Joan Sutherland Richard Conrad Donizetti duet (vaimusic.com)

[TitoSchipa65]

i don't understand why Bonynge decided in many edition with Joan to cast bad singers for importants roles such as Idreno or Ernesto...

[coryisawake]

@TitoSchipa65 Richard Conrad is probably the closest anyone in the 20th Century heard to the sort of tenorial sound favored by these composers! Though I appreciate her, Joan's tone and delivery were often uncharacteristic of singers who exemplified this period (they had clear diction, avoided aspirated consonants & overly covered vowels). Conrad is not the voice we associate with these roles today, but this is virtuosic singing with exceptional musicality, control and respect for tradition.

[1510Ronald]

This duett bring me everytime a could shoulder.............

[OperaDanceHall]

Thanks ...La Stupenda...for all your musiek (1926-2010)

[mrrk]

God another of Richard Bonynge's odd choices,like Huguette Tourangeau. He must have liked the sound of a fast vibrato.

[Alexias6]

Conrad is an astonishing singer. It's a peculiar vibrato, but his range is formidable. It's worth seeking out his highlights recording of JULIUS CAESAR with Sutherland. In one of his arias, he sings over a span of two and a half octaves. Clearly he couldn't have appeared with Sutherland in a staged opera, due to his height. Here, with clever camera angles, and also standing behind her much of the time, it works. A fine, fine musician and technician, and his singing gives much pleasure.

[callenishss]

how tall was he

[melbapatti]

He sang the Emperor Altoum in Turandot in Boston last year.

[mariogalileo]

I'm sorry is this supposed to be a duet or is Joan singing an aria with some first year backup singer? La Stupenda must have been short on cash that month 'cause...

[thomastmwc]

lol!!!!

[Philm54]

I studied with Richard bcak in the early 70's when he had the finest studio of singers in all of Michigan (I was not one of his finest, by far... ). He is an amazing teacher. His voice is not my favoritie, but he can sing. He is an amazing singer with an amazing technique. If memory serves, he once said, regarding the recording he made with Sutherland and Horne, he sounded like a "syphlitic mosquito". LOL

[maxmarce]

Que tipo de voz es esa??

Parece falcete??

[meltzerboy]

What's the story about Sutherland and this opera? I heard or read that she wanted to sing the role of Norina but for some reason never did. I heard Conrad only once in recital and his voice, as I remember it, was very pure and beautiful as well as displaying great technical ability.

[soothed]

Not sure of the reasons but in her autobiography she "bemoans" the fact that she did not perform it - suits her really well.

[Jabe88]

OMG, his voice!

Argh! Falsetto?

[Hako2004]

No it's not falsetto....he just sings a lot of phrases "piano" and half-voice. A man of his stature would usually have a high tenor voice. Basses are usually the tallest, then baritone next tallest. The length of the vocal tract has a lot to do with the voice type. Conrad is a small guy, hence high voice of smaller size. Not a rule, but usually true.

[KatherineXIX]

The shortest adult singer I know is a bass-baritone.

[CaptFitzbattleaxe]

@Hako2004 I'm not sure if it's even usually true. I'm a 6' 4" tenor and from my experience gentlemen's voice/height ratio varies greatly. Maybe baritone's seem to be in the middle because most men are baritones.

By the way, Richard Conrad started out his career as a Baritone and returned to singing Baritone some years after his association with Joan Sutherland. I never would have guessed!

[soothed]

Ninteenth Century bel canto tenors all sang high head notes. Interesting to hear them again. We have been brainwashed to only apppreciate Wagnerian blasts from the chest.

[Jabe88]

You're probably right, but it just feels weird... I'd rather hear gedda, kraus, alexander and pavarotti sing this with her!