Joan Sutherland - Jon Vickers - James Pease The Mastersingers of Nuremburg, Act III Prize Song Orchestra and Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden Conductor: Rafael Kubelik 5 May 1957
Actually, I think the weakest diction here is Vickers' (I can barely understand a word of the verse of the Prize Song)--but who cares? Wagner is not a diction class, and to hear this music sung like this is a privilege! Pease is excellent, but that first attack of Joan's on "Oh Sach, my friend, how kind thou art!" is astonishing in bite and size! This is not from a complete performance, I believe, but a program of excerpts.
Simply stunning! Dame Joan is marvellous, but Jon Vickers is even more so. Walther lay too high for him to keep it in his repertoire, but here he is absolutely magnificent. And Vickers and Pease demonstrate would diction is all about (unfortunately Dame Joan is not in the same league in this respect). The entire recording must exist - and must definitely be released!
it's hard to believe they're so younger here. they both sound like they're in their late 40s
raigekimaru 1 year ago
Actually, I think the weakest diction here is Vickers' (I can barely understand a word of the verse of the Prize Song)--but who cares? Wagner is not a diction class, and to hear this music sung like this is a privilege! Pease is excellent, but that first attack of Joan's on "Oh Sach, my friend, how kind thou art!" is astonishing in bite and size! This is not from a complete performance, I believe, but a program of excerpts.
Richiesutherland 1 year ago
Simply stunning! Dame Joan is marvellous, but Jon Vickers is even more so. Walther lay too high for him to keep it in his repertoire, but here he is absolutely magnificent. And Vickers and Pease demonstrate would diction is all about (unfortunately Dame Joan is not in the same league in this respect). The entire recording must exist - and must definitely be released!
Jass077 1 year ago
@raigekimaru
Brunnhilde and Isolde might have benn too heavy for her but ythanks for your
thoughts.
Regards-John
65attila 1 year ago
@65attila
she would have made a wonderful brunnhilde with that shining upper register.
raigekimaru 1 year ago
I think Dame Joan could have sung some Wagner roles beautifully. Vickers of course is in his Fach
65attila 1 year ago
Interesting the amount of "bite" in Vickers' voice at this young age.
crabbe88 1 year ago