Montserrat Caballé Movies

Famed vocalists Montserrat Caballe, Montserrat Marti and Al Bano Carrisi lead the New Philharmonic Ambrosiana Choir at a holiday concert filmed at the Cathedral Dome in Seville, Spain. Performed works include pieces from Vivaldi, .F. Handel and Franz Schubert as well as many other traditional hymns. ~ Jeremy Wheeler, Rovi

This release captures a performance of the Verdi opera Don Carlo recorded at the Theatre Antique d'Orange in Orange, France on July 13, 1984. The cast of the performance includes Montserrat Caballé, Giacamo Aragall, Simon Estes, Grace Bumbry, and Renato Bruson. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

An opera concert on video, with Carreras, Domingo, Caballe, Berganza and Kraus doing selections from Carmen, Rigoletto, La Traviata, and Tosca. A live recording from Seville. ~ Rovi

This program features a concert performance by soprano vocalist Montserrat Caballe recorded on October 15th, 1966. ~ Cammila Collar, Rovi

Oroveso, a Druid High Priest, gathers his people in a sacred forest and prays to their gods for help in vanquishing the Romans who have taken over Gaul. Unbeknownst to Oroveso, his daughter, Norma, a High Priestess, has for some time been the lover of Pollione, the leader of the Romans; she has, in fact, not only broken her sacred vow of chastity but has borne two children to the warrior. Norma uses her position to dissuade the Gauls from attacking the Romans, claiming that the gods have told her that the time is not favorable. Norma has also learned that Pollione has become interested in another woman, although her identity is unknown. That woman is Adalgisa, a young novice, who is unaware of the relationship between her new lover and Norma. When the truth is revealed, Adalgisa rejects Pollione, who still intends to take her back to Rome with him by force. The rejected Norma considers killing her own children, who may otherwise also be forced to go to Rome with their father. She cannot go through with this, and Adalgisa tries to intercede with Pollione on Norma's behalf, but to no avail. Furious, Norma tells the Gauls that the gods have told her that they now must strike against the enemy. Pollione is captured, and Norma offers to save his life if he will give up his new lover. When he refuses, Norma informs that Gauls that she has brought dishonor upon the temple and that it is she, not Pollione, that must be put to death. Moved by her sacrifice, Pollione chooses to die alongside her. ~ Craig Butler, Rovi

The great Barcelonan tenor Jose Carreras stars in this film biography of one of Spain's first male international opera stars, Julian Gayarre (1845-1890). The singer was the son of a peasant and had trained to be a blacksmith. One day, while working (and singing) at his forge, he was overheard by a visiting priest, who appreciated the young man's talent. After being persuaded to study to be a singer, the blacksmith received scholarships and eventually emerged as a polished performer. His career was slow to get going, and during his years in obscurity he carried on a romance with the wife of an aristocrat, a woman who eventually bore his child. Fans of the handsome (and uncharacteristically thin) opera singer Carreras will be particularly pleased to encounter this film. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi