Joan Sutherland with verismo and...

[wagnernn]

I've created a topic about Birgit Nilsson with Verdi and Puccini and now, let's discuss about Sutherland with many Verismo roles.

[Wendell_E]

I've created a topic about Birgit Nilsson with Verdi and Puccini and now, let's discuss about Sutherland with many Verismo roles.

OK:

Sutherland didn't sing many versimo roles.   

[Tsaraslondon]

OK:

Sutherland didn't sing many versimo roles.   

And, apart from Turandot, which she only sang in the studio, those that she did sing would not be numbered amongst her greatest successes.

[marvinbrown]

And, apart from Turandot, which she only sang in the studio, those that she did sing would not be numbered amongst her greatest successes.

  I am going to have to agree with Tsaraslondon on this one.  I can't imagine Sutherland in that genre of opera, imagine if she attempted the role of Tosca  (did she??). No joke here but  I think I'll be looking for the exit doors immediately!

  marvin

[Wendell_E]

I can't imagine Sutherland in that genre of opera, imagine if she attempted the role of Tosca  (did she??).

I'm pretty sure she didn't.  As far as I know, the most versitic roles she did on stage were Suor Angelica and Adriana Lecouvreur.  In addition to Turandot, (though calling that verismo really stretches the definition of the term) she also recorded Leoni's L'Oracolo.  She recorded all four of those operas, but the Turandot, which I love (the recording, not particularly the opera) is the only one I've heard.

Edit:  I found a list of her stage appearances (http://www.ffaire.com/sutherland/roles.html).  No Tosca.  Looks like four performances Suor Angelica was all the Puccini she did on-stage.

[val]

Verdi's operas cannot be qualified as "verists". Sutherland was a very good Traviata -I saw her performing on stage - but, in general I prefer Sutherland in Bellini and Donizetti.

Regarding Puccini, I only heard Sutherland in Turandot (not a verist opera) and I liked it very much.

I never heard Sutherland in realistic or verist roles, like Tosca, Andre Chenier, Pagliaci, Cavalleria Rusticana, Il Tabarro or La Wally.

[wagnernn]

Did Sutherland sang Giovanna d'Arco? I've read that she did,but I can't find it in any websites!
I think the famous aria from this opera by Tebaldi (in Youtube ) is very good,so Sutherland should make it better because  of her powerful voice.

[Tsaraslondon]

Did Sutherland sang Giovanna d'Arco? I've read that she did,but I can't find it in any websites!
I think the famous aria from this opera by Tebaldi (in Youtube ) is very good,so Sutherland should make it better because  of her powerful voice.

I don't know if she sang it or not, but there is no doubt that she could have done. Like a lot of early Verdi, I'd have no doubt it would have suited her rather well.

(Incidentally Caballe is very fine in the complete recording on EMI)

[bricon]

Did Sutherland sang Giovanna d'Arco? I've read that she did,but I can't find it in any websites!

It wasn't a role in Sutherland's (stage) repertoire.

Sutherland's stage roles

[zamyrabyrd]

It wasn't a role in Sutherland's (stage) repertoire.
Sutherland's stage roles

Very interesting, 221 (the most by far) performances of Lucia, with 111 next in line of Norma.
She wasn't the Queen in Gloriana but she was great in Oratorio: "Let the Bright Seraphim", as shining as the silver trumpets.

ZB

[knight66]

Interesting to read the list of roles and the frequency of each. Some of the Verdi, which seemed to suit her, was done very few times. I assume she could sing pretty much whatever she liked, since Leonora in Trovatore suited her so well, I wonder why she did not sing it more often.

It looks like Suor Angelica got a single run of four performances, presumably she did not feel attracted to the part.

What an enormous amount of music she got through, I know some singers have perhaps doubled that amount, but it boggles my brain to think of someone being able to memorise it all, even part by part.

Mike

[wagnernn]

Who is better in Violetta (La Traviata) and Elvira (I puritani),Sutherland or Sills?

[Mozart]

I was shocked to learn that Joan Sutherland sang in Giulini's DG. I can understand the words, what's up with that?

[Tsaraslondon]

I was shocked to learn that Joan Sutherland sang in Giulini's DG. I can understand the words, what's up with that?

This was an early recording and was produced by Walter Legge, who put great importance on the text. Actually, if you hear her first Covent Garden Lucia di Lammermoor, conducted by Serafin and now available on the Royal Opera House's own label, she makes much more of the words than she did even a short while later. Maybe Serafin and Zeffirelli, both Italians, had something to do with this.

[Lilas Pastia]

I was shocked to learn that Joan Sutherland sang in Giulini's DG. I can understand the words, what's up with that?

I've always thought that CFT would have suited her better. I don't think she ever sang it.

[Sarastro]

I can't imagine Sutherland in that genre of opera, imagine if she attempted the role of Tosca  (did she??).

Anyway...
She did the scene and the aria...she never sang this role completely on stage, but Tito Gobbi thought she should have done it. Here:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=wQ_SR3eVt0I

I'm not Tito Gobbi, but I also think she could...remember how she began her carrier? Then Bonynge made her coloratura and she reigned in belcanto, it was an endless field, so she could have stayed there forever.

And somewhere on youtube I saw her Mimi's farewell. 

[Sarastro]

The only thing I don't like about her is baroque...and Queen of the Night. She was great enough not to sing it, having a very weak high F.

[knight66]

I think of Mozart as being classical rather than baroque, he was born at the extreme end of that era. Sutherland did to an extent specialise in Handel when she was fairly young. But to our ears now, she would not go down well in most Handel, her voice being too generous, she swamps the music I feel.

Mike

[Sarastro]

I think of Mozart as being classical rather than baroque

That's why I wrote baroque and Queen of the Night.

[knight66]

Thank you; I see.

Mike