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Readers Respond: The Best Habanera Performers, Performances, and Recordings

Responses: 8

By , About.com Guide

The Habanera from Bizet's famous opera, Carmen, is one of the most beloved and recognizable female arias. Though many operatic singers have performed the piece, everyone has a favorite. Find out what people are saying about their favorite performances of the Habanera from Bizet's opera, Carmen. Who's Your Favorite?

Agnes Baltsa

All these posts and not one person managed to mention probably the most famous performance of this of all time, Agnes Baltsa's. The way her voice rings out, it doesn't get more captivating. The best acting too. Try not to fall in love... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px36njyCnVM
—Guest Jackle

My favourite Carmen

Rosa Ponselle is the best Carmen ever, and her talents are incomparable to that of Callas. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yyz75uHNHeI
—Guest Angharad

Partial to Victoria

I like Victoria de Los Angeles so much that I can't avoid being partial to her interpretation of the Habanera, even though I don't dispute the fact that La Callas belonged in a category all her own.
—Guest Trish

Depends

It's subjective. No need to deride one performer under the guise of exalting another. I've yet to hear a poorly executed Habanera. Another vote for Maria Callas. Enjoy Julia Migenes-Johnson's interpretation as well.
—Guest lara price

The Habanera

After seeing Elina Garanca perform in Carmen, I found my loyalty to Rise Stevens waning. Therefore, in all fairness to each of the operatic singers who performed Carmen, I listened and watched all of them. The only two, who are really competent, qualified, genuine and commendatory, are still Rise Stevens and Elina Garanca. How any one could even mention Maria Callas in the same breath as Stevens and Garanca, is beyond me. In the revue, of Elina Garanca's performance in Carmen, the first one, by comparison, was Rise Stevens and they never mentioned Maria Callas. My only regret is that I cannot attend Ms. Garanca's performance in Carmen at the Met in New York City on December 31, 2010.
—Guest Thelma I. Kobalka

habanera

marilyn horne's 67 version of the habanera is the best i've herd and i've herd them all she was the best carmen by far.
—Guest jason ambler

Rightfully performed!

Rightfully performed by maria callas!. Preferred above all the rest. Please,where can i get the piece "Air" by Sebastian Bach because it's kind of rare in my place. I'm priviledged to hear it just a few times on radio programmes,i just want 2 own it. Thanks,Aaron Green,u're an amazing job,keep it up!
—Guest Obiedelu Ijeoma.

Maria Callas for the win!

I have to agree with you. Maria Callas just performs the Habanera leagues above the rest. Rightfully so, everyone's performance of Carmen is measured against Callas.
—Guest Maester Seymore

Who's Your Favorite?

The Best Habanera Performers, Performances, and Recordings

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