Norma: Sediziose Voci...Casta Diva...Ah! Bello A Me Ritorna - Joan Sitherland
Norma: Son Vergin Vezzosa - Joan Sitherland
Semiramide: Bel Raggio Lushingier - Joan Sitherland
I Puritani: O Rendetemi La Speme...Qui La Voce Sua Soave...Vien, Diletto - Joan Sitherland
La Sonnambula: Care Compagne...Come Per Me Sereno...Sovra Il Sen - Joan Sitherland
Faust: O Dieu! Que De Bijoux...Ah! Je Ris (Jewel Song - Air Des Bijoux Juwelenarie) - Joan Sitherland
Track Listings (8) - Disc #2
Romeo et Juliette: Je Veux Vivre - Joan Sutherland
Otello: Mia Madre Aveva Una Povera Ancella...Piangea Cantando (Willow Song - Chanson Du Saule - Lied Von Der Weide) - Joan Sutherland
Die Entfuhrung Aus Dem Serail: Martern Aller Arten - Joan Sutherland
La Traviata: E'strano...Ah Fors' E' Lui...Sempre Libera - Joan Sutherland
Hamlet: A Vos Jeux, Mes Amis (Mad Scene - Scene De Folie Wahnsinnsszene) - Joan Sutherland
Lakme: Ah! Ou VA La Jeunne Indoue (Bell Song - Air Des Clochettes - Glockchenarie) - Joan Sutherland
Les Huguenots: O Beau Pays De La Touraine! - Joan Sutherland
Rigoletto: Gaultier Malde'...Caro Nome - Joan Sutherland
One customer calls this CD "simply the greatest recording of a coloratura soprano's art ever"--a kind of superlative and a level of enthusiasm that critics try to avoid. But looking through a century of recorded sound, not... more » a single recording is a clearly better coloratura example. Joan Sutherland's voice is young, fresh, agile, superbly controlled, and rich in tone. To ask for more expressive power would be missing the point; that is not what this music is about. It is perfectly chosen to display the best qualities of Sutherland's voice at its peak. --Joe McLellan« less
One customer calls this CD "simply the greatest recording of a coloratura soprano's art ever"--a kind of superlative and a level of enthusiasm that critics try to avoid. But looking through a century of recorded sound, not a single recording is a clearly better coloratura example. Joan Sutherland's voice is young, fresh, agile, superbly controlled, and rich in tone. To ask for more expressive power would be missing the point; that is not what this music is about. It is perfectly chosen to display the best qualities of Sutherland's voice at its peak. --Joe McLellan
CD Reviews
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!"
YOU HAVE TO HEAR TO BELIEVE THIS!
jamie | Midwest | 08/10/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I have to say this one floored me. Joan Sutherland surpasses even her incredibly self here. The coloratura is without fault. Now, just who do we compare this vintage Sutherland to? In history we have had Galli Curci, who had inpeccable technique, but she had a small voice and no trill. There's Lily Pons, but she also had a small voice and no trill. There Tetrazzini, who had a decent size voice and a nice trill, but she's no where as accurate sd Sutherland and sounds cold. Then there's Maria Callas, who did have an accurate technique and style, but her voice was not pretty at all. And of course Beverly Sills, but we all know that she also had a small voice, and shrill high notes. So I have to conclude that Sutherland had the most accurate coloratura soprano voice in memory - the real thing. To hear Sutherland here, this is what you'll conclude. A large, beautiful voice of astonishing purity. A trill that is a real trill, not a fast vibrato. Scales and appeggios that are perfect, like pearls in a necklace, each note distinct from its neighbor. High notes that are full, effortless, spine chilling beauty and clear as a bell. Lightning fast staccati that has yet to be matched. And a beautiful, glowing line. Sutherland uses all of her unmatched talent in the taxing music written for the coloratura soprano. This is flawless. But don't take my word for it, listen to it and you'll understand why she is La Stupenda."
A zillions stars!!!
Craig | 06/08/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This recording was done in 1960, only a little before Sutherland's historical debut at La Scala, Milan as Lucia di Lammermoor in which the diva received 30 curtain calls after an astonishingly sung mad scene. I was there and was completely shattered by gorgeous tone and incredible singing. Let me tell you that people were screaming Brava so loud that I was deaf for two days. The cheering resembled that of the superbowl! It really was a revelation in the Art of Bel Canto!!! She was immediately dubbed La Stupenda, and proclaimed Prima Donna Assoluta of the entire world, pushing even La Divina Maria Callas and Renata Tebaldi aside. In this recording, Sutherland dedicates each great coloratura aria to a particular favorite diva of her's and is a great demonstration of her phenomenal technique and opulent dramatic soprano tone. From the bottom of the staff to high F above high C, her brilliant voice just shoots out of her mouth like a cannon ball. She tosses out high D's and E's as if they were nothing. The diva just opens her mouth and a perfect high E comes out. She trills on a high C, and staccato on another high E. This is the kind of singing that in now extinct with the retirement of La Stupenda. But we are indeed fortunate to have this double set cd as a memorial to the singing phenomenon of our time. A zillion stars!"
Track Listings (8) - Disc #1
