Montserrat Caballe: The Original Jacket Collection (15 CD box set, FLAC)

Performer: Montserrat Caballe, Leslie Fyson, Neil Howlett, Sherrill Milnes, David Kelly, Dennis Wicks, et al.
Composer: Emilio Arrieta, Vincenzo Bellini, Tomas Breton, M.F. Caballero, Ruperto Chapi y Lorenta, et al.
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 15 CD box set, Limited Edition
Format: FLAC (image+cue)
Label: Sony Classics
Size: 3.13 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

This is a great set, and a nice anniversary issue to coincide with the 75th birthday of the great Spanish soprano, a truly grand diva and unique voice, maybe the last example of a breed of singers directly connected with the Grand Tradition and a vocal art -of purity of tone, breath control, combination of power and agility, musicianship and refined artistry, not to mention breathtaking pianissimi- that seems to be quite forgotten by today’s big media opera stars. Sony has issued in their original jackets, like beautiful mini LPs, most of her RCA recordings and some of her Spanish Columbia recordings released between 1965, year of her first LP for the American company (Presenting Montserrat Caballé), and 1972. Including Montserrat Caballé Sings Zarzuela, Songs of Enrique Granados, Strauss Lieder Recital, Verdi rarities, Rossini rarities, Zarzuela Love Duets (with husband Bernabé Martí), Donizetti rarities, Great Operatic Heroines, Caballé & Verret Duets, and two complete operas, Norma and Salome. Missing are, among others, the complete recordings of Lucrezia Borgia and Traviata. Anyway, a wonderful box-set at a bargain price and, though I had already all these recordings in previous CD incarnations, I secured my copy as soon as I knew of it. And so should you, before it is too late, being a limited edition. Now, if Sony gave the same treatment to the 8 LPs recorded for the Spanish Vergara and Columbia labels not included here (starting with a superb 1963 Toldrá recital, her very first LP), I would be eternally grateful. Almost all of them were released in compilations by RCA France to celebrate Caballé’s 70th birthday. Sony own now the rights and it would be a wonderful sequel to this set.

Disc: 1
01. Norma, opera: Act 1. Casta Diva
02. Il Pirata, opera: Act 2. Oh! S’io potessi dissipar le nubi; Col sorrizo dinnocenza (Mad Scene)
03. Roberto Devereux (Il Conte di Essex), opera: Act 3. E Sara in questi orribili momenti; Vivi, ingrato, a lei d’accanto
04. Lucrezia Borgia, opera: Act 1. Prologue. Tranquillo ei posa; Com’è bello! Quale incanto
05. Maria di Rohan, opera: Act 3. Infausto Imene; Havvi un dio

Disc: 2
01. La canciòn del olvido: Marinela, Marinela (The Song of Forgetfulness)
02. El rey que rabió, zarzuela: Mi tío se figura (My Uncle imagines)
03. Bohemios, zarzuela: No quieto que sepa que aquí vengo yo (I don’t want him to know that I am here)
04. El Cabo Primero, zarzuela: Yo quiero a un hombre (I Love a Man)
05. Marina, zarzuela in 3 acts: Pensar en él (Thinking of Him)
06. El Barquillero, zarzuela: Cuando está tan hondo (When it’s deep)
07. El Niño Judio, zarzuela: De España vengo (From Spain I Come)
08. La Rosa del Azafrán, zarzuela: No me duele que se vaya (I am not sorry he departs)
09. Don Gil de Alcalá, zarzuela: Plegaria e Invocatión (Prayer and Invocation); Bendita Cruz (Blessed Cross)

Disc: 3
01. Canciónes amatorias, songs (7) for voice & piano (also orchestrated by Ferrer), H. 24: Descubrase el Pensiamente de Mi Secreto Cuidad
02. Canciónes amatorias, songs (7) for voice & piano (also orchestrated by Ferrer), H. 24: Mañancia Era
03. Canciónes amatorias, songs (7) for voice & piano (also orchestrated by Ferrer), H. 24: Llorad, Corazón, Que Tenéis Razón
04. Canciónes amatorias, songs (7) for voice & piano (also orchestrated by Ferrer), H. 24: Mira Que Soy Niña; Amor, Déjame!
05. Canciónes amatorias, songs (7) for voice & piano (also orchestrated by Ferrer), H. 24: No Lloreis, Ojuelos
06. Canciónes amatorias, songs (7) for voice & piano (also orchestrated by Ferrer), H. 24: Iban Al Pinar
07. Canciónes amatorias, songs (7) for voice & piano (also orchestrated by Ferrer), H. 24: Gracia Mía
08. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: La Maja Doloroso No. 1
09. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: La Maja Doloroso No. 2
10. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: La Maja Doloroso No. 3
11. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: El Tra la la e el Punteado
12. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: El Mirar de la Maja
13. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: Callejeo
14. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: Amor y Odio
15. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: El Majo Discreto
16. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: El Majo Tímido
17. Tonadillas al estilo antiguo, songs (10) for voice & piano, H. 136: La Maja de Goya

