A Fish Singer- Montserrat Caballé

I call certain classical singers "fish," who have an extraordinary singing technique: they hold a note for an extremely long time without breathing. They would be able to live without breathing like a fish,* so I call them “fish.” I don’t know how this technique works. Perhaps, they mastered a magical skill of pulmonary or abdominal respiration. Or it's just a matter of talent given by God. Whatever it is, singing of fish singers always brings awe and amazement through their superb breath control. One name comes to my mind first: the legendary Montserrat Caballé is one of the best fish in the group. She is mainly known as a bel canto diva but also a great interpreter of Puccini and verismo.

There are countless Youtube clips that give you a glimpse of how this fish singer shows off her brilliant “fish” technique. “Poveri Fiori”(Poor Flowers) from Cilea’s “Adriana Lecouvreur” is one of her best renditions that you enjoy. The text describes Adriana’s pain, sorrow, and despair, as she believes that her lover sent back the faded violets to her, which she had given him before. Here, Caballé’s long and soft legato line exquisitely carries despondent feelings of the heroine’s broken heart. Her singing is really speechless.

I can't but admire and worship this fish singer.   

*Of course, fish is a gill-breathing animal. Yet in this article I use “fish” as a metaphorical meaning because they don't seem to breathe underwater.