Montserrat Caballe "Ozean, Du Ungeheuer" Oberon

Philharmonic Hall. April 9, 1969

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Opera
• Weber
• Oberon
• Rezia
• Montserrat
• Caballe

[tHEnOOSEsWING]

Montserrat Caballe provides the impetus and frantic emotional turmoil that the role of Rezia encompass. This is a difficult aria to perform, but Montserrat Caballe provides the depth and characterization which makes this a special and unique performance. Thank you for another great video.

[GeorgiNM]

This is magnificent. Commenters before say quite rightly that Caballe is no stentor. But, actually she has a voice very "piercing" in quality and liquid-cristal in texture. This, while devoid of Nilsson-like volume, is none the less audible enough (and in later years, judging by testimonials, notably from some New York Aidas in 1972 I think, QUITE audible, people actually present described it as HUGE) But volume or not, Caballe here phrases and nuances to give us a truly idiomatic rendition.

[mwk12kev]

This is quite wonderful. I was skeptical at first, but the coloring, beauty of voice, phrasing are supreme. That said, I still think (imho), the definitive performance of this is with Eileen Farrell and Thomas Schippers. Farrell has the voice quality of a Greek column (even, gorgeous and POWERFUL from bottom to top) and incredible breath control and coloratura facility for the end.

[Dymension]

Her's was no small voice. Marcia Liebman, a friend of mine, sang Elvira to Caballe's first Anna as well as one of the Walkure's with Caballe as Segliende and Nilsson as Brunhilde around 1977 and she swears that from onstage you couldn't tell which of the two was louder...unfortunately, as she grew older it became louder and a little raucous at the top end. But when it was glorious, it was glorious!!!

[GeorgiNM]

Which one of the screenshots displeases you?

[SENAFOREVER]

Germaine Lubin admirait beaucoup la Caballé, en particulier dans le répertoire allemand.

[primohomme]

sure, coz Weber is Wagner. Shut the fuck up.

[comey717]

I think Lilli Lehmann had the widest repertoire in history. She had over 140 roles.

[agnellodei]

Well, Callas' repertoire went from the assoluta heroines of bel canto to Wagner, Verismo, Verdi, Puccini, etc...it was quite a lot compared to other singers at the time who were merely singing one or two composers at the most and repeating the same roles over and over (and no more than 6)

[BeauTenor]

Well, that's not all that surprising, is it? Callas actually had a rather limited repertoire (that she performed on stage, anyhow) when you compare her to someone like Caballe, whose rep encompassed well over 100 roles. Then again, almost anyone looks limited when you compare them to Caballe's rep. The only comparably versatile singer is probably Domingo (who also has well over 100 roles to his credit).

[agnellodei]

That's an unflattering pic of Montserrat...but the singing is glorious.