Joan Sutherland singing three baroque arias (c. 1960)

[luisjo1962]

Dame Joan Sutherland tenía el mejor instrumento del mundo para este tipo de repertorio. Me gustaría escucharla cantando Vivaldi

[thebagoas]

I have played this song many times and the last line is actually with gay joy in my heart - They had no idea that this would be campy in later years !!

[sweltame]

Thank you for the clip, what a wonderful selection yoy have made!. However I would like to note that the second aria is "Furia di donna irata" and not as it stands in "About the video" "Furia di donna ingrata" (just a tiny correction!)

[KarlAmade]

Oh God if she had been historically informed... what an early music Goddess she would be... that voice is going to haunt me rest of my life.

[baritonebynight]

@KarlAmade Dame Joan sang a lot of Baroque music. I believe it was after 1957 performance of Alcina that the Italians dubbed her "La Stupenda". I don't agree about the "historically informed" part. We don't have recordings from that time period so scholars have conflicting evidence to support what historically accurate means. There are several vox humana stops on baroque era organs suggesting that vibrato was present. Vibrato occurs naturally in any well trained voice that is well supported.

[KarlAmade]

@baritonebynight

Well, I am historical musician, I have a gigantic "library" with manuscripts of Musicology from Pytagoras to early 20th century. Things as it is today started to evolve from about 1830. Before then they didn't focus on the "sound" we demand today, "great voices" and that stuff... in context to that one needs vibrato to accomplish such greatness... which I find disturbing in any ways. Don't misunderstand, I don't say that I dislike vibrato, only modern continuous vibrato.

[baritonebynight]

@KarlAmade I'm a professional singer and studied music history and vocal ped in school. Its my experience that there is a lot of conflicting ideas about early voice so I have a problem with being "historically informed:". It depends on what historian you talk to. What makes you right and another historian with equal or more resources than you do wrong?

[KarlAmade]

@baritonebynight

I understand your skepticism :)

As you say; there is a lot of conflicting ideas about early voice! I agree, but what we know is that this great sound we have to day - this continuous avalanche-like trembling didn't come until the Romantic Era. Vibrato existed, of course - some used it more than other, but in the modern manner a la Reneé or Cecilia ... no... This is described even by many American musical critics of the 19th century as new and disturbing, also fascinating.

[KarlAmade]

But lets not talk about who is better then who, shall we, I will never intend to reject your knowledge, by all means!

I'm young, but I'm taking my studies really seriously, so of course am I carefully transcribing the copies I've got from all over Europe... Old German is one heck of a dance on thorns.... But I manage. My life has always been devoted to the Early Music. The only thing I want is truth, so it is my mission to investigate as closely as possible - so that I can show you all one day:)

[ilovecm]

The Piccinni is so perfect, her interpretation reminds me of more a heavy bel canto role... but it works! I love her dramatic interpretation, and her diction is crystal clear! Her voice was more youthful (also pre-surgery). I still like the recordings thoughout the 60s into the mid seventies... at her prime!

[65attila]

IMO with the release of pre-Lucia recordings @ 1954 -1959 of Joan - she was a great singer then.

Lucia let everyone else know what London and a few other places knew.

[cinemasuerte]

RIP JOAN SUTHERLAND....OCTOBER 10,2010

[Orfeus80]

perfect Sutherland stuff. She was born to sing Baroque.

[gr8tfascination]

Thank for sharing, can you kindly inform me you know where I can find the music of William Shield's "Light as thistledown"? I have been looking every where and I just can't seem to find it. Please please let me know how I can find the score of the piece if you know . Thank you so much .

[RossiniSoprano]

@gr8tfascination It's in volume 2 of "The Art of Joan Sutherland", published by Josef Weinberger.

[Marmusetta]

Wow!!! Great!! Love her!! I want the scores!!!! Want to learn that music! ;)

[TheJbach]

Her voice. Encompassing. Womanly. Unaffected. Mellow and rich, and all w/ the GREATEST OF SKILL!!! She's one for the ages.

[SPOU1980]

I'm looking for sheet music for the first two songs... I can't find anything available to order over the internet. Does anyone know where I can find them? Thanks!

[gioniv]

Perfezione assoluta. Meraviglia delle meraviglie.

