Sings Bellini & Verdi Arias

Montserrat Caballe Sings Bellini & Verdi Arias, Caballe, Montserrat, Composer: Vincenzo Bellini, Giuseppe Verdi, Performer: Alfredo Kraus, Julia Hamari, Agostino Ferrin, Montserrat Caballé, Conductor: Riccardo Muti, Gianandrea Gavazzeni, Carlo Maria Giulini, Anton Guadagno, Number of Discs: 1 This issue celebrates the eightieth birthday of Montserrat Caballé (b. 1933), one of the outstanding singers of the second half of the twentieth century. In the course of the second part of her career she made no fewer than twenty-eight studio opera recordings for various major labels. These spanned the bel canto, lyrico spinto and verismo genres as well as many recital discs. The final four arias come from a recital selection (Trs.9-11) set down in 1971. Caballé is in superb voice. The floated opening phrases of Pace, pace, mio dio from the last act of Verdi's La Forza del destino have rarely sounded better, even from the likes of Leontyne Price. The soaring opening, the following diminuendo and the rich-toned hue to the voice are wonderful to listen to. So too are the final items for the last act of Otello (Trs.11-12). The floated high note in the Ave Maria, and the strings that foretell the arrival of Otello, and Desdemona's death, are memorable in their effect. They represent Montserrat Caballé at her very best and make a fitting end to this selection that celebrates her eightieth anniversary.