Disc: 4
01. Ich liebe dich (‘Vier adlige Rosse voran unserm Wagen’), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 37/2 (TrV 187/2)
02. Ruhe, meine Seele (‘Nicht ein Lüftchen regt sich leise’), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 27/1 (TrV 170/1)
03. Ich Schwebe (‘Ich schwebe wie auf Engelsschwingen’), song for voice & piano, Op. 48/2 (TrV 202/2)
04. Traum durch die Dämmerung (‘Weite Wiesen im Dämmergrau’), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 29/1 (TrV 172/1)
05. Zueignung (‘Ja, du weisst es, teur Seele’), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 10/1 (TrV 141/1)
06. Wie sollten wir geheim sie halten, song for voice & piano, Op. 19/4 (TrV 152/4)
07. Wiegenlied (‘Träume, träume, du mein süsses Leben’), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 41/1 (TrV 195/1)
08. Ich trage meine Minne, song for voice & piano, Op. 32/1 (TrV 174/1)
09. Freundliche Vision (‘Nicht im Schlafe hab’ ich das geträumt’), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 48/1 (TrV 202/1)
10. Schlechtes Wetter (‘Das ist ein schlechtes Wetter’), song for voice & piano, Op. 69/5 (TrV 237/5)
11. Morgen (‘Und morgen wird die Sonne wieder scheinen’), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 27/4 (TrV 170/4)
12. Befreit (‘Du wirst nicht weinen’), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 39/4 (TrV 189/4)
13. Die Nacht (‘Aus dem Walde tritt die Nacht’), song for voice & piano, Op. 10/3 (TrV 141/3)
14. Cäcilie (‘Wenn du es wüsstest’), song for voice & piano (or orchestra), Op. 27/2 (TrV 170/2)

Disc: 5
01. Un Giorno di regno, opera (Il finto Stanislao): Act 1. Ah! Non m’hanno ingannata!; Grave a core innamorato
02. I Lombardi alla prima Crociata, opera: Act 4. Qual prodigio!; Non fu sogno!
03. I due Foscari, opera: Act 1. No, mi lasciate; Tu al cui sguardo onnipossente
04. Alzira, opera: Act 1. Riposa. Tutte, in suo dolor vegliante; Da Gusman, so fragil Barca
05. Attila, opera: Act 1. Liberamente or piangi; Oh! Nel fuggente nuvolo
06. Il Corsaro, opera: Act 1. Egli non riede ancora! – Non so le tetre immagini
07. Aroldo, opera: Act 2. Oh, cielo! Dove son’io!; Ah! Dagli scanni eterei

Disc: 6
01. La donna del lago (The Lady of the Lake), opera: Act 2. Tanti affreti in tal momento
02. Otello, opera: Act 3. Oh tu, del mio dolor; Assisa a’ piè d’un salice
03. Stabat mater for 2 sopranos, tenor, bass, chorus & orchestra: Inflammatus et accensus
04. Armida, opera: Act 1. D’amore al dolce impero
05. Tancredi, opera: Act 1. Oh patria, dolce; Tu che accendi questo core; Di tanti palpiti
06. Le siège de Corinthe (The Siege of Corinth), opera: Act 3. L’ora fatal s’appressa; Giusto ciel! In tal periglio

Disc: 7
01. El Caserio, zarzuela: Buenos días
02. La Generala, zarzuela: Mi dulce sueño de adolescente
03. La leyenda del Beso, zarzuela: Amor, mi raza sabe conquistar
04. Luisa Fernanda, zarzuela: Caballero del alto plumero
05. La Dolores, zarzuela: Dolores mia!…Aquí tu!
06. El Duo de la Africana, zarzuela: Comprende lo grave de mi situación

Disc: 8
01. Norma, opera: Act 3. Mira, o Norma
02. Semiramide, opera: Act 1. Serbami ognor; Alle più calde immagini
03. Anna Bolena, opera: Act 2. Dio, che mi vedi; Sul suo capo aggravi un Dio
04. Les contes d’Hoffmann, opera in 4 acts: Act 2. Barcarolle: Belle nuit
05. Aida, opera: Act 2. Silenzio! Aida verso noi s’avanza
06. Madama Butterfly (Madame Butterfly), opera: Act 2. Il cannone del porto! (Flower Duet)
07. La Gioconda, opera in 4 acts: Act 2. E un anatema!; Là attesi e il tempo

