Joan Sutherland - Mignon - "Je suis Titania" - 1972

[Pywacket2]

If the high notes sound a bit off, it's not La Stupenda. It's the crude electronics of the time. Sutherland was always sublime, even in her 60's.

[Agorante]

I first heard Sutherland around 1958 at Constitution Hall - a giant barn. I was young. I didn't know any better. I thought all sopranos sounded like that. I'm still waiting to another voice like that.

[jgh37]

Amazing singing and amazing singer Sutherland. Looks-wise she could win the first prize for best drag queen act.. Just listen, do not look.

[chichitheoperasinger]

This is why I love being an opera singer! I loved watching her sing this aria, the coloratura made so much SENSE!!!

[fadyjb]

OMG !!! Just Sparkling ! Sad she didn't Studio-record it back in the 60's !!!!! I'd have loved to have it on my iPod !

[domi2020]

This is gorgeous- just the right weight and timbre. Pity she shortened the aria! She should have ended with another whopping big E flat!!!

[65attila]

One high note was insecure - the rest of the performance is a gem. I just heard Callas not even 40 sing this- what labor and breathiness. She slows doen the music to complete diifficult parts too often.

There are some lighter voice sopranos who are note perfect- Tetrazzini sings it perfectly with a sens of fun second to none including Joan who is an all-time favorite.

[MadonnaImperia]

@65attila I do not disagree that by the time Callas recorded this aria her voice had become somewhat deteriorated, but I'm not sure that technical difficulties were the reason she slowed down the music. In her recordings of coloratura pieces from her salad days the tempo is often a bit slower than what was usually the norm, due to the enormous weight of her then big and dramatic voice. And even though the voice later got lighter and less pleasant-sounding, her coloraturas were always spot-on.

[sunnytyler001]

WAW!!! Impressive! And even her French sounds good! This is perfection!

[eugenelohks]

@sunnytyler001 Ya... I can understand what she's singing! YAY!!

[nwdixieboy]

Sutherland never recorded this aria and it is one of my most favorite. She is THE best interpreter of this difficult aria. If you listen you will hear that, to my ear, she confounds her detractors by enunciating the French most beautifully. I am so glad I found this video!!!!! Thank you.

[killerbunny123123]

@LyricoSpinto haha! nonononono! im not a singer so im not rly jealous :D

Dont get me wrong, im not questioning the great technique of the world's #2 most successful soprano of all times, it's just that not everyone can be good at everything right? I mean....Dessay had her high notes (F6,G6,A6) but she wasnt rly good in dramatic roles, vocally speaking right? Mrs. Joan is as good as hell in dramatic roles and such, but above soprano high C she loses control...isnt that logically balanced?

[Call1800POO]

@killerbunny123123 It ain't Mrs. but Dame Joan.

[grandmagrumpy]

This is a beautiful piece, but a soprano torture chamber. Why do the women get all these acrobatic pieces? Even Marriage of Figaro baritone aria pales in comparison to this exercise. I applaud the ladies who tackle this, especially Joan Sutherland.

[acitipo]

Muy inteligente, no hace sobre agudos escalofriantes como la Damrau, o la Dessay, pero sus agilidades de ligera son expectaculares, y cristalinos. bravisima!!!!

[saverioorlando]

Stupenda,bellissima coloratura attenta al TEMPO

[Pywacket2]

La Stupenda always. How lucky we are to have this performance preserved. I don't think you'll ever see the Dame so light on her feet. Love the campy dude.

[MrStupendousluvforJo]

She is perfect, every note is perfect Not one note incorrect....After all these years admiring her singing(27) I still can't help but be impressed! How lucky we all are to have had her

[leprincebeaumont]

Nessuna ha mai cantato quest' aria bene come la Sutherland! Che non è solo una gran virtuosa, ma che è anche la più leggiadra ed elegante nell'esecuzione!

[killerbunny123123]

her high notes are AWFUL :(

[edgarbiervliet]

AWFUL high notes?

Don´t agree, but think I hear what you mean.

There is this sort of tension in her high notes, sort of strain on the sound. Sutherland knowers know that has nothing to do with how she sounded in real. It´s just that her voice was so big and volcanic that microphones had a heard time capturing the true quality. The early recordings that had more room sound to it often sounded so much better. there her voice had space to sound.

[Call1800POO]

@edgarbiervliet

Yes, you're quite right and especially on youtube and the laptop that fellow is listening via, on the train.

.

There is nothing quite like a night at the (Sydney) Opera House.

Cheers.

from,

del-boy

[Hako2004]

Of course, please post of video of your high notes....so we can hear how they should be sung.

[MadonnaImperia]

@killerbunny123123 That is due to the slight metallic quality of the sound, not Dame Joan Sutherland's instrument or technique. This is from the tv programme "Who's Afraid of Opera", and this selection was recorded in the spring of 1973 when Sutherland was 46 years old. If you find her complete recording of "I puritani" with Pavarotti which was recorded at this time, I think you'll find that her high notes were still quite spectacular at this time.

[killerbunny123123]

@MadonnaImperia yes, im sure her high notes would be nice, but they have absolutely nothing to do with Dessay's control, quality, ease or extension.

[marlyharris]

Drelnis-You are quite right. I was happy to see a video of her at the BBC Voice of the World award contest this year; it showed Dame Joan walking on stage to her chair. I was moved to tears.

[StarForYou]

AAAA!

FIERCE!

[gestas60323]

She is brilliant, magnificent trills. And she looks attracive, too and moves well. Brava !!!

[clashguy]

loving telecast

[clashguy]

OMG Coloraturafan2... omg...

autnie Joanie is not young anymore, but these feathers ... those wings ... that hairdo... it TOO MUCH!

This video goes straight to my favorites!!!!

[marlyharris]

Sutherland never disappoints, what an enchanting video. Seeing her move around so fluidly makes me wonder how she's recovering from her accident last year.

[Drelnis]

I'm sure someone like Sutherland will be receiving care from the greatest doctors in Australia, and if something wrong had happened, it'll surely be on the news now, so I'd say rest assured :)

[mxwhisper]

What a gem this is. Thanks for posting. That wonderful voice is missed greatly from the stage......still. Bravo Joan

[pasfresh123]

it's fun to see her move around like that too.

[RossiniSoprano]

Yes, they actually sort-of dance the polonnaise, which is the form this aria is. I wish they did not have to cut the aria to fit it into the format for the original show.

[Poekiemolens]

I am a great fan of La Stupenda, but check out Mimi Coertse's version.

[gastonlegrand]

Also check out Callas on this: my favourite!

[Glenmed]

Whooaaah! This is the one! The voice is gold and the runs are silver! TY.

[colorfulsoprano]

This is why opera makes me so happy!

[1stTelmar]

She didn't miss one coloratura aria, did she?

[agnellodei]

She's the best!!

[LaStupenda]

Wow! i have never seen her do that aria.  WHat a showcase for her talents. Brava La Stupenda!

[Iareto]

Unbelievable! She is, as ALWAYS, wonderful!

[nilsuthor]

Brava, Dame Joan Sutherland. Fantastic.

[operatube]

brava indeed! "je suis titania" needs to be tossed off without one sign of work, and joanie's about the only one who does that

[hisimperialmajesty]

Wow! She is nothing short of brilliant in this!  Brava La Stupenda!