Gruberova - Devia - Sutherland - Giudici, ad Anna - Anna Bolena

[Mandolino82]

Sutherland ORRIBLE OSCENEEEEE

[Chasson0318]

Joan...hands down!! Letter perfect!



[Chasson0318]

Maybe it's just me, but no one captures this like Joan!

[leprincebeaumont]

Joan Joan Joan Joan!

[FloriaTosca90]

@ canpete1

She is Mariella Devia, not Anna Netrebko! ;)

[canpete1]

Gruberova is good..Netrebko for sure not at her best. Sutherland blows them away...everything is always well within reach. As if it weren't enough..imagine she is 20 years older than Netrebko here.

[Gav640]

Sutherland's voice is SO HUGE!

[90lysander]

Gruberova is the only one from this group I'm going to remember, however thrilling Sutherland's vocalism may be. Even she is not the best in this role, though. I'll take Callas or Sills any day.

[DiegoMartinazzoli]

Che dire... ottima Gruberova, nonostante la qualità della registrazione non sia il massimo.

Devia... lasciamo proprio perdere

Sutherland: nonostante l'età qualcosa è riuscita ancora a fare.

[1970heinz]

bravissima Joan

[BeatricediTenda]

They are all great! Is a pity Gruberova's recording is not better quality.. Thanks for the videos!

[nectenorboi09]

I think I've mentioned this before, but I LOVE that Devia's support is so solid that she can gather her skirts, do a full diva turn, and stalk away while sustaining a high D. She dies that pretty often (here, son vergin vezzosa, etc.), and it thrills me each time!

[1127jim]

There is a Callas recording (audio only of course) but it is from a live performance and probably from a "pirated" recording (but now it is on EMI). In this scene the conductor takes the pace very fast and business get quite chaotic. Callas is thrilling but the chaotic pace takes the edge off it. At this scene, in a performance at La Scala in 1958, Callas reportedly "hurled herself to the front of the stage, spitting her lines directly at the audience: "giudici? Ad Anna?..." (Ardoin, 1974)

[Elisabetta611]

Devia gets my vote here!!

[ptichkagulnara]

die rolle war für CALLAS!!!!!Sie ist die beste ANNA BOLENA!

[BeauTenor]

@ptichkagulnara Callas isn't represented here...and as far as this being HER role, Callas fans say that about every role Callas sang.

[ptichkagulnara]

The roles that Callas sang, were YOUR WHEELS, the masterpieces of opera singing .. and no homework.

[Elisabetta611]

@BeauTenor

Not really. I love La Divina. But there are roles she should have avoided. Anna Bolena is not one of them however.

[TheJayBee1988]

I noticed in Devia's version, there's a part obliterated in the ending, and in another video of the same production (probably the rehearsal, it is left intact). I wonder why they removed it, I really like it!

[belcunto]

In the second clip... why do Devia's ladies in waiting ditch her?

[ChrisStockslager]

I dunno. Somehow, I think it's kinda funny. They're like "Anne, we'll support you, come hell or high --- oh, executed, right -- see ya!."

[ladivinaladivina]

Dear opera-lovers. Allthough I'm happy to see more of Anna Bolena, these are not the best performances. I do not believe that for Sutherland it has anything to do with late in her career stuff. I'm a great fan, devoted to the art of Maria Callas, but have always said that the voice of Joan is more round and full. But i HATE the way she moves on sstage to look for the best place to stand and sing that one high helt note. You move because of the music and for self glory! Edita also brave. Devia...

[timsuffolk]

@ladivinaladivina Did you ever see Sutherland in the opera house? If you did you would have quickly realised that she didn't have to stand in any part of the stage to be heard- her voice was so large it filled the place from wherever she chose to stand. I never saw her look for a place to stand either by the way!

[MadonnaImperia]

@ladivinaladivina What you say about Sutherland moving about, looking for the best place to stand, makes absolutely no sense at all. She takes two small steps forward - that is hardly to move "on sstage to look for the best place to stand".

