I feel the same way about lucrezia borgia. the music makes lucrezia sound like this heroic, majestic heroin (especially with Dame Joan singing) and seems out of place with the character. I suppose almost everything in opera is done heroically tho. even the villains have heroic sounding arias
Its funny that he questioned her about performing Wagnerian roles over bel canto. Because early in her career before she met her husband she was singing that kind of repertoire, but under the radar rather. They didn't propel her to overnight stardom. But when her husband really encouraged her to modify her repertoire, she became a sensation.
In Mr. Levin's defense, I don't think he was being rude, he was, as he said, being frank. The musical establishment of the time believed that history had handed down her verdict on the Bel Canto and found it wanting. I know from other, much later interviews that Levin was quite restrained here in his expressions of opinion of the "lesser" roles that Joan sang. What Joan really seemed to bristled at was the slap at Bonynge. 35 years later, We all know and appreciate Richard's importance.
Bernard Levin was an ardent music lover and avid Wagnerite and was perplexed by the rise of enthusiasm for bel canto. He was also a highly intelligent journalist as famous for his wit as for his rudeness. But dear, honest Joan is more than a match for him! He later developed early Alzheimers and suffered a horrible decline over many years.
Let's be fair to Levin. I don't think he's being rude or ignorant towards Joan or Bel Canto. He's an interviewer and is asking a relevant question about why, with such a glorious and large voice, she doesn't ALSO sing more from weightier repertoires. A good and fair enough question, which gets a good answer. I don't see a problem in him asking this.
The interviewer is very ignorant! Bel canto is the most difficult vocal form, heavier roles require a larger voice but not the level of skill that bel canto demands!
What a great interview showing how down-to-earth Joan Sutherland was. Thanks for posting this.
sk8412c 1 year ago
I started saying "what sacrelege" after watching this interview =P
raigekimaru 1 year ago
I feel the same way about lucrezia borgia. the music makes lucrezia sound like this heroic, majestic heroin (especially with Dame Joan singing) and seems out of place with the character. I suppose almost everything in opera is done heroically tho. even the villains have heroic sounding arias
raigekimaru 1 year ago
Its funny that he questioned her about performing Wagnerian roles over bel canto. Because early in her career before she met her husband she was singing that kind of repertoire, but under the radar rather. They didn't propel her to overnight stardom. But when her husband really encouraged her to modify her repertoire, she became a sensation.
tjb286 2 years ago
Dame Joan was a freak of nature and not all of us can understand and appreciate what that means. Brava and Stupenda indeed
SirEdgardo 3 years ago
@SirEdgardo Frak of nature sounds harsh, but she was !! In the best sense of the word
MrStpendouslvforjo 7 months ago
"What sacrilege!"
LaMostraESopra 3 years ago 15
In Mr. Levin's defense, I don't think he was being rude, he was, as he said, being frank. The musical establishment of the time believed that history had handed down her verdict on the Bel Canto and found it wanting. I know from other, much later interviews that Levin was quite restrained here in his expressions of opinion of the "lesser" roles that Joan sang. What Joan really seemed to bristled at was the slap at Bonynge. 35 years later, We all know and appreciate Richard's importance.
Cramnella 4 years ago 3
well said
moghedien13 3 years ago
Bernard Levin was also a great admirer of Joan, however much he liked Wagner over Bellini.
timsuffolk 4 years ago
Thank you for this wonderful serious.
63Attila 4 years ago
Maybe he meant Strauss' Elektra! I think...
Jabe88 4 years ago
Let's hope so ;) I mean, really...a critic would not even bother to mention "Elettra" - it is just not that well-known compared to "Elektra".
JDOopera76 3 years ago
Bernard Levin was an ardent music lover and avid Wagnerite and was perplexed by the rise of enthusiasm for bel canto. He was also a highly intelligent journalist as famous for his wit as for his rudeness. But dear, honest Joan is more than a match for him! He later developed early Alzheimers and suffered a horrible decline over many years.
CharlotteinWeimar 4 years ago
Let's be fair to Levin. I don't think he's being rude or ignorant towards Joan or Bel Canto. He's an interviewer and is asking a relevant question about why, with such a glorious and large voice, she doesn't ALSO sing more from weightier repertoires. A good and fair enough question, which gets a good answer. I don't see a problem in him asking this.
formby2 4 years ago
The inteviewere, DUH! But I'd have liked to have heard her as Aieda -- not sure if I'd hae liked it. :)
cmorgan22 4 years ago
@cmorgan22 She recorded the duet from the last act with Pavarotti in 1976.
MadonnaImperia 1 year ago
The interviewer is very ignorant! Bel canto is the most difficult vocal form, heavier roles require a larger voice but not the level of skill that bel canto demands!
agnellodei 4 years ago 2