[galehout]

@gioniv era molto più brava all'inizio, secondo me si è rovinata facendosi assecondare troppo dal marito direttore. qui infatti il direttore è un altro e lei è spedita, brillante, precisa, perfetta nella dizione inglese e molto accettabile in quella italiana

[gioniv]

@galehout Sicuramente il marito l'avrà influenzata, ma anche con l'età, la voce cambia e lì l'intelligenza fa la differenza vedi Mariella Devia,cioè nel mantere un equilibrio, infatti moltissimi grandi cantavano anche a 60 e passa anni..

[oakroom48]

Oh rapture!! :)

[Bigman240]

Don't you wish you could sing like that????? :-)

[forallyouknow]

excellent. especially the last two

[LaStupenda]

Can someone please re-post "V'adoro pupille"?

Thank you for these selections, as always.

[Medea59]

Einfach FANTASTISCH!! Welch eine Freude, da zuzuhören!!!!!!!

[OShaughnessyC]

Proof that there's life before death!

[raigekimaru]

@OShaughnessyC

proof that there's life after death =)

[lyrikinside]

magnfique, quelle virtuosité!

[marioegorga]

Wonderful examples pf Dame Joan's Baroque singing, these are true gems.

Thanks a million for the post

[lalagonegaga]

Absolutely magical. Beyond perfection.

[leprincebeaumont]

Come fai a non amare Joan Sutherland!? è magnifica!

[petelovesbevsills]

Fabulous early memories of Joan. WHAT a singer - Voice of the Century indeed. Brava Diva! Thanks LindoroRossini.

[leoperarm]

I must say this is one of the most beautiful things I've heard!

[DetalheNobre]

I apreciated this video.

[PIPZZZ02]

I had these on cassette and my dog ate it - so lovely to have them back!

Dame Joan had a special affinity with this style- a certain simplicity married to sparkling virtuosity.

Thanks for posting

[andreasscholl]

These arias are from the Acis album, and they are BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!

I allso love the Sutherland voice in her early years.

More clear pitch, and acuto!

Her open vowels...a thing she always strugles with in her later years.

Vocality before text!

Brava!!!!

[furballvie]

thank you for sharing these breathtakingly beautiful pieces in such excellent quality

[Babejuda]

Beautiful voice and perfect ornaments! Brava!

[ATsarIsBorn]

Sutherland was also my "starter" diva - but earlier, in 1967 or so. Her early recordings I call her "silver" voice, and really there has been nothing as beautiful from any other coloratura since LPs began. But around 1963 she lost that silveryness and what I call the "golden" voice survived. That was the one I heard in live performances, and her Lucia Mad Scene and Puritani were still miraculous. Around 1977, the voice began to droop and was never the same. Still, 20 great years.

[Taskat]

20 years is more than you can really get out of most sopranos, especially the coloratura.

You're right; she really was amazing.

[myrtillocactus]

wonderful

[1stTelmar]

Thank you for posting this, I have different versions of two of these, It's so neat to hear a few subtle changes from recording to recording. She is the best.

[LaStupenda]

Does anyone know how to send Joan a get-well note?

[dopple16]

Was Joan Sutherland sick?  Did you find out how to send her a note? If so please tell me.

Thanks

[chicomanel]

Magical singing... La Supenda, da vero! Still, one should change the title of this video, because the two last arias are emblematic of the Classical period, not Baroque!

[wolkowy1]

You are right, in your info.: There is really something in the interpretation. I think it is freshness and directness, aside from the other qualities. Thanks for uploading.

[Qkmera]

Quero dizer que sou um grande fã de Joan Sutherland e ela sempre me fascina a cada vídeo!

[lipera]

Joan is absolutely awesome here. As she always has been in everything she sung. Her trills and high and precisely notes are amazing. She is wonderful! A great artist in it's full way!

[Eccsodus]

These are great examples of Joan's singing earlyish in her career(1963 I think ) Lovely singing. By the way Joan did sing a lot of baroque music (Handel) in the late '50s here in England.

[Taskat]

What is the first aria?

[LindoroRossini]

Read "About the video", second paragraph.

[Taskat]

Oh sorry. I usually just disregard larger descriptions. Thank you very much.