[lassisimo]

i often tryed to find an access to sutherlands singing. there finds special qualitys and immense vocalism but i´m not feeling touched ( i don´t want to offend her fans ). gruberova is so refreshing lively here but i´m looking for other aspects. i suppose the part of anna bolena demands lots of "dignity" in voice and acting. with this sensitive conducter on her side realized devia these expectations rather exactly. i prefer her in this examples.

[leoperarm]

I find Gruberova's and Sutherland's the best Bolenas...there's drama and voice^^

[hugoamarillo]

exactly. Gruberova is the Queen!!!! sutherland is so boring, slow (but always perfect) she is so cold. Edita acts, sings and still sings like before. love her.

[Alethedancer]

i think that gruberova is the best!!!

Devia and Sutherland are good too!!!

[stefanventsislav]

I also think so, but the quality of video with Gruberova is bad

[sutherlandfan]

Todas cantam bem o papel ,mas Sutherland é a melhor pelas qualidades vocais e maturidade vocal que tinha na época.

[timsuffolk]

The first two are like the warm up act for the queen of bel canto

[tklogan11809]

Sutherland's the only one capable of singing this. Devia's so slow, I can't recognize the music. Gruberova's bit sloppy, but ok.

[coloraturafan]

Hmmm, I do like all of the sopranos I posted but, for me, this is one of those scenes that sopranos tend to push the limits. Understandable there is a little rage going on at the moment, but singers and conductors tend to frame the finale to sound frantic and rushed. Admittedly, this can be exciting, but I am not sure if this is how Donizetti wanted his act I to end. I would think he would have wanted a more regal finale for his Queen. With that in mind Devia is my favorite here.

[sevoflurane]

I think it is also a matter of pronunciation. Love the way Devia stresses the double consonants in "Anna... tiranna... condanna" that rhyme together. You are right, there is little rage going on at the moment. It is when Anna realizes her defeat but wants to maintain her dignity. I love artists like Devia and Vick that are not comtent with a simplistic approach. They surprise you, they make you reflect.

[pfitzner1]

This is late Sutherland, and she wasn't in the freshest voice. Besides this, the role lay too low for her, and she constantly moved the low notes an octave higher, distorting Donizetti's line.

Other than that, I've always adored her singing. Anyone up for 'Santo di patria'?

[Jabe88]

I loooove Anna Bolena

[sevoflurane]

I adore Devia and the 1992 Gruberova in this role. I find their approach very refreshing and they finally portray Anna as a regal character, both vocally and from the acting point of view. Everything is rather loud and unimaginative with Sutherland and her lines are not a patch on Gruberova's and Devia's.

[coloraturafan]

I have to agree with you, Devia's approach here is refreshing. The drama builds subtly, and the music is better served without the frantic tempo and blaring dynamics. For my money Devia is Bolena, Viva Donizetti :)

[nectenorboi09]

I absolutely adore the amazing exits both Devia and Sutherland make, Devia's beginning DURING her high D! The toss back of the head, the swish of the gown, the supreme confidence - these are the kind of exits diva-worshippers LIVE for!

[spsp2sp3sp3dsp3d2]

There's lots of variety here. Thank you for taking the time to do this, coloraturafan. Based on what you were saying earlier today, I see it is Devia who takes the more regal and dignified approach. She is one of today's best interpreters of this role. With that said, personally I prefer the faster approach for the excitement and the drama. For those qualities I always go for the Sutherland video.

[rawdonqueen]

Devia is getting stronger and stronger in this part, and I hope that she has the chance for a La Scala production. Sutherland, though, Anna to perfection, both vocally and dramatically, and I have a special affection for this production, with its luxury supporting cast. Gruberova leaves me cold.

[hisimperialmajesty]

And they say Sutherland couldn't act! I think she portrays the defiant-but-wrongly-accused heroine perfectly, both dramatically, and vocally. The other versions are certainly good, Gruberova's in particular (nothing against Devia), but I don't think either one of them are on par with Dame Joan.

[iosonmedea]

And where is Sutherland's acting, I wonder?

[adballet]

It's there. She always acts as if she is in a grand ball no matter what the story is.