Dame Joan Sutherland - A Vos Jeux, Mes Amis, 1967

[Hako2004]

Norma Majors states, in her book on Sutherland, that she sang a high F in Texas in a concert performance in 1966. She wrote that the F was produced in performance of Bel raggio, so I expect that it was an E... not an F. In any case, there is ample proof that Joan sang the E into her early forties.

[Hako2004]

These are high Es...no doubt at all. They have a different quality than the Ebs, and she certainly had the E and sang it during this period...but sparingly.

[musicloversingable]

Beautiful, spectacular, and heartfelt. This woman's singing never ceases to amaze. RIP

[Richiesutherland]

I am usually the doubter when it comes to her high Es after 1963. However, in this case I honestly DO think they are E naturals, because there is absolutely no evidence of her having transposed this aria throughout her career. And except for the passage up to high D (about 3'35"), this is pretty much the tempo she always took for this aria. If it was raised a half step, the tempo would have increased greatly.. Two Es, btw. The last (incredible) phrase goes to D#.

[ChrisStockslager]

@Richiesutherland She transposed it down to Eb in her 1960 live tv version...

[vocalissimo1]

Great find.  There are actually three high Es.

[Homoclassicus]

That's great. I had never heard a live recording of Ophélie's Mad Scene from Sutherland's earlier prime. She sang a still excellent Mad Scene in her live performance in 1985, but this is Sutherland in her best vocal moment.

[bellini7verdi]

una mujer inaudita.......completamente..­...arrolladora......preciosa voz...con cadencias conquistadoras de emociones humanas.......

[ChrisStockslager]

I wonder if those are true high Es, or if the pitch on this has accidentally been bumped up. Either way, a lovely and very rare Sutherland gem!

[Hako2004]

@ChrisStockslager

Why would you wonder that? Joan had the E, and sang it into her mid-forties, so had no reason to fake them.

[ChrisStockslager]

@Hako2004 Because Sutherland stopped singing high Es after 1962. She lowered Bel Raggio and other things to Eb after 1963. I don't think she was ever very comfortable singing any notes above Eb live after the early '60s.

[Hako2004]

@ChrisStockslager

She sang a high E in a duet with the baritone (Milnes?) in a performance of Lucia in her mid-forties, and she recorded one at age forty-three in a collection of French arias. She even shrieked a high E in Suor Angelica at age 53. Those examples are just off the top of my head, but there are likely more. She certainly didn't stop singing them in 1963.

[ChrisStockslager]

@Hako2004 Wow, I didn't know she sang one live with Milnes! I knew about and have the recording (not one of her best Es), but what I mean is that she didn't sing sustained Es live after 1962 --- except for the live Lucia one apparently. Haha. Do you happen to have it? I'd love to hear it!

[joserico282]

I feel like she's singing to me from the afterlife..