Hamlet-Mad Scene

From the Bell Telephone Hour. This is dedicated to lastupidissimo.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• joan
• sutherland
• opera
• hamlet
• bell
• telephone
• hour

[33blueberries]

Even below her best, she's still above anyone elses! Ha!

[SueAnnNivens]

I think that´s the wisest comment about Joan I´ve ever read, thank you!!!

[OperaBR]

Sutherland at her best! Some singers and Opera fans should watch to this to learn how one can interpret traditionally but effectively. Her singing and interpretation are entirely romantic in the old but good sense of the word, creating a whole atmosphere of pathos and melancholy. The subtle vocal shading and colouring is also amazing. Besides, we have all the exciting technical skills that with Sutherland always helped to develop the melodical flow and not to show off!

[scostatisciagurato]

This is like discovering a diamond necklace in an old suitcase! These videos of her early years finally bring to light that although we all love Callas (most of us anyway), there were others like Joan and Sills who created their own legacies with just as much passion and commitment. This and the Norma trio from Vancouver would give a new listener a real sense of the voice at its absolute peak of beauty, power and style. And her French diction is superb.

[Paddy818]

She builds it to almost unbelievable delirium! Astounding! She and Sills owned this aria. Both were able drive an audience mad with their, what seemed like, improvisational embellishments! Pure spontaneous fireworks and a tradition sadly missing in our polito-artistically correct performances of today.

[bellini7verdi]

@OperaBR fantastico comentario ........totalmente real.........de acuerdo contigo en todo........eres un ser fantastico si piensas asi...........

[bellini7verdi]

alucinantemente unica........la exquisitez dramatica y vocal mas grande de todos los tiempos.....todo un sonido excelso imposible de emular............la diosa vocal dramatica y romantica mas loca de todos los tiempos...............

[UnaverageAmerican]

This really is such a rare jewel. I'm so glad they recorded it back then or else we all would've missed out :)

[Richiesutherland]

Unbelievable. The technical mastery and delicacy combined with the gigantic size of the voice is something that cannot be explained. This is a gift from God. Sutherland does not need to beat her breast or put coal stains around her eyes--you know that she feels the depth of Ophélie's sadness. Totally romantic, and so much better than the post-modern idiocy these days--and then, the singing! The swoop up to high D# at the end alone is staggering.

[lastupidissimo]

SueAnnNivens, THANK YOU for the dedication... i have been watching this video for so long and only JUST noticed your dedication. Thank you, again x

[Homoclassicus]

I find her "Pâle et blonde" just simply moving and innocent. That's how Ophélie should move us, with her simple romantic dreams broken and her innocent and tormented delirium. I get thrilled with highly eletrical interpretations like Dessay's, but I can also admire the simple emotions and pitiful - not scary - madness Sutherland conveys in this scene. Actually my favorite part here are the lyric ones and the dramatic color Sutherland (like few others) could give to her high notes.

[biggayal51]

She is the greatest of the 20th Century.  Will we ever hear a trill like hers again?

She is a vocal miracle!