Montserrat Caballe - The Art of Bel Canto (1966) Review

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(More customer reviews)It's such a shame that Amazon has no picture or description of this DVD from VAI. I saw this DVD in the window of a classical shop here in Houston, and snatched it up right away. The program includes footage from a televised recital from 1966 that appeared on the radio and television in France. This is only about a year after her star turn as Lucrezia Borgia, and, as you can imagine, she is simply ravishing. Filmed in black and white, Montserrat is also physically stunning, with her hair done nicely, and those stunning, large, expressive eyes.
The entire program was a mixture of zarzuela (some goyescas and selections from La Vida Breve) and three extended arias from bel canto operas. Here, on the DVD, they only show one piece of zarzuela, a goyesca called El Ruisenor. But, the real treasures are all left intact. They are Vivi Ingrato from Roberto Devereux, Al Dolce Guidami from Anna Bolena, and Col Sorriso d'Innocenza from Il Pirata, all hallmarks of Montsy's golden legacy as queen of the bel canto revival.
Really, each piece is a master class in bel canto singing. As you can imagine, she floats some truly lovely trills and roulades, all which leave you enraptured in total ecstasy. It has been often said that Luciano Pavarotti "made love" with his voice; I think very much the same of Montserrat Caballe.
The true standout in this cadre of bel canto gems is Al Dolce Guidami. Every weapon in Caballe's arsenal is unleashed- the creamy tone; soft, ethereal pianissimi; delicious, meticulous phrasing; perfectly executed fortissimi; observance of the composer's dramatic markings; sublime interpretation; and, above all, the pure joy that she feels as she sings. Although this is a recital, she fully acts out the text of the aria. Those large, expressive eyes grow wider, and when she sings "infelice son io", she turns her head, and gives that look of true madness. As the magnificent aria draws to an end, she looks truly heartbroken, her eyes on the verge of tears, nearly trembling. Her singing is nothing short of divine, as pure and sweet as a harp or dulcimer. Truly, this is a grade-A, bar none, to the moon and back Montserrat Caballe performance.
The orchestra is a tad amateur, but adequate. But Montsy is the star, and oh, how she shines.
I hope I have convinced all the Caballe fans out there to buy this DVD!

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