Montserrat Caballé, Gianfranco Cecchele & Seiji Ozawa in Philadelphia (1967)

A beautiful evening which was missing from YT, with both of them in their prime.

Gaetano Donizetti
Al dolce guidami from Anna Bolena
Vivi ingrato from Roberto Devereux
with Montserrat Caballé

Giacomo Puccini
Nessun Dorma, from Turandot

Giuseppe Verdi
Ma se m'e forza perderti, from Un Ballo in Maschera
with Gianfranco Cecchele

O terra addio, from Aida
with Montserrat Caballé and Gianfranco Cecchele

Philadelphia Music Academy 2.3.1967 (please confirm if that's March or February) under the direction of Seiji Ozawa

Montserrat Caballé was an ideal interpreter of Donizetti's heroines and captured here at the height of her powers she's a moving Anna Bolena and a determined Elisabetta. If only she had recorded these two roles in studio during those years. She performed Bolena rather late in her career but at least we have the mad scene and the duet with Verrett's Seymour early on, that indicate she would have been phenomenal in the late 60s or early 70s as Bolena. Her Devereux Elisabetta, especially as heard in Venice in 1972 remains a landmark performance for me.

Gianfranco Cecchele shot to fame in 1964 and within a couple of years he was singing alongside some of the greatest sopranos. He's also in great voice on this concert and shows his lyric as well as spinto qualities. Cecchele was an obvious choice for Calaf. On the other hand he never performed the role of Riccardo in Ballo in Maschera so it's interesting to have him here in his prime. He only recorded a fine Verdi recital and Mercadante's La Vestale, rather late in studio but there are plenty of exciting live recordings with him floating around. No current star tenor I know of offers this authentic Italian style in singing.

What a pity they only chose the Aida-Radames duet for this evening but it's great to have them both in their prime singing it. Ozawa supports both stars beautifully throughout the evening and offers rich orchestral textures.