Ileana Cotrubas- CARO NOME & interview

[ClassicPerformances2]

Ileana Cotrubas is probably one of the most under acclaimed "great sopranos" of the last century. She is at home with almost all types of composers and her high notes just "sing" with beauty and liquidity

[intelegentable]

I enjoyed Cortrubas in this role, though I prefer a Coloratura usually, Cortrubas had the lovely color and warmth and agility to pull off Caro Nome. Her voice was one of incredible sweetness and beauty and her Gilda moved me but I preferred her as Mimi , Violetta, Magda in La Rondine,she was on of the best Mimi's ever and her Traviata was Classic. There was always a warm womanly sound to her voice and she was a damn good musician and actress.Good to see and hear her again.

[Fegen]

Have always loved the sweetness of her voice. She was one of my favorites

when she sang at the Met Opera House in New York City.

[philhealey1]

Her voice just brings tears to my eyes.  Beautiful!

[grandeopera]

Cotrubas with her lovely light lyric voice was simply perfect in this role. Brava!

[grandeopera]

Cotrubas with her lovely light lyric voice was simply perfect in this role. Brava!

[kgarmaker123]

I think this is exactly the kind of voice Verdi wanted for this role.. A HIGH lyric voice, not a coloratura. and frankly that is what she is .. and is superb at it.! 

[BrunoLien]

This is very beautiful indeed. And Cotrubas was the most extraordinary and distressing Traviata of all times, with Kleiber (DG).

[musoph21]

she is so underrated. i normally dont like lighter voices but i cant get over the roundness and color of her voice. I would describe it as very sweet, feminine, and friendly.

[TruthWielder]

She has the prototypical tone color for a light soprano. This is something God gives. It can't be learned. One of the mos beautiful voices I've ever heard. Listen to her recording of the aria from La Rondine. No one can come close.

Joe Carbia , Miami, Florida

[semiramide1945]

Does anyone know why she retired, obviously still in possesion of such a beautiful voice. She just seemed to dissapear so abruptly

[suzanneetmoi]

@semiramide1945 I know that she is still judging vocal competitions in Europe...

[thomaz89]

@semiramide1945

What years are you talking about?

Today she doesn't possess that voice anymore... sadly, her high notes are a little wobbly, though her low notes are still great. She recently gave a master class at my college which was a really wonderful experience, you can hear that warmth and passion even when she's only talking about the music. :D

[semiramide1945]

@thomaz89 well im talking about 70's, I just didnt know exactly when she stopped singning. Maybe she was one of those who decided to stop before the voice gave out. Never an easy decision for many singers. thanks for your comment, Ernesto

[daphnebeloved]

Good technique, good legato and good phrases....

[Iareto]

One of the most beautiful vocal colors I have ever heard.  Her technique is not perfect, but I could listen to this voice all day.

[DonAlfonso63]

For me the most lovely smile in opera.....<3

[skyhunk]

Very pure tone... the tempo is much slower and deliberate than I am accustomed to hearing.

[operaclassicc]

I like her singing here but listen to inva mula ,you will be speechless ,

[edengirl17]

I know Inva Mula's version and it is my fave version of "Caro nome".She is amazing.Mrs Cotrubas is also lovely:)

[operaclassicc]

totally agree with u :)

[Cavuca1946]

Que cantora maravilhosa! Que voz! Fiquei o tempo todo "grudado ao vídeo", totalmente tomado por essa linda melodia de Verdi! Beijos à Sra. Cotrubas... do Brasil! What a marvelous singer! What a voice! I remained all the time "glued" to the video, totally taken by this this Verdi's superb melody...

Cheers from Brazil... to Ms Cotrubas!

[ikeoland]

Cortrubas has always been one of my favourite singers, especially for the vocal colour and her musicianship. It is wonderful to have a full lyric soprano singing the role of Gilda. The recording is from a live broadcast in November 1977 (not 1997)

[moghedien13]

I heard she could be very demanding, and it seems kinda to be true, but i love how she gave credit to all her colleagues and said it was something they all achieved.

[LjubljanaSI]

please turn your attention also to the video clip of Petya Ivanova and her "Caro nome"!

[PapagenoHannover]

Ileana Cortrubas ist eine wundervolle Sängerin. Sie gibt sich der Musik und der Schönheit hin. Keine selbstbezogene Karrieristien wie etliche ihrer Kolleginen. Nein, sie dient der Musik. Und deswegen ist sie auch nicht so bekannt, weil unsere perfide Gesellschaft solche bescheidenen Leute in die Pfanne haut und an ihnen achtlos vorübergeht. Sie hatte nie in erster Linie ihre Vermarktung im Sinn und deswegen ist sie so sympathisch und singt so warmherzig.

[MisterSoprano]

She's great, isn't she? Her voice is so WARM! Her best roles are Violeta in Traviata (with Domingo, Kleiber conducting), Luisa in Luisa and Adina in Elisir d'amore.

[basenjidiva]

Very pretty, but what happened to Verdi's score?

Heard this rendition at Lyric Opera of Chicago, and again, she took great liberties with the score.

If you're interested, check out Virginia Zeani's rendition of this area. I'll be very much interested in your comparison. Thank you for this posting.

[aircat29]

her face is a master class ,you can see how use every muscle. excelent!!

[EndlessCompassion]

Her tone is not so special, but that warmth and great technique are really enthralling! I LOVE HER.

[CharlotteinWeimar]

Her compatriot Virginia Zeani can now be heard in a delightful live recording from 1955, early in her career, before her voice matured into a full spinto for Aida and Elisabetta.

[141407078989]

THIS is how a soprano is suppoused to talk! not like meny others who have a man voice... THIS IS A REAL SOPRANO VOICE

[Mimameior]

She makes a very good Gilda, in that she can portray the sweet, winsome, innocent young girl - a lot of sopranos fail badly there...

[achneinCH]

These ill-informed comments on great singers are so tiresome. She is a revered soprano, for good reason.

[brendabergman]

oh she's so adorable!

[CandyLinton]

Ravishing

[simonchante]

I agree. She is such a beautiful artist. I used to listen to this aria over and over on her alas only aria record with John Pritchard. Her Violetta was also compelling and touching. The live broadcast was superb. I think she suffered from asthma all her life and although very unfortunate for a singer it certainly gave her this extra vulnerability in her singing.

[lissys03]

Ileana is so adorable! She is an amazing vocalist. I noticed simonchante's comment and, if she really did suffer from asthma, I have even more respect for her than before. Amazing woman...

[daeviydt]

this caro nome is the best, i've never heard one so beautiful.

[hookana70]

She has recorded Rigoletto for DG with maestro Giuliani, extremely good.

[Gigglingatagas]

A gorgeous Gilda! Cotrubas's voice has such a lovely, feminine throb in the sound; just perfect for this role. Brava!

[karjens40]

thank you thank you thank you. I love this woman.  She gave me the love of opera I have today. She has the most expressive voice and face. Awesome

[Jitpring]

1977.