Montserrat Caballé, Maria Callas : divas and friends

Far from the cliché of cut-throat opera rivalry, Montserrat Caballé opens up about her friendship with Maria Callas, whom she greatly admired, and whose precious advice she followed throughout her career, particularly in her choice of roles. The two divas had more in common, as Caballé explains in this touching 1983 interview from the INA archives.
More about Montserrat Caballé: www.francemusi...

[@jean-claudecalise7470]

Cette immense musicienne qui demande conseil à la Callas... C est la CLASSE ! (A ce niveau, Madame Caballe pouvait se le permettre).

[@arahovanessian7042]

In spite of her legendary beautiful voice, Montserrat Caballé was so homble in her interviews.

[@principeturandot4593]

I love them both so much! It's always so wonderful to hear about Callas and Caballe's lovely friendship; you can tell that they had a beautiful understanding of one another. The world feels more empty now with Montse gone as well. Thank you very much for sharing.

[@lylianemanquest2323]

DEUX MAGNIFIQUES DIVA 🤩💖🤗🤗🤗😀🎼🎶 MONTSERRAT TOUJOURS SI GAIE SOURIANTE GÉNÉREUSE QUE J AIME CES DEUX FEMMES !,,, 💖🤩🤗😀

[@bethfiori4708]

What a lovely, generous-hearted woman Montserrat Caballe seems to have been.

[@jadhobeika1444]

I looooove Caballe

[@pammyjones1151]

What a very very nice woman she was......thank you 😚

[@jorgealbertojoselettera4829]

Las dos GRANDISIMAS, Callas una diva... pero la belleza de la voz de Caballé no tiene comparación alguna.

[@vpelirrojo7978]

Totalmente de acuerdo.

[@eduardogarlo6410]

Las amo a las dos, pero definitivamente Callas era perfecta cuando cantaba, técnica, dominio, potencia, belleza y jamás falló. Caballé muy buena pero si se permitía fallar. No habrá ninguna como María Callas y lo digo yo, que soy Tenor y mi entrenamiento empezó desde los 10 años.

[@delousbrown311]

@@eduardogarlo6410 bueno... Yo soy contratenor y tenor , María callas no falló porque apenas en esa época tenía el trabajo que tuvo Montserrat, la carrera y las tablas de Montserrat son más extensas que las de María , aún así no sabría por cual decidirme entre ellas, las dos son sopranos legendarias de la historia de la música

[@incitatusdelaruinalparaiso3166]

@@eduardogarlo6410 Vaya tontería has dicho. Son dos voces muy diferentes, pero la de Caballé es menos nerviosa, más evocadora y menos forzada y por tanto, menos falible.

[@ms.chaewon9231]

You're probably right in terms of the quality, but the dramatic effects, the range, the technique etc, she can't surpass Callas.

[@remyparaskovia5499]

Both of the greatest.

[@edithhenson6917]

I think it's so great that she can speak so many languages, but it comes with the territory. So great though!

[@robertsfelix1583]

Sencillez absoluta de Caballe... Y gran admiración que tenía sobre La Callas 😍

[@listentothemusic174]

Montserrat Caballe WIN!

[@criscristi5917]

La belleza de la voz de Montserrat. Cantando, hablando...Te Amo Montse

[@hectorhugomoyano9518]

BELLEZAS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@FranciscoFerrerGaliana1930]

LAS MAS GRADES VOCES DE LA EPOCA

[@MichelMawon4982]

She was always so pleasant while being interviewed. I also love how most Europeans easily speak other languages. Her accent in French sounds like she has an Arabic or Northern African background.

[@robertzsombok7661]

It is about years of studying. Anyone can do it if you have ambitions to learn and self-discipline.

[@lissandrafreljord7913]

Parts of Spain were ruled by Moors (Arabs and Berbers from North Africa) for up to 700 years. The Spanish language has a lot of Arabic words as a result, and maybe even the phonetic might have been affected, but that is unsure. The Spanish from Spain does surprisingly share near identical phonetics to Greek, which Callas spoke. Ironically though, Callas had a much better accent at French and Italian than Montserrat, who should have had more ease than Callas at learning the other languages considering they are Romance languages related to Spanish and Catalan, her other language she speaks. Callas English was also better than Montserrat, but of course, that's because she was born in the US.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Lissandra Freljord The MOORS were basically used towards the end of the Muslim /Arabic dominance of Iberia for military etc.The Muslims occupied central southern Spain/Portugal for about 400/500 years.Only Northern Iberia was not invaded due to the Spanish/Portuguese military monarchy assisted by Gaul/French troops etc.And yes Castilian/Catalan languages were strongly influenced by the Middle Eastern Culture which had a very positive effect in thr civilization of Iberia in the Barbaric middle age in history. History lesson for today my friend. 😊💙🎹🎻🎵 Arnold

[@MichelMawon4982]

Hi guys, I hope you all are well during this period, it's noce to have a conversation on KZbin rather than an antagonistic "if you don't believe what I do, you shouldn't exist" tone that most discussions descend to.