[63Attila]

Magnificent - a critic said he could hear that Joan loved to sing. True surely. I think I might enjoy hearing her even more.

[tonyantony]

Her legato especially on the high notes is unbelievable

[agathosj]

Great singer but above all a great person. That one can hear in her voice. Too bad she didn t sing more baroque music, she makes it sound easy, flowless, playful, more than any other singer.

[meltzerboy]

Thanks so much for these gems--a veritable trifecta! I agree with your comments about Sutherland's early voice; it was for sure in mint condition back in the '60s. And, for me, that was the first Sutherland I experienced, particularly the legendary "Art of the Prima Donna" album. But, like you, I also love the

more mature Sutherland voice, its creaminess, more dramatic quality, superior low notes, and

weight, while maintaining its agility and musicianship.

[unskathd]

Light as Thistledown is a song I heard recently on radio and immediately fell in love with. Such a beautiful melody. I notice only two versions of this song on Youtube, unfortunately after listening to both several times I still can't make out all the words. Can anybody here help me out? Joan's voice is magic!

[LindoroRossini]

Light as thistledown moving

Which flows up the hill

Sweet gratitide's debt

To this cottage I bear.

Of autumn's rich store(s) (?)

I bring home my part,

A weight on my head,

But with joy in my heart.

I think that's it, though I'm not 100% sure about the last word in the first strophe of the second part. Still, I think that's it :)! Hope this helps.

[dollartwenty]

the second line is actually "which floats on the air"

[LindoroRossini]

You'r absolutely right :), thanks for the correction.

Light as thistledown moving

Which floats on the air

Sweet gratitide's debt

To this cottage I bear.

Of autumn's rich stores

I bring home my part,

A weight on my head,

But with joy in my heart.

[marynaz27]

Fabulous treasure, just discovered and to keep always. Thank you Lindoro Rossini. I think you'll find the thistledown FLOATS not flows up the hill. Off now to find more Joanie gems. Bless you.

[AnnaBariacchis]

@unskathd The answers you have received here are almost correct. According to the booklets of both "The Age of Bel Canto" and "Acis and Galatea", which both contains recordings of this aria with Sutherland, the correct text is:

Light as thistledown moving

Which floats on the air

Sweet GRATITUDE's debt

To this cottage I bear

Of autumn's rich store

I bring home my part

A weight on my head

But GAY joy in my heart

[Homoclassicus]

I agree with your analysis on Sutherland. In the 70's she was still the greatest coloratura, and in the 80's she was still amazing, but it's just that her former standard of singing was as close to perfect as we are ever going to hear. Her detractors will obviously deny it, but in terms of technique and musicianship there's no better combination than the early Sutherland. Everything was there. And, after that, it still was, but maybe in a slightly less flawless shape, but still unsurpassable!

[Jabe88]

sutherland is amazing !!!

[midas45]

Thank you, this is dazzling !

[nilsuthor]

Although it is common place to say that Joan Sutherland is wonderul, this is exactly what she is. Boy, I love her voice, her singing, her technique, her everything...

Thanks for the vid.

[drdre333]

Oh, and I find it interesting that you came to Sutherland via her later recordings, whereas I started right from the Art of the Prima Donna album. In a way, it ruined me from subsequent recordings, but I've come full circle after years of listening, and enjoy many interpretations, including those of other singers. Sutherland certainly had something magical in her throat - at least for me.

[LindoroRossini]

Well, that's exactly what I wanted to express :-)! The early recordings are just so good that I strongly feel that even if she hadn't reocrded anything after 1962, she would still be legendary. Still, I am glad she continued her career for so long ;-)! Maybe the later recordings are different from the early ones, but it doesn't mean that they are bad, they're just that: different :-)!

[LindoroRossini]

Also I understang your point about the Art of the Prima Donna vs. later recordings. My path was almost the same: first, recordings from the 80s and some from the 70s (I just loved the voice) - then the Art of the Primadonna, Don Giovanni (the 1959) and Emilia di Liverpool (a dramatic reevaluation, shifted to the early recordings) - another reevaluation (acceptance of both periods, though the early recordings are still the favorites :-))!

[drdre333]

I never heard the first one before... I think this is great! Thanks for introducing me to another new recording of hers! The other two I heard off of the Art of Bel Canto album.

8-)