Dame Joan Sutherland,
7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010
The Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s.One of the most remarkable female opera singers of the 20th century, she was dubbed La Stupenda by a La Fenice audience in 1960 after a performance of the title role in Handel's "Alcina" . She possessed a voice of beauty and power, combining extraordinary agility, accurate intonation, "supremely" pinpoint staccatos , a splendid trill and a tremendous upper register, although music critics often complained about the imprecision of her diction. Her friend Luciano Pavarotti once called Sutherland the "Voice of the Century"; Montserrat Caballé described the Australian's voice as being like "heaven".
I just love the power that Sutherland has in this aria. Magnificent singing.
7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010
The Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s.One of the most remarkable female opera singers of the 20th century, she was dubbed La Stupenda by a La Fenice audience in 1960 after a performance of the title role in Handel's "Alcina" . She possessed a voice of beauty and power, combining extraordinary agility, accurate intonation, "supremely" pinpoint staccatos , a splendid trill and a tremendous upper register, although music critics often complained about the imprecision of her diction. Her friend Luciano Pavarotti once called Sutherland the "Voice of the Century"; Montserrat Caballé described the Australian's voice as being like "heaven".
I just love the power that Sutherland has in this aria. Magnificent singing.
Attila the Hun.
"Attila" is certainly a well-known Verdi opera (although maybe not one of his masterpieces, like "Rigoletto"). This music clip, featuring the wonderful Joan Sutherland in her prime (1963), shows us how one of "Attila"'s arias, "Santo di patria", can become a real showpiece in the right hands.
Not many sopranos can sing this ball busting aria. Attila the Hun murdered Odabella's father, who was the Lord of Aquileia, her she swears to revenge her fathers murder. Attila's is so impressed by her courage that he hands her a sword. At the end of the opera she kills him with that sword.
I just love the power that Sutherland has in this aria. Magnificent singing.
Click to listen.
Not many sopranos can sing this ball busting aria. Attila the Hun murdered Odabella's father, who was the Lord of Aquileia, her she swears to revenge her fathers murder. Attila's is so impressed by her courage that he hands her a sword. At the end of the opera she kills him with that sword.
I just love the power that Sutherland has in this aria. Magnificent singing.
Click to listen.
I saw this opera twice. The first time in 1993 at Covent Garden with Samuel Ramey as" Attila" and the South African born soprano Elizabeth Connell as Odabella.
Samuel Ramey and Elizabeth Connell. "Attila"
The role of Odabella was sung by Violeta Urmana. In this production the costumes were designed by Miuccia Prada. She had great problems designing costumes for "women" and not models. Even with Ricardo Muti as conductor the opera was not very well received.
Violeta Urmana and Ildar Abdrazakov "Attila" Metropolitan Opera
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