The ultimate mad scene

[franimalistic]

Ooh, how about that chesty, speechlike quality at 1:07! What a great color for the moment.

[LadyKeane27]

Exquisite, spine-tingling bel canto. WTF is the deal with the muppet knockoffs??

[CaptFitzbattleaxe]

Clever cuts to get a 20-minute mad scene to fit in 10. Awesome clip!

[CHARICHCH]

How wonderful! Not for nothing is The Stupendo.

The drama is in the voice not only in body language as appears to be paramount today in so many singers are divas.

Thanks for uploading.

[royarmjr]

Just beautiful! The power of her performance, along with her amazing voice, did make her work unique! She's still my favorite. Thanks a million for sharing.

[ericscam2]

Sills did it better than any of them. Better understanding, phrasing, tempo, color, dynamics, agility...and of course Sills had the most beautiful..if not the biggest...instrument of all.

[asdfopera]

the trills in the cabaletta are the best ever. joan, your voice is such a marvel!

[emma41093]

Where can I get this??

[CaptFitzbattleaxe]

@emma41093 Whoever has the copyright to these tapes really really really needs to put them on DVD. :)

[emma41093]

@CaptFitzbattleaxe I bought a copy of who's afraid of opera :)

[emma41093]

She makes spargi d'amoro pianto look sooooooo easy!!! Damn her......I love her sooooo much xxxx RIP

[Tusson07]

After Callas, the top Lucia has been Sutherland who sang it in Paris in 1957 if I remember correctly.

[rix657]

Dame Joan certainly was one of the all time greats. I saw her perform Lucia live, but she was a bit too old to be playing a young girl! What fantastic technique she had but I have to say there are other sopranos I would prefer to be listening to. And I'm an Australian!

[SheenaBrnai]

The mst wonderfull thing about her trills is that they don't seem like trills. They seem like almost individual notes. And her runs around 5:00...holy crap...imitating the flute. The flute part is pretty dang hard, but then for her to imitate it! wow.

[emma41093]

@SheenaBrnai The clarity is exceptional too

[georgerannie]

Joan could really sing this role. In the "Mad Scene", she nearly trills herself silly--brava Diva!!

[niceguy6967]

No soprano will ever be able to "color" like Dame Sutherland. She owned this role hands down. She was a true gift from God! Rest in peace La Stupenda.

[WHQODJYSingers]

She looks beautiful here ...

[abstractpapabear]

RIP...Joan Sutherland 1926 - 2010

[miffy1950]

La Stupenda indeed!!!

Never to be forgotten!!

R.I.P. Dame Joan

[Oberon90]

Where is such a dramatic coloratura voice today, Damrau's voice is great but more of lyric than of dramatic quality. Perhaps Dessay, but she needs a little rest,before overtaking the heir of Dame Sutherland.

[jrsj1234]

RIP :(

[Aegisth]

Rest in peace...

[GickySama]

holy moly, this performance was so good i nearly cried! :O

[avalokiteshivara]

Sem duvidas Joan Sutherland é a propria imagem da Lucia di Lammermoor. Unica e Definitiva!!!!

[Darktowers85]

I'm new to the "world of Opera appreciation" after watching a wonderful BBC documentary on Joan sutherland-wow what a voice. I've always loved music, especially the somewhat operatic skills of many of my favourite divas past and present- Mariah Carey in particular. I'm 25 and from a background where the mention of going to see an Opera is laughed upon. Nevertheless, I'm embracing it with open arms and as I aim to enrich my repotire I welcome any imput from established Opera lovers.

[sobelou]

@Darktowers85 Good for you, towers, this is a wonderful world where you can discover new and fascinating things every day. If you feel like going back to Mozart's time, check the studio recordings (with the Vienna Phil. under Georg Solti) of Cristina Deutekom singing from the Magic Flute both Der Holle Rache and O, Zittre nicht. Her voice and absolute precision and agility will blow you away.

[ArchiducDeBelgrade]

@Darktowers85

Welcome..:))) I love when new someone discovers beauty of opera and great voices.. Thats great.. and its rarity. For me as operatic student singing(heldenbaritone) Dame Joan Sutherland is one of the BEST VOICES ever and great role model.

[classicalfan7]

I agree It will indeed be A LONG time before another Lucia LIKE THIS. Not anyone presently working, that's for sure.

[violinistx100]

@classicalfan7 I personally say that Natalie Dessay did a FANTASTIC job with Lucia and she should be around the honors of Sutherland and Callas for this role. Speaking from personall point of view though.

[classicalfan7]

I never get involved with this ridiculousness, and while I LOVE Dessay, comparing Southerland to her is like comparing Fine Wine and a strawberry soda manufactured by wal-mart.

[musicaltheatrestar]

@classicalfan7 Are you trying to be like Callas by making that comparison?

[Richiesutherland]

The thing that bothers me about the girls today (e.g. Dessay and Damrau) is that they never seem to be in a dreamworld. They are too angry (but then Dessay refuses to play any Mad Scene as anything but an opportunity to release her very obvious anger). To them, romantic madness means nothing--it has to be 21st Century, vicious, padded-cell madness, and this has NOTHING to do with the character (in this case) Donizetti wrote.