[@joseantoniocastro1486]

@@lissandrafreljord7913 The phonetics of the spanish language come from basque.

[@danbarthy3819]

Obrigado! 😉👌🏾

[@mb-jn6ip]

merci

[@Faust075]

Maria, of course, as a singer, artist and musician , was unique in our century. The only one. Maria was very special. She had a big heart, intelligence, way of « thinking », musicianship, sense of drama for the roles. Personnally, I never saw her on stage. Only once, a concert at Carnegie Hall in 1974. But ... you know... she used to say to me : « it’s better for you you have never seen me on stage. Otherwise you would have tried to imitate me !!! Like all the others did !!! « (laughs) She gave me very good advice, on the repertoire for example. When they proposed me to do Macbeth at La Scala, a few years ago... She said « No. Don’t even try it !!! » And she was right of course. Then they proposed me Nabucco, at the Met. There again she said « No, forget about it !!! » and there again she was so right. The role of Norma. It’s funny because I thought it would be impossible for me to sing this role. Never. That was in 1969. And she said « Yes, you have to try it. It is definitely a role for your voice » And I said « but I listened to your records (of Norma) and it is so perfect ! » « Forget about my record. Don’t listen to it anymore. Take the score and learn the notes » She really showed me the right way to sing Norma and that’s why I could sing Norma correctly and met a great success with it. It’s only because I complied with her advice. Her advice to do it ... she used to say « il canto del cigno » the sawn song... you can do it. Just like Bellini wanted. You MUST do it. Don’t do movements, no dramatism. Close your eyes and sing this beautiful melody. And I believe she was right. She was, as a woman, very charming. Not at all like they used to portray her... and she used to say « Remembre : you’ll see... when I won’t be here anymore, they will write books on me and make a lot of money !!!

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Faust075 TY my friend. I read the same experience in a book entitled Maria I live for art. My wife bought it for me. Once we got cable the Bravo network televised a lot of these incredible interviews which I preserved on tape. Thank you again Sincerely Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@danawinsor1380]

After viewing a clip of Caballé singing "Medea" (here on KZbin), I can't help but wonder if Callas might have steered her away from that role as well. This is in no way meant as a reflection on Caballé, one of the great 20th century opera stars in her own right.

[@marisarossi6692]

MARIA UNICA.

[@AnonimoItaliano-s2t]

Montsy vs callas= montsy win!!

[@LohengrinO]

well, Caballe could have sung Abigaille and Lady M as she sang 80% of the rest of her roles: cut a high note here, cut a low note there, make all fortes pianissimi and all top notes pianissimi etc etc her usual, and I have to admit GORGEOUS to listen to, TRICKS! But tricks nevertheless, when Callas said dont sing those two roles, she meant dont sing them as written, that Montsy could have never done even in her dreams

[@giuseppegabriele4461]

AL MASSIMO SCIUSCIA DELLA DIVINA CALLAS

[@enthusedtosing9655]

Andate un po' lontanino eh..

[@lissandrafreljord7913]

They both share the same initials, MC. Must be a diva thing. Maria Callas Montserrat Caballe Madonna Ciccone Mariah Carey Miley Cyrus

[@hotradiogaga]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@YO-bs3er]

MC Mon Cul 🤣 (oops)

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Lissandra Freljord Well there goes your theory my friend. Arnold 😊😷💙🎹🎹🎵

[@lissandrafreljord7913]

@@arnoldamaral7406 Ironically they are all fire signs too: Aries: Montserrat Caballe, Mariah Carey Leo: Madonna Sagittarius: Maria Callas, Miley Cyrus

[@edithhenson6917]

It's a coincidence. They didn't name themselves when they got into opera, you know.

[@goldie5788]

#shade LOL

[@fabriziomariagarzi5534]

Montserrat Caballe non era una Diva e non era erede della Callas, la quale non fu mai sua amica e neppure l'ha mai designata quale erede. Tra le due c'era una differenza abissale.

[@enthusedtosing9655]

'E vero che non c'è conferma della storia secondo quale Callas l'avrebbe pronunciata sua erede! Quello con gli orecchini è inventato anche?

[@fabriziomariagarzi5534]

Enthused, certamente inventati, altrimenti li avrebbe indossati e comunque la Callas in Norma non ha mai indossato un paio di orecchini, mai.

[@enthusedtosing9655]

@@fabriziomariagarzi5534 Poi Callas in interviste mai menzionava nomi, e c'è molta opportunità per inventare.

[@Xersex2009]

No, vi sbagliate, si stimavano molto.

[@giudiciadanna4550]

@@enthusedtosing9655 , la Callas ha pronunciato solo il nome della De Hidalgo e della Ponselle.

[@claird4307]

Callas was better sorry !