Search - Joan Sutherland :: Joan Sutherland ~ The Art of the Prima Donna

Legendary Recording...Highest rating

08/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a true legendary recording, and as an opera singer for many years, I can't resist reviewing it. This cd contained some of the most difficult arias written for the coloratura soprano. Joan Sutherland the vocal Paganini, handling all the vocal challenges with the utmost ease. Her trill is an actual spinning of two notes so fast that it appeared to be a single note. The Prima Donna's fioritura singing is absolutely accurate and precise, and she meets all staccati and arpeggios with complete confidence and ease. The voice is quite large, a dramatic soprano, in reality. Thus we have the Brunhilde size top notes. But of course no Brunhilde had Sutherland's amazing range from bottom G to an easy high F three octives above. But most remarkable are how "open" her high notes are. They almost appeared "chest tone", that's how enormous they are. And lucky us for us, there are countless high D's E's and F's in this recording.Dame Joan handles the extreme high tessitura of "The Soldier tir'd" and "Martern aller Arten" as if it were child's play. She interpolates high note after high note, making each aria a showpiece for her ample voice. Also remarkable is the beautiful tone quality of her soprano. Bight and clear, with no strain whatever. There's seemingly nothing that Sutherland couldn't do vocally. Another favorite here is the extremely embellished "Bel raggio lusinghier" with three high F's. Malibran would have been jealous... Also mind-boggling is the "O beau pays de la Touraine!", with colortura so dazzling that you really must hear it to believe it. The "Care compagne...come per me sereno..Sovra il sen" is a lesson in the art of bel canto singing, every aspect of the coloratura's art is shown there. Another highlight is the mad scene from Hamlet, with Sutherland singing with great beauty and stage presence, making you foget how impossibly difficult the vocal line is. Actually, they're all highlights in this cd. This is my favorite recording in my collection of over 3,000 records and cds. I bought it in 1961, and have never heard anything like it, and don't expect to hear anything like it again in my lifetime, that's how special this is...a must have for every opera lover."

Voice of the Century! Without comparison!

Craig | New York | 12/16/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Joan Sutherland retired only 2 years after I started studying voice. Luckily my first voice teacher - who was also quite an accomplished coloratura - turned me on to Joan. This was the first recording I ever purchased, and it could very well have been the last. Never, EVER has anyone done what she did. This recording is evidence of that. THIS IS THE DEFINITIVE RECORDING OF THIS REPERTOIRE! I have heard others try to do these pieces but I always refer "Joan does it better!" She made me fall in love with opera and fall in love with her. Trust me, buy this and you will do the same."

La Stupenda, as usual

10/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I loved this recording. I bought it years ago on record, and quite frankly wore it out. I own it once again on CD and will probably wear it out too. I have always loved Joan's singing, and it is as benevolent and lovely as is her personality. It is interesting she is compared to Sumi Jo, who for those who don't know, learned her technique from Joan's husband, Richard Bonynge. Though both women are simply wonderful, they really cannot be compared. Sumi Jo's voice is not as large as Sutherlands by any means, though it is a voice that carries well. I find Jo's voice often "brittle", but always thrilling. However, it is Sutherland that converted me to the art of fine singing, and 19th century opera. I saw Callas' Norman in Paris, and her Tosca in London as a teenager. I was thrilled beyond belief, not with the voice itself, but the whole impression given ( even though her Norma first act was really quite terrible ). I never thought I would enjoy another Norman ( as I have never really enjoyed another Medea -- though I heard this opera with Callas only on record ). However, when I saw Sutherland in that role, I was so impressed that for years I found Callas' recordings of the role painful to endure. For anyone who has not heard Sutherland, and is not familiar with this type of music, BUY THIS CD, you'll be converted at once. For those familiar with Dame Joan Sutherland, BUY IT ANYWAY, it is a must!"