Notes and Editorial Reviews
This collection includes both ADD and DDD recordings.
A 32-year-old Montserrat Caballé was a relatively unknown Spanish soprano when, in 1965, she filled in for a then pregnant Marilyn Horne in Donizetti's 'Lucrezia Borgia' at the New York City Opera. That she became an overnight sensation is no surprise after listening to her stunning rendition of that opera's "Tranquillo ei posa...Com bello," recorded in that same year and included here on this gratifying compilation of the diva's greatest performances.
From superbly controlled and pure pianissimo singing to a seamless navigation of vocal registers, Caballé's vocal technique and command of the bel canto repertoire of Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti remains unmatched. She brings
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these same virtues, while at times adding a requisite amount of vocal heft, to the music of Verdi and Puccini, two composers whose music "la Superba" has performed to international acclaim. Read less
Works on This Recording
1.
Adelson e Salvini: Dopo l'oscuro nembo by Vincenzo Bellini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
David Gimenez
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Teatro Liceu Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1825; Italy
Date of Recording: 1995
Length: 6 Minutes 3 Secs.
Language: Italian
2.
La sonnambula: Ah, non credea mirarti by Vincenzo Bellini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Gianfranco Masini
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1831; Italy
Date of Recording: 1974
Length: 4 Minutes 47 Secs.
Language: Italian
3.
Norma: Casta diva by Vincenzo Bellini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Philharmonic Orchestra,
London Philharmonic Choir
Period: Romantic
Written: 1831; Italy
Date of Recording: 1972
Length: 6 Minutes 49 Secs.
Language: Italian
4.
Adriana Lecouvreur: Io son l'umile ancella by Francesco Cilèa
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Gianfranco Masini
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1902; Italy
Date of Recording: 1974
Length: 4 Minutes 3 Secs.
Language: Italian
5.
Anna Bolena: Al dolce guidami castel natio by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1830; Italy
Date of Recording: 1970
Length: 10 Minutes 6 Secs.
Language: Italian
6.
Lucrezia Borgia: Com' è bello! by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1833; Italy
Date of Recording: 1965
Length: 9 Minutes 7 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Tranquillo ei posa..."
7.
Roberto Devereux: Vivi, ingrato by Gaetano Donizetti
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1837; Italy
Date of Recording: 1965
Length: 7 Minutes 14 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "E Sara in questi orribili momenti..."
8.
Sapho: O ma lyre immortelle by Charles Gounod
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
David Gimenez
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Teatro Liceu Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1851; France
Date of Recording: 1995
Length: 8 Minutes 23 Secs.
Language: French
9.
Hérodiade: Il est doux, il est bon by Jules Massenet
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Luis Garcia-Navarro
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1881; France
Date of Recording: 1992
Length: 5 Minutes 9 Secs.
Language: French
10.
La Bohème: Si, mi chiamano Mimì by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano),
Placido Domingo (Tenor)
Conductor:
Sir Georg Solti
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Philharmonic Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1896; Italy
Date of Recording: 1974
Length: 4 Minutes 43 Secs.
Language: Italian
11.
Suor Angelica: Senza mamma, o bimbo, tu sei morto by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Gianfranco Masini
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1918; Italy
Date of Recording: 1974
Length: 4 Minutes 59 Secs.
Language: Italian
12.
Tosca: Vissi d'arte, vissi d'amore by Giacomo Puccini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1900; Italy
Date of Recording: 1964
Length: 3 Minutes 21 Secs.
Language: Italian
13.
Il corsaro: Non so le tetre immagini by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
RCA Italian Opera Orchestra,
RCA Italian Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1848; Italy
Date of Recording: 1967
Length: 5 Minutes 56 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "Egli non riede ancora" and occupies two tracks of the CD.
14.
Il trovatore: D'amor sull' ali rosee by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Gianfranco Masini
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1853; Italy
Date of Recording: 1974
Length: 5 Minutes 38 Secs.
Language: Italian
15.
I vespri siciliani: Arrigo! ah, parli a un core by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Gianfranco Masini
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1855; Italy
Date of Recording: 1974
Length: 4 Minutes 53 Secs.
Language: Italian
16.
La traviata: Sempre libera by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano),
Carlo Bergonzi (Tenor)
Conductor:
Georges Prêtre
Orchestra/Ensemble:
RCA Italian Opera Orchestra,
RCA Italian Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1853; Italy
Date of Recording: 1967
Length: 11 Minutes 1 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection begins with "E strano! E strano!" and occupies three tracks of the CD.
17.
Otello: Piangea cantando...Ave Maria by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1887; Italy
Date of Recording: 1964
Length: 15 Minutes 5 Secs.
Language: Italian
Notes: This selection occupies two tracks of the CD.
18.
Rigoletto: Caro nome by Giuseppe Verdi
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Gianfranco Masini
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Barcelona Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1851; Italy
Date of Recording: 1974
Length: 6 Minutes 29 Secs.
Language: Italian
19.
I Pagliacci: Qual fiamma avea nel guardo by Ruggero Leoncavallo
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Nello Santi
Orchestra/Ensemble:
London Symphony Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1892; Italy
Date of Recording: 1971
Length: 4 Minutes 56 Secs.
Language: Italian
20.
Armida: D'amore al dolce impero by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
RCA Italian Opera Orchestra,
RCA Italian Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1817; Italy
Date of Recording: 1967
Length: 7 Minutes 12 Secs.
Language: Italian
21.
L'assedio di Corinto: L'ora fatal...Giusto ciel! by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
RCA Italian Opera Orchestra,
RCA Italian Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1826; Italy
Date of Recording: 1967
Length: 3 Minutes 33 Secs.
Language: Italian
22.
Semiramide: Serbami ognor...Alle più calde immagini by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano),
Shirley Verrett (Mezzo Soprano)
Conductor:
Anton Guadagno
Orchestra/Ensemble:
New Philharmonia Orchestra
Period: Romantic
Written: 1823; Italy
Date of Recording: 1969
Length: 8 Minutes 4 Secs.
Language: Italian
23.
Stabat mater: Inflammatus et accensus by Gioachino Rossini
Performer:
Montserrat Caballé (Soprano)
Conductor:
Carlo Felice Cillario
Orchestra/Ensemble:
RCA Italian Opera Orchestra,
RCA Italian Opera Chorus
Period: Romantic
Written: 1832/1842; Italy
Date of Recording: 1967
Length: 5 Minutes 22 Secs.
Language: Latin
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