[SueAnnNivens]

@Richiesutherland You are soooo right....

[musicaltheatrestar]

@Richiesutherland What are you talking about? Dessay is being hailed as the best actress to step foot on the Operatic stage since Callas. Dessay is entitled to her own artistic views. And I'm pretty sure that women in the romantic era could have been as mad as women today sometimes get. As for Damrau, I mean she's good........but she's not Dessay!!!

[Richiesutherland]

@musicaltheatrestar I have unfortunately seen many Dessay performances. You catch her act once, you've seen it all. The people who may be hailing Mlle. Dessay 1) probably never saw Callas live, 2) think that great acting is great indicating 3) have no respect from me. Natalie Dessay is one of those typical, sad singers who has lost her voice early and now has to make pathetic excuses by directing all attention to her"acting"--and people are foolish enough to believe her!

[musicaltheatrestar]

@Richiesutherland umm......you OBVIOUSLY don't stay invovled in the classicalworld. Dessay is the WORLD'S LEADING COLORATURA SOPRANO!!!!! If she had lost her voice......................she would have no career. People have to book her 5 YEARS IN ADVANCE b/c of her busy schedules. PEOPLE LOVE HER B/C SHE'S A TOTAL PACKAGE!!!!!! She's had vocal surgery TWICE and she STILL HAS A VOICE AS PURE AS CRYSTAL!!!! and she still has EXTREME HIGH NOTES (hello, Ab above High C)! So don't hate on Dessay!

[Drelnis]

@musicaltheatrestar Dessay said herself in an interview she is dumping her high notes because they distract from her acting. And the world's leading coloratura soprano is Mariella Devia, certianly not Dessay :P

[musicaltheatrestar]

@Drelnis ummmm....I'm pretty sure that the world's leading coloratura soprano is Dessay. All of the critics have said she is, and every opera magazine acknowledges

her with that title. So it's not just me giving her that title, I'm just quoting what has already been known.

[Drelnis]

@musicaltheatrestar "All of the critics" certainly haven't heard Devia because she sings only in Italy - have YOU heard enough of her to make judgment?

"Every opera magazine" needs to focus on writing about hip young trendy singers who are filling the most popular houses in the world to be able to sell :P No one wants to hear about old fussy ladies - this is by no means a standard of musical quality. Dessay is a great singer, I enjoy her very much - I have most of her DVD recordings.

[musicaltheatrestar]

@Drelnis Well, why are you telling me this? Go tell the opera magazines and critics b/c I can't do anything about it......

[SStrongIsNeverWrong]

@Richiesutherland But the beautiful thing is that we have had the honor of experiencing many different interpretations.

[Demille40]

@Richiesutherland Excellent point!!!!!

[Voltaire7]

@Richiesutherland

I dunno, I really like Dessay's mad scene the best. I haven't seen Damrau's though.

[gustopheles]

@Richiesutherland You know, Joan isn't a particularly good actor - but she's much cleverer than girls like Dessay and Damrau, who move around so much and try so hard. Joan knows her limitations and never makes a fool of herself. Dessay applies the 'padded-cell madness' act to so many of her characters, and it's embarrassing to watch.

[hugothebear]

@gustopheles Agree, and I would go further to say that it is a general mis-understanding these days for singers and producers who think that greater drama is achieved by all the "acting"... Joan ran about enough to create an effect but never compromised the vocal. The excitement and drama comes from the phrasing, ornamentation etc which are supposed to musically represent Lucia's "madness", it's a fine balance in a complex art form, I think Joan got it brilliantly :-)

[rayclentchris]

@Richiesutherland Wow. One day I want to be as intelligent and well-informed as you.

[tklogan111809]

@Richiesutherland you´re correct Dessay´s a circus performer, the acting is poor and clownish, nothing to do with Romanticism and Donizetti. If only the voice could compensate for the bad acting!

[MorMar001]

They will spend many years before she appears some soprano who close Joan Stutherland in this repertoire. She's wonderful!

[sdegrace]

@MorMar00

I agree with you

[Alleeexoscm]

Abosluta coloratura, me gustan sus bellisimos adornos vocales y me asombra la velocidad de sus ornamentos.

[belcunto]

YouTube offers them a golden opportunity to give voice to their opinions... voices that are ignored in the real world - OFFLINE

And i know this because i am 25 and 1/4 years old, and yes, like everybody else here - i too am on YouTube.

[TheMissSmashley]

I love both Dessay and Sutherlands's Lucia. Sutherland's singing was a bit lighter earlier on which i liked more, but she's still brilliant. I also enjoy the acting on Dessay's part.

Love them both <3

[preppybeast6293]

joan sutherland willl always be the greatest lucia to ever live!! the voice of an angel. unsurpassable. by anyone, ever.

[GABYCONSTANZA]

I think u r quite accurate in that lol!!

La Stupenda!!

