If only we had the ability to capture the remnants of sound waves of Sutherland's early singing still wandering in the air, and put it down onto high quality recording. Gosh, if that could happen it'd be such a revelation. Imagine hearing Malibran, Pasta, and Lind!
This is very much Joan Sutherland, I have not heard to date any trills that come close to hers (which I think are just out of this world) and the lightness of her voice sounds like it was before her surgery, but it does sound wonderul nonetheless, brava La Stupenda, RIP
I don't listen to Opera, but I know an operatic voice when I hear one and just from this one song, I can tell that this woman had a beautiful tone and her soprano was amazing. Great agility too. No wonder she was called one of the best coloratura sopranos in the operatic world.
i don't understand. is this aria for Alcina or for Morgana? Because Sutherland sang it as Alcina yet Dessay sang it as Morgana. Are we missing something here?
It is a usual practice for this time period. We find many similar circumstances like this, particularly in the operas of Handel. Be well and happy my friend in music.
incredible how much she changed her pronounciation only a couple of years after this performance. Here she makes an effort to enunciate clearly and it works. Great performance, I still prefer Devia's voice but here Joan is fantastic too.
This from her second commercial recording made in 1959. The voice is very bright and 'girlish' and the same sound as on the pirate recording of her first Lucia that year.
Ok, fair enough, prove it. Give us more details on the recording date, issues and company she recorded this with. I have followed JOan Sutherland for a long time and I'm not convinced. Technically and the approach to the aria is just not Sutherlands.even the timbre and color of the voice is very different...i'll be witing for the details.
could you provide the date of the recording? I'm sure if you have the CD or record the EXACT recording date should be indicated. This will permit me to track it down and add it to my sutherland collection...
This is Joan. I have it on a single vinyl album same credits as Lindor Rossini gives. The single album is called The Great Voice of Joan Sutherland. It is all baroque music and is exquisite.
I liked this a lot, Dessay always seems to be singing lakme even when she was singing handel....... gratuitous ultra-high notes does not impress me much
I love her voice at this early time, but like princesuperstar, I prefer Nathalie Dessay's version. However, Isn't it nice that we are not restricted to one version, one singer? There is room for more than one! Let's enjoy them all for what they offer in interpretation. The ones we don't like we don't have to listen too. Joan's trills are too phenomenal for words.
If you take a look at the score, there were the two options. Morgana could sing it to Oronte, who is jealous of "Riccardo" (Bradamante in disguise), or in the other version Alcina pleads to Ruggiero.
I know about these options, but for me this aria is always Morgana's plea to Oronte. When I wrote about being surprised by the fact that Sutherland sings this aria as Morgana rather than Alcina, I was noting: a) she uses a more "raw" voice to characterize Morgana, I also have a clip of her singing one of Alcina's arias, her approach there is different; b) Sutherland usually sang this aria as Alcina, so it's interesting that she switched characters.
Sutherland invariably took Handel's option of appropriating this aria for Alcina--she never sang Morgana. I think the difference is that in this early recording her light placement is more forward and a bit more hard-edged than her "international career" voice. Some would prefer this brighter sound, but I find it, as one of her greatest fans, rather infantile, a somewhat forced attempt to sound like Galli-Curci. But who wouldn't love those perfect trills?
If only we had the ability to capture the remnants of sound waves of Sutherland's early singing still wandering in the air, and put it down onto high quality recording. Gosh, if that could happen it'd be such a revelation. Imagine hearing Malibran, Pasta, and Lind!
Drelnis 7 months ago
This is very much Joan Sutherland, I have not heard to date any trills that come close to hers (which I think are just out of this world) and the lightness of her voice sounds like it was before her surgery, but it does sound wonderul nonetheless, brava La Stupenda, RIP
Alain2884 8 months ago
I don't listen to Opera, but I know an operatic voice when I hear one and just from this one song, I can tell that this woman had a beautiful tone and her soprano was amazing. Great agility too. No wonder she was called one of the best coloratura sopranos in the operatic world.
Devotedlamb19 1 year ago 3
Absolutely fabulous! RIP Joan
Chimier 1 year ago
R.I.P. Joan Sutherland.
susankhamilton 1 year ago
Great clip, utterly stunning singing !
LadyNeferankh 2 years ago
She's our Joan, and all Aussies say Amen
mspg2 2 years ago
i don't understand. is this aria for Alcina or for Morgana? Because Sutherland sang it as Alcina yet Dessay sang it as Morgana. Are we missing something here?
lumosmaxima 3 years ago
It is originally for Morgana but some performances transfer it for Alcina :).
LindoroRossini 3 years ago 2
oh. hahaha ok thanks! :)
lumosmaxima 3 years ago
That's not fair :(
fieldcastilla 3 years ago
It is a usual practice for this time period. We find many similar circumstances like this, particularly in the operas of Handel. Be well and happy my friend in music.
Lanark8 2 years ago
Yes, of course it's Sutherland. One can't mistake that voice, young as it is here.
aldiboronti 3 years ago
incredible how much she changed her pronounciation only a couple of years after this performance. Here she makes an effort to enunciate clearly and it works. Great performance, I still prefer Devia's voice but here Joan is fantastic too.
