Montserrat Caballé
Spanish soprano who made a legendary American debut in Donizetti's *Lucrezia Borgia*.
via Wikipedia: Lucrezia Borgia (opera) · see source
Montserrat Caballé made her American debut in a famous performance of Donizetti's *Lucrezia Borgia* presented by the American Opera Society Ensemble in 1965 at Carnegie Hall. That performance was soon followed by a recording featuring Caballé, Shirley Verrett, Alfredo Kraus, and Ezio Flagello, conducted by Carlo Felice Cillario, while the Carnegie Hall performance itself was led by Jonel Perlea. Caballé is one of the star sopranos for whom *Lucrezia Borgia* is often produced as a vehicle.
- field
- Operatic soprano
Lore & Background
Montserrat Caballé's American debut came in 1965 at Carnegie Hall, in a performance of Donizetti's *Lucrezia Borgia* presented by the American Opera Society Ensemble. The performance was a famous one, and it was soon followed by a recording that featured Caballé alongside Shirley Verrett, Alfredo Kraus, and Ezio Flagello, with Carlo Felice Cillario conducting—while the Carnegie Hall performance had been conducted by Jonel Perlea. Caballé is frequently mentioned among the star sopranos for whom *Lucrezia Borgia* is often produced as a vehicle, a list that includes Leyla Gencer, Mariella Devia, Beverly Sills, Dame Joan Sutherland, Renée Fleming, Edita Gruberová, and Sondra Radvanovsky.
Reader's Guide
For fans of bel canto opera, Montserrat Caballé's 1965 Carnegie Hall *Lucrezia Borgia* is a landmark event. The source notes that this performance was 'famous' and that it marked her American debut. The recording that followed, with Caballé, Shirley Verrett, Alfredo Kraus, and Ezio Flagello under Jonel Perlea, captures that historic moment. Caballé's name appears in a list of star sopranos—including Leyla Gencer, Mariella Devia, Beverly Sills, Dame Joan Sutherland, Renée Fleming, Edita Gruberová, and Sondra Radvanovsky—for whom *Lucrezia Borgia* is often produced as a vehicle, underscoring her place among the great interpreters of this demanding role.
Did You Know?
- Caballé made her American debut in 1965 at Carnegie Hall in Donizetti's *Lucrezia Borgia*.
- The 1965 Carnegie Hall performance was presented by the American Opera Society Ensemble.
- The recording of that *Lucrezia Borgia* featured Caballé, Shirley Verrett, Alfredo Kraus, and Ezio Flagello.
- Jonel Perlea conducted the Carnegie Hall performance, while the subsequent recording was conducted by Carlo Felice Cillario.
- Caballé is one of several star sopranos for whom *Lucrezia Borgia* is often produced as a vehicle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Montserrat Caballé?
She was a Spanish operatic soprano celebrated for her dramatic range and commanding stage presence. She is widely regarded as one of the defining voices of the mid-to-late twentieth-century opera world.
What role is Montserrat Caballé most associated with?
Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia stands as her signature vehicle, a part she helped keep at the center of the repertory. Producers routinely cast her as the go-to soprano whenever that role is staged.
When and where did Montserrat Caballé make her American debut?
In 1965 she sang Lucrezia Borgia with the American Opera Society Ensemble at Carnegie Hall in New York. The performance, conducted by Jonel Perlea, quickly became a landmark moment in her career.
Who else appeared on the famous Carnegie Hall recording of Lucrezia Borgia?
The cast included Shirley Verrett, Alfredo Kraus, and Ezio Flagello alongside Caballé. Jonel Perlea conducted both the live Carnegie Hall performance and the subsequent studio recording.
Why does Montserrat Caballé matter to opera history?
Her commanding interpretations of bel canto and dramatic soprano roles helped sustain and revitalize the Donizetti repertoire for a new generation of audiences. She remains a benchmark against which later sopranos in that tradition are measured.
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