph21]

@mattyslipp so what! do you hear the sounds that coming out. That gorgeous tone on her top notes..and how its all seamless and on the line..never wavering..Thats why she has love. This is impeccable. She may not be text book. But you cant deny the brilliance of this performance.

[tissetatten]

then you dont have ears! she has a wonderful voice!

[mattyslipp]

Sir, I believe I have ears. Last time I checked, they were still attached. As far as my taste in opera singers, Caballe doesn't do it for me. Can you stand to live with that? Or must EVERYONE agree with you?

[musoph21]

@mattyslipp: i was criticizing your comment more for what you said about her technique "wobbly tongue." My emphasis was what does it matter if you can produce a pure and natural voice like Caballes..hence it doesnt sound strained or anything...Pay more attention to the sound i guess and not be so hung up on technique. You are of course entitled like who like. I dont like every opera singer and i dont expect anyone else too either.

[TheMrMarilyn]

@mattyslipp LoL!!Tell it like it IS bay-bee!!

[andrecueca]

@mattyslipp i never understood why people who dont like a particular singer waste their time listening to them...i dont go watch netrebkos videos its as simple as that....anyway....its a mistery to me....

[musoph21]

this is why is she is the greatest opera singer...better than any soprano who ever lived.

[tissetatten]

no she is not XD but she has a beautiful voice and fabulus techniche

[musoph21]

i love the fullness of her high notes...so recognizeable!

[MedlynMartin]

it sounds great to me, in fact perfect

[emeboteerf]

Her voice and technical übermastery are so exquisite that simply listening to her vocalise would be a greater pleasure than listening to many sing meaningful arias.

[reinadegrillos]

¡Qué delicia!

[kgarmaker123]

This needs a better legato.. And she can do it, but she is not doing it here.

[galehout]

è vero: è pigra! bellissima voce, ma tecnica sempre un po' al di sotto delle necessità! (mi spiace per i fan di Montsy)

[kgarmaker123]

Yes indeed  , lovely voice and she is being very lazy.

[paulwien65]

on wich phrase do you think there will be a better legato...for me sounds wonderful at the breath and singing as bellini wrote it...clear me up..

[orejarota]

Tanta Belleza incomparable!!! gracias!!!

Es increible la manera absolutamente reconcentrada con que inicia "col sorriso d'innocenza,..." para recien en la repetición del "Deh! favella al genitor" se relaja y cierra los ojos como para permitir el estado corporal que necesita después en cada cadencia!

Desde mi punto de vista la tecnica primero, la razón y recien luego el corazón al servicio de la partitura (en ese orden).

Una de las mejores sopranos del siglo 20 BRAVO!

[jenmajol]

himene lau ke anuenue mai wahine auwe! aloha vau ia oe!

[Classicmozayful]

i can see why freddie mercury liked her...

[artemaxm]

La voce di soprano che tutte vorrebbero avere mamma mia che bellezza di voce, chi sa quando nascerà un'altra caballe:)

[cgomezmoreno]

Wow!

As always the breath control! That last phrase without a breath! Nobody does it like that! Incredible!

[bernalyckan]

immer fina klipp from vaimusik

[MisterSoprano]

Wonderful!

[Juancarzgz7]

Es curioso como se revuelven los viudos de la Callas incluso ante quienes la amamos... ¿querrán quedarsela ellos? jejeje, Grande Callas Grande Caballé...

[antequem]

la splendeur vocale d'une chanteuse dans ses meilleures années...les premières, d'une carrière où tous les rôles choisis et chantés lui convenaient moins bien que ce personnage d'Imogene...saluons et dégustons!

[thugman30]

Bravissima!

[AOG93]

She doesn't get into it as Callas does but... lets not compare them (for the best) I think she was still 'new' to the role at the time. I think her later live performance and studio recording are better. She finds more vocal colors and nuances and get more into charachter. This is still great, though. I just don't know why she didn't record with Vanzo, who was her partner live in Borgia, instead of Marti...

[juanitobenj]

Brava, brava, brava.

[Mropera111]

She looks so pretty when she sang the lovely high note. lolol  I loves it.

[Toscavsky]

Tengo la versión de Il Pirata con Caballé y Cappuccili dirigido por Gavazzeni y he de decir que es una de las mejores que he escuchado. Caballé tiene algo especial para esos papeles belcantistas, una belleza divina, un belleza de los dioses.

[DonRolini]

She makes singing look and sound like its so easy then again she pulls one in and makes you understand what "bel canto" truly is. Cabelle is ART!

[rooberxxx]

superior  MONTSERRAT

[Juancarzgz7]

After la Callas? Lo siento, pero en Bellini.. la Caballé supera a la Callas en pureza, expresión y belleza vocal y adoro a Callas

[mkirch72]

Beauty.............

[zafireh]

after la callas only la caballe

[hermioney2k]

zafireh, i agree. Callas, Caballe and Ponselle are my top 3. They have consistent covered sound except for Callas when her voice was destroyed.

[damina324]

Ahhh...those Pianissimos!!!!

[suffisance]

exactly

[Querzeo]

An she's still singing, isn't she?

[zurriussII]

She still sings. Of course, she is not THAT MONTSERRAT that we used to listen to but she's doing many charity with her concerts.

[11455RN]

why all the "old" comments" she's in her in 70's you'll get there too!!!!!!

[Lucxarrr]

Bravisima!!!!

[officialaisa]

Sublime!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OperaGhost1990]

AMAZING!

[LANAP29]

Caballe es la mejor. Su hija no tiene talento, que lastima.

[sandiegosue]

What I love about Montserrat Caballe, besides the absolute beauty of her voice, is the dignity with passion that is in every performance. It has always made me empathize with her characters which heightens the sense of tragedy and drama..

[mardamlop]

Gracias por este video. Qué gran soprano, Montserrat Caballé! Maestra!!

[humagris]

gracias por compartir este maravilloso momento de Caballe.

[supermen26zg]

THE BEST SOPRANO OF 20century! SIMPLY THE BEST!!!

[1944gga]

Magnifica, excelente Monserrat

[montsyblackmaddona]

The voice of a goddess,the voice of the ages.

The most beautiful & etheral voice to ever come from a human throat.

[WiseMonki]

With the smile of innocence, with the glance of love pray speak to your father of clemency and pardon. Pray speak to your father. Tell him, ah tell him that you live, tell him that you are free because of me, so that he may look mercifully upon the one who did so much for you. *I wish you people would put translations in*. :s. Loving regards ;).

[WiseMonki]

The master singer. My warm and kindest regards,