[1962 La Scala] Bel raggio lusinghierㅡJoan Sutherland

[Paddy818]

In a word...STUPENDOUS!

[Paddy818]

In a word...STUPENDOUS !

[bellini7verdi]

madre mia por dios y por todos los dioses......que pasada.de vozzzzzzzzzzzzzz

[bellini7verdi]

el jugo del cielo en el sonido de la voz humana

[mrluistena]

bravoooooooooooooooooooo

[mariasarda]

Straordinaria Joan.........

[BGSourgas]

8'11!?!? omg

[tetrazzini]

This live rocks ! Simionato is a great Arsace in this production. Seriously guys, this high E is not human..;

[FeelinMinnesota]

Vocally this will never be equaled.

[raigekimaru]

OMG! 'shudders' .....

(2 minutes later after composure is regained) wow

[anacleto2011]

di una bellezza assoluta,ai limiti della perfezione, un documento prezioso

[CaptFitzbattleaxe]

A live Joan Sutherland high E!  Awesome, awesome.

[AmericanEvita]

Beautiful singing here. RIP Joan Sutherland, singing with the angels now....another opera legend has left us

[mmisaku]

why people talks about georghiu,and others when we are in joan page,what a no sence,and no respect stop in other page to make this caffe and tricot not when we list that really and unique primadonna please! and special now when she deid. what a scolarish people....

[thomastmwc]

RIP

[fabrizietto1980]

ma qualcuno vorrebbe paragonare la Fleming alla Stupenda? sì certo...

[skitzo429]

she was 36 here, the "high E era" ended shortly afterwards, then she started singing this aria down a half step, then later a whole step, then later a minor 3rd in the 80s haha

[TheFabulousStar]

@skitzo429 shut the fuck up.

[thomastmwc]

listen to Rene Fleming's !!!

[altodivo]

@thomastmwc

I just did...I hope to recover from the experience in due course.

[thomastmwc]

@altodivo hhaha well said well said :D

[andrewoconnorblue]

@thomastmwc or not?

[thomastmwc]

@andrewoconnorblue what??

[andrewoconnorblue]

@thomastmwc I said don't listen to Renee's. Not in her current form anyway.

[Misterkastel]

Imbattuta!!!!!!il miglior Bel raggio che abbia mai sentito!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[saagua1953]

Compare to Ponselle singing the same aria in 1936. Ponselle didn't have the highest notes, but I think I would prefer her overall performance.

[Homoclassicus]

The definitive Semiramide. In her later performances in this role her low notes are easier and larger, but in 1962 she was vocally perfect, and the tremendous authority she conveys to her singing in this difficult and low role is amazing. Her huge voice coped with all the difficult parts with utmost ease and power, and she's one of the few who gets to sing "Bel raggio" romantically but not exactly like an ancient Lucia, but like a real, authoritative and proud queen.

[Orbazzano]

Quando alla Scala si cantava così... Grandissima Sutherland!

[operagodess78]

Can you upload the duet between her and Simionato in this Opera.

[saverioorlando]

A rare treasure,how Joan at La Scala as Beatrice di Tenda!

[whipittome]

While I am not fond of La Stupenda in some of her heavier roles - some Verdis or Donizettis - which suited Callas or Gencer much better, I find she has no peers in florid singing. Semiramide with Horne is a masterpiece(June Anderson's Semiramide was good too, even if not as fluent.). and her first Lucia's... wonderful!

[Jabe88]

Oh I am in love!!!

Thank you very much, and happy new year to you, opera and Joan's fans!!

[Hako2004]

The way I remember it, in 1966 Joan sang Donna Anna under the baton of Maazel. A clash over the appoggiature ensued, Maazel didn't like it, but Joan had always sung it. It got heated, Maazel was replaced, but Sutherland found the whole incident tedious and a distraction. She decided that in future she would insist on having Richard conduct her performances. That couldn't

be agree on, so Donna Anna was the last role in Milan.

[raymzi]

so im guessing la scala never liked richard bonynge since they never invited her back?

one would think that they would at least invite sutherland back to have future performances there.

[Hako2004]

I think the "Powers" at La Scala didn't care to have a package deal. If they had Joan, they had Richard as well. They had no reason not to consider the idea seriously, Richard was up to the job, but it wasn't about music anymore. It had become a struggle for control. It's a shame, especially when you consider the performances that might have been heard there.

[raymzi]

what a bunch of idiots. and to think La Scala is the "soul" of italian opera. pfft. and they cast gheorghiu as violetta??

[marylambcarter]

bravo!

[VivaMariaCallas]

But there are not many people who can s

On this particular video... this is a very good performance indeed.

[VivaMariaCallas]

*I meant: ... not many people who can sing Violetta better than Gheorghiu can today....

[thomastmwc]

@VivaMariaCallas

Dessay

[lipera]

@VivaMariaCallas only Diana Damrau and Mariella Devia are able to deliver a respectful Violetta than Gheorghiu's Violetta which is terrible...

[VivaMariaCallas]

@lipera I saw Gheorghiu's Traviata at the Met in March, she was excellent dramatically & even vocally. But I guess her style is not for everyone.

[lipera]

@VivaMariaCallas if you say so...

[raymzi]

its nice to hear the milanese love joan...

im baffled that she didnt appear at la scala anymore aFTER 1965...

[Jabe88]

I think Hako2004 answered the question! It's kind of sad I guess...

By the way, this version ends with a high E, just in case, since I know you like this note a lot! lol

We still need the F from Sonnambula

[hisimperialmajesty]

Yes, where is the Covent Garden recording?

[JDOopera76]

She sang an F in a Sonnambula performance???? where is it???? : P

[marylambcarter]

??? yes where???

[coloraturafan]

It was in Italy, I believe the date (off the top of my head) was 1962.... and I want to say Venice... but that could be wrong. From my memory I also remember hearing the high F was a one time thing... not repeated again. I would think, this means the note did note go over well? I wasn't there, I wouldn't know. There is no recording, again to my knowledge.

[SENAFOREVER]

@JDOopera76 , I have it. It's in Australia.

[mxwhisper]

Thank you for posting this early Sutherland. My favourite Semiramide. Bravo Joan. I still miss this extraordinary voice from the stage.