Very very sad to hear of the death of Joan Sutherland today aged 83. Hard to realise that the opera stars I loved as a child and a teenager are gradually vanishing from the music scene. Maria Callas, who I think is one of the greatest sopranos ever, died a while back but I can still remember how shocked I was at her death when she was only in her early fifties. One felt her life, despite its great success, had been one of sadness and heartbreak. Along with Callas I listened to Dame Joan Sutherland, a totally different singer, both vocally and temperamentally. No diva tantrums or bad press for Dame Joan, she was as
down to earth as she appeared, both delightful and charming. In some ways her equable and unflappable character impinged on her roles and I felt at times that her characterisation was somewhat lacking, but this was more than compensated for by the Voice.
What a glorious voice it was. I never heard an ugly note or one that was not hit slap bang in the middle. Her coloratura and the trills and decorations could make you tingle so precise and beautiful were they. I saw her in various operas, not as many as I would like, but of course the one which propelled her to stardom was Lucia di Lammermoor by Donizetti where the wonderful Zeffirelli production, which stayed in the House for many many years, suited her to the ground. Zeffirelli made use of her tall frame, her big boned body and had her running and swooping round the stage particularly in the mad scene where she trilled and sang as she ran in the most breathtaking manner, ending up with a spectacular seemingly boneless fall to the ground. I was twelve years old when I saw it and it remains as clear in my mind as if it was yesterday. Words cannot describe the audience reaction - they just went Stark Staring Mad and cheered and yelled and stamped and shrieked and it was a night to remember and bring out and talk about as I am doing now.
I have already posted about Dame Joan in an earlier post and here is the link for you here.
I have two recordings of Lucia with Dame Joan in the title role. The first one she recorded in 1960 under the conductor, Sir John Pritchard, an elegant and inspirational musician and this is the one to have. The score is not complete, as it is in the later recording she made with Pavarotti and conducted by her husband, Richard Bonynge, but this captures her voice at its clearest, freshest and most beautiful. I have both of these on my shelves and shall be playing one later on this evening in memory of a wonderful singer and a wonderful woman.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-11517601
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/oct/11/dame-joan-sutherland-obituary
I expect there will be full obituaries and appreciation in tomorrow's newspapers as the announcement of her death has just been made.
Oh I am so sad.
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