This is not one of Bel Canto’s happier issues. In the first place 26 minutes is a ridiculously short length for a mid-price video and about three minutes of that is taken up with applause. The contents derive from a concert given at Barcelona in 1975. It finds the diva by and large at the peak of her powers – though the opening aria, “O mio babbino caro” isn’t free from the occasional flatness – so we hear the familiar Caballe traits of creamy tone, effortless floated pianissimo notes and finely judged portamento even if the last is sometimes carried to excess. On the other hand, hearing so many Puccini arias, taken out of context, one after the other, has never been the best way of promoting his art. No matter: this is a much-loved diva on home ground entertaining her many, many admirers who aren’t concerned with dramatic truths, only wanting to hear their favourite pleasing herself and her audience.
Truth to tell, much as I admire Caballe’s finely honed tones and sympathetic manner I did find these readings, under a conductor obedient to her every whim, self-indulgent, even mannered by the highest standards of Puccini interpretation. Favero as Liu, Bori or de los Angeles as Mimi, Callas (or Caballe herself in complete recordings under stricter conductors) as Tosca or Manon Lescaut make a simpler, less adorned effect by singing the music slightly quicker and virtually free of mannerism. Still, as a visual record of Caballe in concert this has its place in video history. The sound ought to be better given the date, and the picture is black-and-white. There is no accompanying information. '