Joan Sutherland interview 1972 part 1/5

[arcot9]

What a great Lady!!!!!

[barneswriter]

What a wonderful woman. I met her once in Cardiff when she came to do a recital. She was warm engaging and fun at the stage door putting up with a bunch of us overeager fans and enjoying herself.

[ju1ianb0ndTV]

Do not stand at my grave and weep I am not there; I do not sleep. I am a thousand winds that blow, I am the diamond glints on snow, I am the sun on ripened grain, I am the gentle autumn rain. When you awaken in the morning's hush I am the swift uplifting rush Of quiet birds in circling flight. I am the soft starlight at night. Do not stand at my grave and cry, I am not there; I did not die.

[cjm608]

the most celebrated opera star on the planet.

[aarongluzman]

Extraordinary...

La Stupenda o The incomparable...

Her secret...

Effortless, warm, vibrant...

Freely, powerfully, intensely...

Clarity and finesse...

Her voice was so naturally glorious...

Una diva

©...Aronne

[violinistx100]

She reminds me of my great-grandma, a warm loving person with a great voice. Although my great-grandma sings our southern folk-tunes.

[Deadlysoprano16]

I really truly admire her. If only I could ever have the amount of control in my voice. That would be beyond wonderful

[yiudiumui]

richard was quite a hottie

[aaronwellman55]

Wonderful tone, but terrible diction!

[RossiniSoprano]

@aaronwellman55 Her diction was no worse than the average opera singer's, but because she was such a technical wonder, people have this need to try to find something that wasn't perfect about her.

[AdIgnorantiam]

@RossiniSoprano The critics want fluid legato, but they criticized her diction. Tell me.... how does one perfectly enunciate individual syllables when you're supposed to seamlessly string notes together? So yes, like you said, it's the need to find a criticism.

[raigekimaru]

@AdIgnorantiam

seriously. singers today I'm like "okay, you're good looking, you have great diction, you're a decent actor...but you have no legato!" I'm a young singer myself, but I guess you could say my values are a little what you would call "old school". legato, technique and vocal placement trump all other areas of singing in terms of importance.

[SandrineSoprano]

@RossiniSoprano Have to agree

[DiomedesDioscuro]

What an extraordinary person this woman is! Thak you, CF, thank you very much for this! Long life to Joan, and long life to you.

[webbersarahlover]

each Diva is one of a kind and special in her own way...Dessay still has years and years of hard work to be even close do Divinas like Callas and Sutherland

[concertobub]

it's true - there is something about this which brings out the devil in a lot of peopel. funny that people mention Dessay - she really is the polar opposite of Sutherland. I find her voice unsupported (Dessay) and quite often off-pitch - I don't like it!

[raigekimaru]

personally, I think Dessay is wonderful and underrated (although she is certainly no Joan). her voice is supported, it's just not as large and tempestuous as Joan's. you have to give Dessay credit for her high notes though. not only are they gigantic compared to the rest of her voice, but she connects them into the phrase instead of singing them separately.

[applejelly87]

One thing I would like to know is--why is everyone so vicious when it comes to sopranos? Is there something about opera that brings out the jackal in people? Everyone has to love Joan Sutherland and hate Nathalie Dessay, or hate Joan and love Maria. Why? Can they not all be great in their own way? (PS-Joan Rules!)

[33blueberries]

Well, why not? Judging is what being human is all about. Yes, we should probably try to be nice about things, but if you find yourself hating something, why lie about it or water it down? Nothing wrong with a bit of conflict :D

Hmm, for example, I paid $500AUD to see Dessay in the premiere of the new Met Sonnambula in March this year. Now, I don't like Dessay, never have, and I knew what I was getting myself in to. But another woman in the box said to me that she felt ripped off.

[33blueberries]

Also, look at the people who listen to opera, seriously listen, well enough to compare and have opinions about different sopranos. They're generally educated, and they generally care about the art form, about opera, or about good singing etc.. Those two traits make for strong opinions! I know I'm guilty of it!

[tjb286]

I don't really know. I mean I have very strong opinions about singers, because music is such a visceral and passion-inducing art. I suspect people who don't really feel much of anything when they listen to music. But I don't feel that way about any of the singers you've mentioned. I love them all!

[LaMostraESopra]

HAHAHAHAH

"Once upon a time there was a shy, ungainly, plump little girl in Australia."

That's quite the opener, eh?

[coloraturafan]

I think you have this all wrong... Sutherland said many times that needlepoint was a source of off stage relxation, this interview done in 1973 was suppose to feature the singer in her own environment... doing what she would do at home... this is at her home... she was a very private person, and to allow BBC in her house shows a great deal of courtesy to her public.

[kngiht84]

I love it when our JOANNIE sings Baroque, so fresh and rejuvenated !

[DivaDeb1234]

i'm glad you posted this,,,,thank you !

[33blueberries]

coloraturafan, you are today's favourite person :)

[magicmonkichi]

I second that~ ^^

[timsuffolk]

The interviewer is, I believe, Bernard Levin, the famous critic of The Times, London

[CharlotteinWeimar]

Magic and pure gold. Yes indeed, THANK YOU!

[FABRIZIO82]

Thank you,dearest,I'm in heaven!!!

[LadyArmide]

Awesome stuff! Joan is so adorable and shy! Love the needlepoint!

[soothed]

Sensational - Thank you - Am I in Heaven? So much nicer than Natalie Dessay's condescending babble elsewhere on this site!

[SueAnnNivens]

Thank you sooo much, this is too good to be true!!!

[AlexiouValenti]

THANK YOU!!!