[AmericanEvita]

Yes, it's true today's kids are fascinated by death and violence but that depends on how they are brought up....I was raised a Christian and I couldn't watch anything scary or R rated (and even as an adult it took a while lol)...opera is however an "adult" pasttime and art form..children who get "opera" are very special and mature children...opera has always been for adults...no kids were allowed to the opera back when opera was about the only "movie"experience at the time (18th/19th centuries)

[evoandy]

what are you talking about? have you ever actually opened a literary or music history book?

[Shellsings]

Beautiful belcanto...amazing really as this a difficult aria.Really enjoyed this.Big fan of Joan Sutherland.

[AmericanEvita]

What is this from ? What DVD/VHS tape ? Joan Sutherland was the definitive Lucia to many opera lovers...I havent really gotten into her (because I like Bev Sills) but she is singing fine here and the production is amazing...the costumes, looks like a BBC movie lol

[AdanedhelNG]

I think Diana Damrau did a better job with this aria than Natalie Dessay...

[gbittner]

exquisite--although in later days I think Dessay has it all!

[wallyjohn1960]

The only soprano who, in addition to a deeply heartfelt interpretation and astounding technique, seems truly mad. The quick emotional changes are chilling and evoke true pity and terror

[flouraki]

This muppet thing in the middle is SUPER retarded and it spoils and gives everything away! What a dumb thing to add to Sutherland's star performance! seriously....

[AnneMorrisHooke]

This clip is from a TV series Sutherland made to introduce children to the joys of opera. The Muppets were an integral part of the program. There are videotapes of all available...

[enedving]

Children? Children will be watching her madness while she holds a knife and is covered in blood and all the creepy candles? Ha ha, oh wow. Yes, I'm sure this was a great way to not make children scared of opera.

[CrystalFlames]

Yay for a little Il dolce suono!

[Janibeva]

WONDERFUL... My favorite opera singer...

[formby2]

I love this. I have it on VHS & have been badgering Kultur for a DVD of WAoO for years to no avail. Athough its early 70s TV its in stereo and sounds fab, and so it should as it was recorded by Jimmy Lock from Decca.

John Brecknok's Edgardo was great-very English but a beautiful voice and one of my favourite Edgardo's. His final scene came at the start with the rest done as flashback so the show could end on the mad scene. Given the time limitations I thought it was put together brilliantly.

[Kibouo]

The only bad thing about it was that 8:40-8:50 was too fast and removed some of the drama of the final climax...

[Richiesutherland]

Yes, the cuts are upsetting! This is, of course, from the series "Who's Afraid of Opera?" To get most of the opera into a half hour, the cuts had to be brutal. The pre-recording was necessary. When I asked her how these were recorded, I remember Sutherland telling me at the time, "The London Symphony don't come cheap, duckie!" Recordings were barely more than one take, recorded in the morning. That said, how glorious.

[AmorediPazzia]

Wow! Have you met Joan Sutherland??

[Richiesutherland]

For many years, I was one of the regular supers at the Met, and was in virtually every performance Sutherland sang from Norma to Trovatore. I was introduced to her as her "number one fan" around 1973, and I became one of her closest Met Family friends. She is the most enchanting person to be around, and I loved her more each year. As soon as she was offstage, not being La Stupenda, she was very funny and caring and interested in OUR lives offstage. The model of what a colleague should be.

[Richiesutherland]

I apologize for making any of this about ME! I was just responding to AmorediPazzia's question. Getting to know Joan (a bit) was a childhood dream-come-true, and I consider myself very, very lucky.

[yes4albert]

Thanks, Richie for sharing the story with us. I love anecdotes of personal meetings with the great divas...especially when the diva turns out to be a wonderful human being.

[limpandlinkin]

her have beautiful belcanto.. and impressive high note,, i think sumi is descended her reputation

[Jabe88]

goddamit! I love her Ah si!

she's nearly trilling them...

[Drelnis]

@Jabe88 They truly are amazing to listen to.

But she's actually trilling them - Ah, si! is written with a series of "tr" on the Lucia score :D

[Dolphinrider45]

they are lip singing to this

[spsp2sp3sp3dsp3d2]

Yeah, they lip synced all of the "Who's Afraid of Opera" segments, but Joan could has just as easily sung live.

[g420730a]

Absolutely!

[LaStupenda]

Oui, merci SueAnn! This is dubbed, right?

[actor001]

perfecta, y la diccion aun mas!!

thankyou for this video!! is intoxicating the lovely voice

[magicmonkichi]

Woke up to this on Saturday morning. Amazing thank you.

[Homoclassicus]

I can't get all those cuts! Well, but this is a movie made for children, and we all know they can't get concentrated for too long .... ;-)

I'm sorry this isn't a complete version, because Sutherland's singing here is simply astounding. She's almost as expressive and touching as in her early 60's Lucias, and the voice now has darker tones that turn this music even more melancholy and deep. Her acting is excellent, despite some TV shortcomings ...

[Jabe88]

Sue Ann!

Merci beaucoup

[Hako2004]

The voice is always astonishing....as is the heroic physique.

Thanks Sue Ann.