Joan Sutherland, "Stupendous" Soprano, Dies at 83

[Lydia Leftcoast]

Source: New York Times

Joan Sutherland, one the most acclaimed sopranos of the 20th century, who followed the path of Maria Callas and helped revitalize the bel canto repertory of early-19th-century Italian opera, died in Switzerland on Monday morning, according to published reports. She was 83.

After Ms. Sutherland’s 1960 Italian debut in Venice, the country’s notoriously picky critics dubbed this Australian-born soprano “La Stupenda” (“The Stupendous One”). For 40 years the name endured with opera-lovers around the world. Even those with reservations about aspects of Mr. Sutherland’s artistry readily agreed that she was a stupendous soprano.

Read more: http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/joan-sutherland-stupendous-soprano-dies-at-83/?hp

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I never saw her in person, only heard recordings, but she was indeed amazing.

[joeybee12]

1. Very sad...RIP.

[NV Whino]

2. R.I.P. Ms Sutherland

I saw her in person in the first opera I ever attended (and several times after that). It made me a lifelong fan. She was indeed La Stupenda.

[JitterbugPerfume]

3. rest in peace Joan Sutherland

you were fabulous

[BrklynLiberal]

4. Sad news. I had no idea she had been around THAT long...

Guess with the advent of TV, one gets to keep seeing old performances and loses track of the actual age of a lot of public figures...

[Beacool]

5. Oh no, I loved her singing.

I saw her and Pavarotti at the Met in several operas. They were wonderful together. I hope that they are now singing a duet in heaven.

Rest in peace.

:(

[TuxedoKat]

6. How sad

I loved her singing too. RIP Ms. Sutherland.

[JDPriestly]

7. She was my idol. What a marvelous voice. Truly a gift from heaven.

[canetoad]

8. Tremendous voice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEZE187rQEA

The fabulous 'Vendetta' aria from Don Giovanni, 'Ora sai chi l'ono '.

[Botany]

9. The Great Joan Sutherland

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwhiKxAGRjs

[Aristus]

10. What a coincidence.

I was just listening to the Woodbird passages from Wagner's "Siegfried". Sutherland was the first soprano to portray the Woodbird on a full-length recording of the opera.

R.I.P., Ms. Sutherland...

[xchrom]

11. We miss you La Stupenda! Nt

[madrchsod]

12. dam, two greats died this weekend.

[mitchum]

13. Rest In Peace La Stupenda

[Manifestor_of_Light]

14. i saw her in person.

The only time she came to Houston. About 1974.

She was "Lucrezia Borgia". The costume department messed up. They put a redhead in a purple dress. I thought that was pretty tacky. Deep green would have worked well. Anything but purple.


Amazing woman with an amazing voice.