Montserrat Caballé, Jaume Aragall,
Ryan Edwards, Gwynne Howell
Choeur et Orchestre Lyrique de l'ORTF
dir: Gianfranco Masini
Phoenix (1995) PX 505 2 - 2 CDs ADD Stereo (Very good sound)
Live recording: Salle Pleyel, Paris, November, 25 1973.
Bonus: Caballé in R.Devereux, Il Pirata, Aroldo, Il Corsaro.
[flac & cue, cover, inlays, booklet & disc scans]
This post is my humble tribute to the great Montserrat Caballé who died last year. It is in the Belcanto and particularly in Bellini and Donizetti that all its great virtues can be appreciated, a perfect legato, a good skill in agilities and heavenly pianissimi that were her trademark and that she did like no one else. By 1973 she was full of voice before going into heavier repertoires that were not convenient to her. He is accompanied by a dedicated and passionate Jaume Aragall on one of his best opera nights.
A true feast for the ears of Belcanto lovers.
Recorded live at the Salle Pleyel in Paris with a great sound, this edition from the Phoenix label which appears to be one of the best remasterings according to a testimony I reproduce below.
If you want to compare you have the Rodolphe edition in the fantastic blog: Afina tus Oidos from the "Humilde Campesino" ( a great opera collector).
Reviews
"Caballé at the absolute summum of her greatness, and the finer of her two live renditions. It remains not only the best recording of this wonderful work, but critical evidence that Caballe was the superb bel canto singer of her generation (pace Sutherland who was so often mechanical by comparison)." Scoglio - Amazon.com
"Remastering of this version of "Caterina Cornaro" (Rodolphe) is very good, and the other release of the same performance by PHOENIX in 1995 has even better remastering." Mike - Amazon.com
"Caballé and Aragall sing with heavenly voices and temperament their roles in this difficult but neglected opera by Donizetti. Melodies are sublime as well as their orchestration. Caballe’s pianissimo was simple an unearthly sound reserved for a goddess." Noberto Perdomo - www.norbertoperdomo.com