amazing how this fantastic piece sounds well sung... usually they use 4th class voices to sing it... to have Joan Sutherland singing it is such a scandalous luxury Ofc Joan could never sing Amneris but I think she could have sung Adalgisa in Maria's 1952 Covent Norma instead of Clotilde
I think you're right. I read the first Adalgisa was a soprano.
About 40 years ago RCA recorded an AIDA for the book of the month club. Lucine Amara was the Aida. The priestess was an Armenian: Shakeh Vartenissian. She later recorded the soprano part in Verdi's Requiem w/ Tullio Serafin.
Joan Sutherland could sing whatever she wished.She should had crowned her career in her 1989/90 with Aida in her farewell .A pity Joan only sang Aida role in 1953 or 54 season at Covent Garden only one time (no matter is was in english), she should have sung Aida more times in her career
@vergoti20 I think she sang Aida till 1955. She didn't sing the part only one time, but I guess about 20-25 times in London and, as far as I remember, in other city (or cities) of UK in tour performances. I read in an article about her early career she received excellent reviews for her interpretation of the role.
@vergoti20 A recording of any of those early Aidas would be a very valuable collectors' item indeed. The same of her early run of Otello. There's the "Mia madre aveva una povera ancella" from The Art of the Prima Donna and the love duet with Pavarotti (quite) a few years later, but wouldn't you just love to hear the young Sutherland sing the Ave Maria, or "Gia nella notte densa"? :)
@Lohengrin She definitely *could* have. But why would Covent Garden employ a relative unknown as Adalgisa for the Royal Opera debut of Callas' Norma, when Ebe Stignani was, evidently, available? Also, think what Mme. Callas may have had to say on the appointment ;) Agreed, this is luxury casting for the sacerdotessa, for which I am very thankful. The same again for her Opera Australia Elettra :)
the thought of she and maria in the same performance. damn that was one lucky audience. go joan! and rest in peace with maria love.
pointemeout 1 year ago
vergoti...was that Aida recorded?
spiritenorp 1 year ago
The only part that sounds egyptian in the whole opera.
Y2H 3 years ago
boy, this is one out of the vaults... never thought I'd get to hear this. One of my favourite bits of Aida too. Thanks for the treat!!
DazFromOz 3 years ago 8
amazing how this fantastic piece sounds well sung... usually they use 4th class voices to sing it... to have Joan Sutherland singing it is such a scandalous luxury Ofc Joan could never sing Amneris but I think she could have sung Adalgisa in Maria's 1952 Covent Norma instead of Clotilde
Lohengrin 3 years ago
first class soprano Stich-Randall sung this part also//
lahire22 3 years ago 4
I think you're right. I read the first Adalgisa was a soprano.
About 40 years ago RCA recorded an AIDA for the book of the month club. Lucine Amara was the Aida. The priestess was an Armenian: Shakeh Vartenissian. She later recorded the soprano part in Verdi's Requiem w/ Tullio Serafin.
T Y 4 posting, L. Armide
rockgor 3 years ago
'52 was Sutherland's first season at the Garden, so the part of Adalgisa would've been well and truly cast long before Sutherland was on the scene.
33blueberries 2 years ago
Joan Sutherland could sing whatever she wished.She should had crowned her career in her 1989/90 with Aida in her farewell .A pity Joan only sang Aida role in 1953 or 54 season at Covent Garden only one time (no matter is was in english), she should have sung Aida more times in her career
vergoti20 2 years ago
@vergoti20 I think she sang Aida till 1955. She didn't sing the part only one time, but I guess about 20-25 times in London and, as far as I remember, in other city (or cities) of UK in tour performances. I read in an article about her early career she received excellent reviews for her interpretation of the role.
Homoclassicus 1 year ago
@vergoti20 A recording of any of those early Aidas would be a very valuable collectors' item indeed. The same of her early run of Otello. There's the "Mia madre aveva una povera ancella" from The Art of the Prima Donna and the love duet with Pavarotti (quite) a few years later, but wouldn't you just love to hear the young Sutherland sing the Ave Maria, or "Gia nella notte densa"? :)
alithecrab 1 year ago
@Lohengrin She definitely *could* have. But why would Covent Garden employ a relative unknown as Adalgisa for the Royal Opera debut of Callas' Norma, when Ebe Stignani was, evidently, available? Also, think what Mme. Callas may have had to say on the appointment ;) Agreed, this is luxury casting for the sacerdotessa, for which I am very thankful. The same again for her Opera Australia Elettra :)
alithecrab 1 year ago
@Lohengrin This years she also sung Brangane in Tristan und Isolde...so she could have sung Adalgisa.
christiaandhooghe 4 months ago
Wonderfull...
Joan could have to become a true Verdiano soprano!!!
Magic!
andreasscholl 3 years ago