Card Scene ('Carreau, pique... la mort!') - Carmen (G. Bizet)-Gabriella Besanzoni (mezzo-contralto)

The great Italian mezzo-soprano and contralto Gabriella Besanzoni (1888-1962) in her best role. 1931 year, sung in Italian. Carmen foresees her destiny in cards. Wonderful, maybe the best rendition of this scene, lost art of belcanto... Metallic-like middle and ringing high notes, and abyss at the bottom... Listen to how she unleashes her powerful low register of a real contralto at 3:06! It's like THE DEATH IS GROWING BEHIND HER! So scary. And these tenore-like chest tones at 3:52 ... could you believe that it's not a man? Aha!
Listen to the full version here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5upwUJJPMo

Видео Card Scene ('Carreau, pique... la mort!') - Carmen (G. Bizet)-Gabriella Besanzoni (mezzo-contralto) канала opera forever