Gruberová vs. Caballé, Roberto Devereux finale

Let´s have another comparison of those two great Queens Elizabeths, now in the finale of Donizetti´s Roberto Devereux. Again, those two divas, Edita Gruberová in the first part of the video, shot during the Munich performance in 2005; and Montserrat Caballe in the second part that was taken from the 1977 performance, show uniquely different interpretation of the final scene. There is a total, pitifull madness portrayed not only by the facial interpretation but also by the huge and rich scale of the voice in case of Edita Gruberová, while on the other hand we can hear hopelessness, sadness and even anger in the voice of Montserrat Caballe in her prime years. All those emotions being portrayed with the mastery well known to both of these talented women. Enjoy and all comments are welcome. :)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Gruberova
• Caballe
• Donizetti
• Roberto Devereux

[viztory]

lets stop arguing, i love montse, but compair these Divas is bad and unuseless..i dont like the scenary playground of Editas at all (modern!!!!please!!!not!!!!)

[liguten]

Caballe surclasse gruberova sans conteste!!! Le timbre y est plus suave et plus doux. Quant à la mise en scène avec Gruberova, stupide comme toutes ces mises en scène contemporaines et prétentieuses!!

[liguten]

Caballe surclasse gruberova sans conteste!!! Le timbre y est plus suave et plus doux.

[Higbby]

Bravo Bravo ! BRAVİSSİMAA Edita ! XXX

[dsenRuskin]

These two ladies are wonderful, each in her own way. The comparison is difficult, because the stage productions are completely different. Gruberova's depiction of a queen (Diva!) going mad with love and jealousy is more realistic with the modern staging, the reference to Elizabeth's age and baldness, the crowning glory of a woman being her hair. Caballe's voice is so magical. And she tossed the literal crown. Interesting opportunity to compare. Thank you so much!

[thomastmwc]

Gruby's acting makes me cry - like, touching

[gustopheles]

@Dymension As far as the acting, though, the comparison is equally unfair in Gruberova's favour, only because she is unsurpassed in her ability to play mad scenes. Both brilliant artists.

[Dymension]

Not a very fair comparison. Most of the tessitura of the piece is low, where Caballe is more comfortablebu also makes the two climaxes on B natural sound more desperate in her voice which works for dramatic purposes. Additionally, Caballe's voice is more Mediterranean which is more suited to this rep than eastern European voices. It's a shame you didn't choose the earlier version with Edita Gruberoba circa 1992 when she was at her peak: it would have made a better comparison.

[kgarmaker123]

Thanks for making it clear that all comments are welcome! I prefer Gruberova in this and that is saying something.. because I almost always prefer Caballe, but this role has a high tessitura, and Beverly Sills made a great success of it, and like Gruberova had a high high voice.. Caballe's high notes sound very strained, and at the edge of her range. Although I prefer her ending without the high note.. Gruberova's is weak.

[carlo331]

@DiegoMartinazzoli ...Anche io l'ho sentita più volte dal vivo, in concerto e in opera. Che sia stata una grande cantante è fuori discussione. Non metto in dubbio le capacità vocali e virtuosistiche, ma quelle espressive. Come interprete è sempre stata tendenzialmente manierata , ma qui è stucchevole, gigiona e insopportabile...la regia poi è ridicola, e la trovata della parrucca stavista in altri spettacoli.