Orfeus80 4 years ago
This from her second commercial recording made in 1959. The voice is very bright and 'girlish' and the same sound as on the pirate recording of her first Lucia that year.
Johninvan 4 years ago
There is only one Joan Sutherland ,no one repeat no one comes close ...
opera60 4 years ago 3
You are in the right. Fortunate for us, her art can make us happy until the day we die. Thank our lord for Stereo. :D
Sadiesexy 4 years ago
I bought The Art of Joan Sutherland on itunes last week and this aria IS included in the set.
zacharybr 4 years ago
This is definitely NOT Joan Sutherland!
senilangakali 4 years ago
This IS Sutherland. I know it's hard to believe, the voice and the approach are diffrent from those we are used to, but this IS Sutherland.
LindoroRossini 4 years ago 3
Ok, fair enough, prove it. Give us more details on the recording date, issues and company she recorded this with. I have followed JOan Sutherland for a long time and I'm not convinced. Technically and the approach to the aria is just not Sutherlands.even the timbre and color of the voice is very different...i'll be witing for the details.
senilangakali 4 years ago
This except can be found on the 6 CD Art of Joan Sutherland, here is the info:
Alcina, opera, HWV 34 Tornami a vagheggiar
Composed by George Frideric Handel
Performed by London Philomusica
with Joan Sutherland
Conducted by Anthony Lewis.
I'm absolutely sure that this is Sutherland :-).
LindoroRossini 4 years ago 2
It was recorded somewhere in 1960, though I'm not sure about the date.
LindoroRossini 4 years ago
@LindoroRossini Yes, it definately is Sutherland. It's a young Sutherland, but most definitively her. Bless her.
SinoSene 1 year ago
@LindoroRossini It was recorded in 1959. It was her first LP for Decca, a recital of Baroque music.
CaptFitzbattleaxe 9 months ago
could you provide the date of the recording? I'm sure if you have the CD or record the EXACT recording date should be indicated. This will permit me to track it down and add it to my sutherland collection...
senilangakali 4 years ago
This is Joan. I have it on a single vinyl album same credits as Lindor Rossini gives. The single album is called The Great Voice of Joan Sutherland. It is all baroque music and is exquisite.
63Attila 4 years ago
I adore this woman.
Sadiesexy 4 years ago
Oh yes it is!!
LaStupenda 4 years ago
It is not sweetheart...you know that.
senilangakali 4 years ago
This is very early Sutherland...
Jabe88 4 years ago
@senilangakali Of course this is Sutherland. Listen the high tunes and elocution. Another one masterpiece by La Stupenda! Brilliant, thanks.
TraVoiBelle 1 year ago
Joan is my godess!
Nothing compares to you!
Sadiesexy 4 years ago
I like Natalie's version much more, but this one is fabulous too.
agnellodei 4 years ago
Great interpretation. Kirby's good too, but doesnt come close to the Dame's trills and fioratura.
operavoices101 4 years ago
I liked this a lot, Dessay always seems to be singing lakme even when she was singing handel....... gratuitous ultra-high notes does not impress me much
niklausse 4 years ago
This version is from live recording from 1959 (I´m pretty sure). It´s Alcina´s role OK!
bubjar 4 years ago
unique voice and with a diference CLEAN and CLEAR
mdancer01 4 years ago
I love her voice at this early time, but like princesuperstar, I prefer Nathalie Dessay's version. However, Isn't it nice that we are not restricted to one version, one singer? There is room for more than one! Let's enjoy them all for what they offer in interpretation. The ones we don't like we don't have to listen too. Joan's trills are too phenomenal for words.
hazelmsmith 4 years ago
Amen to that!
millenniumpop 4 years ago
Fantastic, I prefered Natalie Dessay's version however
princesuperstar 4 years ago
no no no
Joan is better
hillevifan 4 years ago
I just love how fresh and young her voice sounds here - very crisp/clear italianate sound :)
JDOopera76 5 years ago
If you take a look at the score, there were the two options. Morgana could sing it to Oronte, who is jealous of "Riccardo" (Bradamante in disguise), or in the other version Alcina pleads to Ruggiero.
gabohuaroc 5 years ago
I know about these options, but for me this aria is always Morgana's plea to Oronte. When I wrote about being surprised by the fact that Sutherland sings this aria as Morgana rather than Alcina, I was noting: a) she uses a more "raw" voice to characterize Morgana, I also have a clip of her singing one of Alcina's arias, her approach there is different; b) Sutherland usually sang this aria as Alcina, so it's interesting that she switched characters.
LindoroRossini 5 years ago
Sutherland invariably took Handel's option of appropriating this aria for Alcina--she never sang Morgana. I think the difference is that in this early recording her light placement is more forward and a bit more hard-edged than her "international career" voice. Some would prefer this brighter sound, but I find it, as one of her greatest fans, rather infantile, a somewhat forced attempt to sound like Galli-Curci. But who wouldn't love those perfect trills?
Richiesutherland 5 years ago