Vincenzo Bellini - Il pirata - "Lo sognai ferito, e sangue" (Montserrat Caballe)

I have to admit to having mixed feelings towards Bellini. On one hand, his "La sonnambula" is a wonderful pastoral work which is beautifully written throughout, as well as a number of selected scenes from other operas (such as Giulietta's moving romanza "Oh! quante volte" or Fernando's enchanting "At tanto duol"). But, for the most part, his operas are not really as rewarding for me as those of the composers sighted above. "Il pirata" with it's excessively romantic story and flashes of brilliance over some strikingly routine music is a prime example. Imogene's cavatina, despite a rather interesting structure of two contrasting ariosos as the heroine accounts her dreams and fears (first - an image of her lover in blood; then - her husband) to a bewildered chorus and then a long, lyrical cabaletta, perhaps, represents both Bellini at his best and at his most uninspired: while there are many individual moments of great beauty in the scene (certainly the swift yet caring coda is extremly appealing), there is a distinct lack of concetrated composition (unlike in the above-mentioned scenes which actually thrive on being prolonged expressions of a single emotion) which can be explained by the needs of the drama, though we still are faced with an aria of disconcerting unevenness. I do not desire to offend anyone's love for the composer (indeed, one would not want to go without the above-mentioned pieces or a number of rich works), I simply wish to state my own mixed feelings when listening to Bellini's music.

Coloraturafan's compilation featured Caballe as one of the five singers. While she was definitely wonderful there, I strongly fell that it is in the complete recording of the work where she is truly brilliant. Actually, every minute of that recording where Caballe is present is wonderful.

Hope you'll enjoy :)!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Bellini
• coloratura

[edthesp]

What a gem. I've never hEarD of this before. Where is this from? Does anyone know where I can get the MP3 of Caballe singing Ebben?

[LindoroRossini]

It's from her full recording of the score with Marti in the title role. The second question, no, sorry :).

[mariagalvany]

Wow! Montserrat Caballe had beauty in her voice that is wonderful. :) I love her emotion she gives in this performance(It reminds me of the emotion the lovely Joan Sutherland gives) That is why she , Maria Callas and Dame Joan Sutherland were all praised for there one of kind Bel-canto techinque.

[noncondition]

Simply amazing. Congratulations LindoroRossini.

[liguten]

SUPERBE MONTSERRAT!!!! Un enchantement comme toujours!!!

[montsyblackmadonna]

@Klassizismus I thought her husband was quite good in the role,he sang with wonderful diction and passion,and fabulous high notes.Caballe of course was a 10/10 !

[carrilhojuliana]

agreed...netrebko should sing in churches and school presentations

[aristopus]

I agree that the greats of yesteryear have no rivals today, but you are using a whole century to cull the best. Ponselle goes back to WWI.

Please add a little lady (literally) who had one of the greatest coloratura voices I ever heard: Lily Pons.

[primohomme]

If you look at the score you will notice that she actually skips a bunch of notes and overall is not as good vocalization as she usually did. The rest of the role is great though.

[GeorgiNM]

When one makes a downright outrages comment of the sort, it is expected that he back it up with examples of what he adresses. And I would be happy if this example helps me see the ugliness through what quite objectively is: a ravishing tone, a brilliant upper register, respectable lower register, limpid phrasing and inflection, successful nuancing, and, on this occasion, more than correct coloratura. Pardon me, but I am simply astounded by your assertion. Astounded.

[primohomme]

Actually I find Caballe's entrance scene quite ugly. I don't know when she recorded it but it's just not well sung, not as greatly as she usually sings. The rest of the role is wonderful, yes, but the entrance scene for me in particular, Renee Fleming takes it home hands down.

[elleonnorr]

I didn't know there are people who do not like bellini's music.

It's so pure, simple, beautiful, sometimes dramatic, sometimes poetic or deep sad, but allways verry, verry exciting.