[1962 original pitch] Joan Sutherland - Der Hölle Rache kocht in meinem Herzen

Joan Sutherland as the Queen of the Night - Mozart: Die Zauberflöte
Covent Garden Orchestra & Chorus
Otto Klemperer

CDs have pitched Joan Sutherland's performances of the Queen of the Night's aria at B-flat major & C-sharp minor (original keys B-flat major & D minor), but a biography of Sutherland and Bonynge mentions that Bonynge transposed the arias into A major and C minor.

I transposed the recordings down a half step accordingly -- and behold! it sounds a lot more like Joan Sutherland! I'm guessing that this is the original pitch. Enjoy the C minor version.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• opera
• Dame Joan Sutherland
• mozart
• bonynge

[raigekimaru]

if a majestic, mighty, queenly voice transposing an aria down half a step is a bigger disappointment to you than a light, canary voice singing the role of a powerful queen simply because she has a high F, I question that person's understanding of opera

[CaptFitzbattleaxe]

@raigekimaru You just nailed the metaphorical nail on the metaphorical head.

[ploplisphilin]

I've heard better Queens. I never cared for her recording of "O, Zittrenicht" either. I don't think she much cared for the role. (There are some notes in the colorature in this recording that are off-pitch.)

[CaptFitzbattleaxe]

@ploplisphilin All true, but I'm glad she at least attempted it. It's nice to have a different take on the Queen of the Night.

[3F93]

Strange but true, I find this lower key even better than the original one. This was surely not her best character, ok, but at least this is a real Queen of the Night, dark and powerful, and not the usual chirping-canary soprano engaged only because she has the high F's.

[Pywacket2]

The one and only!

[mjau159]

@001pmg i didn't hear that for Joan's husband,really...I'm so agree with you in perfection of Diana's Gilda.She is really great in this role!!!wonderful coloratura with wonderful voice,very good tremolo and stacatos on high notes in this role..and good acting,i noticed...I would like to hear her in Faust.And Juan Diego is real miracle.He has beautiful voice and extraordinary high notes (la fille du regiment,for example)..don't you think??

[001pmg]

@mjau159 oh, and I must say with a smile, apart from Mozart, Salieri, Diana was impressive in Verdi's Rigoletto (with Juan Diego Florez), don't you think? *smile*

[001pmg]

@mjau159 ... if this is correct regarding Joan's husband then I am disappointed in him.

[001pmg]

@mjau159 I agree. I think it is a very sensitive matter. Let us not forget that Joan is after all, LA STUPENDA. Without any doubt. A music academic recently told me that her husband, the conductor of singificant number her performance (Richard Bonynge) was responsible for taking her to registers that were not appropriate. I do know if this is factually correct (maybe someone can confirm or correct) ...

[mjau159]

@001pmg i forgot.i don't like very much Joana as Olympia.her high notes are not warmed enough and sounds a little like screaming,if you understand me.

[mjau159]

@001pmgfor olympia i prefer Natalie Dessay,i think Diana has too much large voice,if you understand me.i think this is very sensitive light lyric coloratura role and soprano has to sound like a bird.Diana is for me perfect singer of Mozart and Salieri arias,but for Olympia she has too much strength in her voice.I also noticed a difference between singer from,for example,middle of 20.century and now.i think real belcanto,which is on first place nice and light sound,is almost lost now.

[jjh2456]

@ILLSLAPAHO Leontyne never like coloratura roles. Now if you want to hear Leontyne nail something, listen to her sing "Ach Ich Fuhl's". It will stand your hair on end.

[drewt3]

Never mind gay marriage,abortion or the economy. If I ever want controversy all I have to do is click on an opera clip on YT.

[raigekimaru]

@001pmg

Diana Damrau is a respectable Queen, but not quite powerful enough for my tastes, and yes, I would say she has a canary voice. this is not a an insult, I'm saying that she is a light coloratura soprano with a much brighter, more "princess-y" timbre (like Natalie Dessay or Beverly Sills) and lacks the full bodied middle register weight of a true dramatic coloratura soprano like Sutherland, Moser or Rita Shane.

[001pmg]

@raigekimaru I respect your opinion on transposition, but my view differs. If your opinion is also that Diana Damrau has a "canary voice" and she does not portray a powerful Queen, then we differ. Mozart set the key deliberately: for his sister-in-law (Josefa Hofer), to display her agile technique and also her head-strong passionate nature. Mozart clearly intended BOTH his high F AND a strong Queen (unseverable). Dame Joan's reluctance or disfavour for the role should have been respected.