Norma Contest - Mira, o Norma - Caballé - Cossotto

I am still calling these postings a contest, even though I don't think there is much interest in the videos for that reason. This is not judging singers against each other, rather it is putting down a score for the interpretation of those artists at that time. Anyway, one of my favorite "contests" was the Norma "Casta Diva" contest. So I naturally wanted to create some sort of compensation for those missing videos. I hope everyone enjoys. Scoring is 1-5 singing/characterization:

Montserrat Caballé
Fiorenza Cossotto (1978)

June Anderson
Mzia Nioradze (2006)

Elinor Ross
Giovanna Vighi (1967)

Ana Maria Sanchez
Dolora Zajick (2003)

Gilda Cruz-Romo
Bianca Berini (1984)

Joan Sutherland
Margreta Elkins (1961)

Maria Guleghina
Luciana D'Intino (2004)

Georgina Lukács (2004)

Edita Gruberova
Sonia Ganassi (2006)

Lucia Aliberti
Anna Caterina Antonacci (1990)

Ghena Dimitrova
Maria Dragoni (1987)

Montserrat Caballé
Marilyn Horne (1980)

Martile Rowland
Encarnacion Vanquez (1999)

Shirley Verrett
Susan Mentzer (1988)

Anait Mchitarian
Alexandr Tamazow(?) (2003)

Adelaida Negri
Myrna Moreno (1987)

Carol Vaness
Jennifer Larimore (1994)

Marina Mescheriakova
Anna Bonitatibus (1999)

Fiorenza Cedolins
Sonia Ganassi (2007)

Leontyne Price
Marilyn Horne (1982)

Joan Sutherland
Marilyn Horne (1979)

Anna Netrebko
Elina Garanca (2007)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• caballe
• cossotto
• opera
• bellini

[Dymension]

I heard Caballe live in the 80s.....it wasn't small... and quit being so bitchy!

[Telltaleheart79]

Oh, that must be why she became a worldwide star then. LOL

[Dymension]

@joecburke That's not something you would hear in the hall. The microphone are simply "hot" and are picking up a lot of treble. That's why Cossotto sounds particularly metalic in this recording. It would sound warmer in the hall.

[OLIVCHEN77]

Thats so funny...I think its the performance from Madrid with Muti the terrible as conductor, the cabaletta is to fast & the two "primadonne" will slow it, so Caballe "Conduct" (8:32-38) the Orchestra & threw a bad eye to Muti...Brave!!!!!

[luchaoso]

Cossotto era una cattiva con una buona voce, ma la mala sangue si nota in ogni suono,

cossotto was a cunt with a strong voice, incapable to transmit love through her instrument, a despicable witch

[luchaoso]

Cossotto era una cattiva con una buona voce, ma l mala sangue si nota in ogni suono

[emf1918]

this is so moving, Caballe's Norma was so different to Callas. In the scene when she contemplates killing her children you wondered why Callas didn't do it, with Caballe you knew she couldn't, the maternal side of Norma was never so effectively portrayed. sweet to see that both singers discretely cover the ears of the children they are embracing. Cosotto and Caballe had a lovely chemistry.

[rhapsodyaaa]

ya c lo merecia la cossotto la catalana no se dejo

[joecburke]

The loud breathing by Caballe bothers me, she does it intentionally. Also I don't understand why they direct one singer to sing straight out to the microphone while Cosotto has her face down towards the children and therefore the sound is imbalanced. They both sing very well, but they do not sing together as much as other artist pairings in the matchup. 4.7 of 5.

[ingriddoppler]

BRAVISSIMI ~ tutt´e due !!!!!

[ingriddoppler]

I did not see this video untill right now and I think,both artist´s are great;

as to Ms. Caballé, in my opinion , (after Maria Callas ) ,she has been the best Norma ever. Thanks for this upload.

[faffyssimo]

quello che penso di questa interpretazione non mi sembra il caso di dirlo a questi due signori che imbastardiscono la nobile arte del belcanto con l'odio politico.