Search - Meyerbeer, Sutherland, Corelli :: Gli Ugonotti

Sutherland was the star

11/04/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The history of the annals of opera notes that La Stupenda (Joan Sutherland) received 28 curtain calls in a role that has only one big scene for Joan's role - as Marguerite. Sutherland, the queen of coloratura sopranos was awesome. Corelli - known to be a jealous type of singer, never sang with her on stage again. However, Corelli was fantastic - he match Sutheland's huge high notes, but he battles not Sutherland in this opera. His duets are with Simionato. And the two of them are wonderful in the grand duet. Corelli hits a several high D's in this opera. Live sound of 1962, but not bad. This is the most vintage recording in the books by Sutherland, Corelli, and Simionato - who were three of the greatest singers of the 20th century."

Bravi, Bravissima for Dame Joan Sutherland

05/24/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"sang all the high notes easily and holds them. Simionato, although a mezzo actually matched many of Corelli's high C's.
But the real star is the coloratura, Dame Joan Sutherland, singing one of the most difficult role in the entire reportoire with such ease as if just opening her mouth. This rediculously impossible to sing written music is sheer child's play for her. Throwing trills, runs, scales, staccato and extremely high notes here, there, and everywhere. All the while maintaining what many consider the most pure and glorious soprano sound of our time. She is the greatest coloratura soprano in the entire operatic heaven. Listen to her and the others in this most difficult opera and be dumbfounding by phenomenal singing.
(unfortunately, Sutherland, especially in the 1980's, when she was way past 50, continue to sing and record operas. Thereby discrediting herself to some extent if a new opera lover had not heard her in her prime period of between 1956-1976 and therefore thought that a 1980 recording of Sonnambula is the true Sutherland sound when that was the period that Sutherland lost at least half her voice and technique. Nevertheless, the great Prima Donna had a massive 30 year spand of spectacular singing career of performing the most fiendishly difficult music ever written for the soprano voice).
P.S. Corelli and Simionato performed the most sensational grand duet on record and ranks as one of the most impressive display of that type of demanding verisimo singing."

A Performance for the Ages

04/12/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Gli Ugonotti is an opera in the grand French tradition, performed here in Italian. The cast is perfect in all the roles. As far as Franco Corelli's performance is concerned, suffice it to say that the ladies in the audience showered him, not with flowers, but with their JEWELRY!!!! Enough said. Buy it."