Disc: 9
01. Torquato Tasso, opera: Act 1. Fatal Gottfredo!; Trodo e corona
02. Gemma di Vergy, opera: Act 1. Lascia, Guido, ch’io possa vendicare; Una voce al cor; Egli riede?
03. Belisario, opera: Act 1. Plauso! Voci di gioia; Sin la tomba è a me negata!
04. Parisina, opera: Act 3. No, più salir non ponno; Ciel, sei tu in tal momento; Ugo è spento

Disc: 10
01. Otello, opera: Act 4. Mia Madre aveva; Canzone del Salince; Ave Maria (Willow Song)
02. Un ballo in maschera, opera: Act 2. Ecco l’orrido campo; Ma dall’arido stelo divulsa
03. Anna Bolena, opera: Act 2. Piangete voi?; Al dolce guidami
04. Louise, opera: Act 3. Depuis le jour
05. Tosca, opera: Act 2. Vissi d’arte

Disc: 11
01. Norma, opera: Act 1. Prelude
02. Norma, opera: Act 1. Ite sul colle, o Druidi
03. Norma, opera: Act 1. Svanir le voci
04. Norma, opera: Act 1. Meco all’altar di Venere
05. Norma, opera: Act 1. Odi? I suoi riti a compiere Norma
06. Norma, opera: Act 1. Norma viene
07. Norma, opera: Act 1. Sediziose voci, voci di guerra
08. Norma, opera: Act 1. Casta diva
09. Norma, opera: Act 1. Fine al rito
10. Norma, opera: Act 1. Ah! Bello a me ritorna
11. Norma, opera: Act 1. Sgombra è la sacra selva
12. Norma, opera: Act 1. Eccola! Va, mi lascia
13. Norma, opera: Act 1. Va, crudele, al dio spietato
14. Norma, opera: Act 1. E tu pure, ah! Tu non sai

Disc: 12
01. Norma, opera: Act 2. Vanne, e li cela entrambi
02. Norma, opera: Act 2. Adalgisa! – Alma, costanza!
03. Norma, opera: Act 2. Ma di’, l’amato giovane
04. Norma, opera: Act 2. Oh! Di qual sei tu vittima
05. Norma, opera: Act 2. Dormono entrambi
06. Norma, opera: Act 2. Me chiami, a Norma?
07. Norma, opera: Act 2. Mira, o Norma

Disc: 13
01. Norma, opera: Act 3. Non parti?
02. Norma, opera: Act 3. Guerrieri! A voi venirne
03. Norma, opera: Ah! Del Tebro al giogo indegno
04. Norma, opera: Act 3. Ei tornerà, sì
05. Norma, opera: Act 3. Guerra, guerra!
06. Norma, opera: Act 3. Nè compi il rito, a Norma?
07. Norma, opera: Act 3. In mia man alfin tu sei
08. Norma, opera: Act 3. All’ira vostra nuova vittima io selva
09. Norma, opera: Act 3. Deh! Non volerli vittime

Disc: 14
01. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Wie schön ist die Prinzessin Salome
02. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Ich will nicht bleiben
03. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Du wirst das für mich tun, Narraboth
04. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Wo ist er, dessen Sündenbecher jetzt voll ist?
05. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Jokanaan! Ich bin verliebt
06. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Dein Haar ist grässlich!
07. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Tochter der Unzucht
08. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Wo ist Salome? Wo ist die Prinzessin?
09. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Salome, komm, trink Wein mit mir
10. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Wahrhaftig, Herr, es wäre besser
11. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 1. Siehe, der Tag ist nahe

Disc: 15
01. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Eine Menge Menschen
02. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Willst Du mir wirklich alles geben
03. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Wer ist der, der von Edom kommt
04. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Dance of the Seven Veils
05. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Ah! Herrlich! Wundervoll, wundervoll
06. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Still, sprich nicht zu mir!
07. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Salome, bedenk, was du tun willst
08. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Wer hat meinen Ring genommen
09. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Ah! Du wolltest mich nicht deinen Mund küssen lassen, Jokanaan
10. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Sie ist ein Ungeheuer, deine Tochter
11. Salome, opera, Op. 54 (TrV 215): Act 2. Ah! Ich habe deinen Mund geküsst, Jokanaan