Rating: 
Summary: God bless Dame Joan Sutherland from E to shining(high)E
Review: A true red blooded American who appreciates Dame Joan Sutherland as the supreme bel canto singer of perhaps all time. This cd proves it. She is in her sublime best here. And every selection is a miracle in the art of the bravura singing. Sure Callas, Galli-Curci, Caballe, Ponselle and Sills were great. But Dame Joan Sutherland is without question the undisputed greatest vocal interpreter of the masterpieces of Bellini, Donizetti, and Rossini.
I challenge anyone to find any recording version of any aria in this complete cd collection that can even come close to Sutherland's super supendous performances here.
God bless Dame Joan Sutherland, from E to shining (high)E!
Rating:
Summary: The Queen of what?????
Review: Ask any Italian person if they can stop from laughing when they listen to Sutherland distorting their language not only to the point of being non-coprehensive but to the point of endless laughs even in the most dramatic parts. That was not articulation... she didnt simply confuse the consonants and swallowed the vowels... she could sing a dramatic phrase so STUPIDLY you could start lauging when she was actually dying on stage!!! That was the reason of the dreadful title "Stupenda" which she hated because she knew it was a word game with the word "Stupinda" which means totally stupid. Sutherland could be killing her children in Norma and making us either sleep from boredome or die from laughing with her articulation problems and total lack of drama She was singing Dormono entrambe as a lulluby, In mia man alfin tu sei as a Love Duet and Deh non volerli vittime as if she were in her garden playing with her flowers. And all that I suppose for keeping her voice until she was 90 years old. I wonder now that she looks back... was it worth keeping her precious top notes for being such a bad interpeter? Bellini sounds like Piccini and Donizzeti like Lampugnani, Verdi sounds like soft Mozart. The only thing valuable in her singing were the 3 minutes of coloratura in each aria of hers... We had to wait to get there, and God helped if she didnt actually get there fast... the audience would fall asleep. I remember seeing her falling down as Lucia...my God what a laughter... And above all how about the non-existing low notes in her voice. When the score demanded low notes she was't singing she was MURMURING as if no-one was watching her, trying to pretend she was not there...But we were there yes... laughing... A miraculous coloratura is not enough not to be the Voice of the Century but not even the No1 of the decade.
Rating:
Summary: the greatest coloratura soprano of our lifetimes, absolutely
Review: Before I begin, I must address the Callas fans who never tire in their anti-Joan rants. I have read ugly reviews for other Sutherland items, but here I have read reviews that sink to new lows, not only maligning Joan's art, but slandering her as a person. What is most appalling is that you betray your fundamental ignorance of the bel canto style. To the reviewer who dismissed "that bouncy" thing from "Son(n)ambula", it's called "Ah, non giunge uman pensiero," and Joan sings it like no other soprano can!
This DVD is a testimony to the legend that is often misrepresented by taking into accounts studio recordings alone. We have all heard Joan recordings that sound mushy and droopy, and have seen live recordings of productions where Joan's acting ability is questionable, at best. But here, acting out selected scenes for television, Joan gets the last laugh, confounding the critics and thrilling the pants of her fans.
Truly, every selection here is a highlight, but a few that are absolutely incredible:
The Mad Scene from Hamlet- Another reviewer said that she sings it better here than on The Art of the Prima Donna, her seminal recital album. Without having seen it, you may think to yourself how this is possible, but it is! Her voice has a more "forward" tilt, and due to the fact that she is acting as well as singing, more attention is given to the words she is singing. Most of all, those clarion high notes are left very much intact, dispelling any myth that they were somehow the result of studio wizardry. Her other competition, past and present, either produce pinched high notes, out-of-tune high notes, wobbly high notes, or high notes projected with a small voice. Not Joan. She sings those high notes like an angel descended from heaven!
The Bellini selections- We are treated to the Mad Scenes from both La Sonnambula and I Puritani, as well as "Ah, Sento il mio bell'angelo" from the end of I Puritani, and Casta Diva from Norma. When she "cries" during "Ah, non credea mirarti", it is truly heart-rending. "Ah, sento...", which was cut from the score due to its difficulty, is sung spectacularly by Joan. Finally, with Norma, we witness the absolute summit of Joan Sutherland- rapturous singing, AND superb, mature acting ability. I dare ANYONE to see this scene, and then dismiss Joan's Norma!!!
Sempre Libera- Another display of mature acting ability. I have never seen Joan sing with this much maturity and worldliness. Her Violetta is a complete creation. In addition to jaw-dropping trills and high notes, she melts us away with her elegant, smooth, tasteful phrasing in "Ah, fors'e lui".
Io Non Sono Piu L'Annetta- A taste of Joan's lighter side. Staged as an elaborate postcard, Joan is first seen swinging in a billowing crinoline dress, singing perfectly. Amid the rosy scenery, she dazzles us with her charm, and even waltzes a bit for us! The trills here are especially ornate.
The Duet from Tosca- Yes, I did find Joan singing Tosca to be a surreal experience. But, it is a testamony to how the world's greatest coloratura could also express lyricism. No, she is not Renata Tebaldi or Magda Olivero. Still, Joan acquits herself very well in the acting department. Just listen to her three successive high notes right before Scarpia hands her her robe. She flubs a bit the diction in Vissi d'Arte, but makes up for it with superb intonation.
The Mad Scene from Lucia- The pinnacle of Joan's contribution to opera and the bel canto tradition. Though we have no visual document of her first Lucia at Covent Garden, which catapulted her to international fame, we have this recreation for television, made just a couple of years later. Joan nuances every line, varying her gestures to display all the facets of Lucia's madness. Instead of a blood-soaked wedding dress, the blood is symbolized by a swatch of red silk. The singing is supernatural. As others have stated, this televised account is better than the mad scene recorded when she sang the role at the Met in 1983.
In summary, this is a vital document for any Sutherland fan.
P.S.- In Joan's autobiography, she mentions recording the Jewel Scene from Gounod's Faust for the Bell Telephone Hour, around the time the scene from La Traviata was recorded. Any idea of why this was not included???
Rating:
Summary: Great sound and picture of a historic DVD
Review: Don't believe the person(s) who say not to get this fabulous recording because it has poor sound and video. He is not telling the truth. I have the DVD, and the sound and picture good. As good as my Callas documentory at least. Remember it's remastered.
This is the most spectacular display of singing I've ever heard. I hate saying it, it sounds like a cliche. But I have no way of stating what is the absolute truth. This recital is nothing sort of phenomenal. Everything you've heard about Dame Joan being the greatest coloratura on the planet I will echo. And I can't even find words to describe just how stupendous this Dvd is. All I can say is, get it, listen to it, and you'll fall in love with it.
Rating:
Summary: spectacular
Review: Easily, the most spectacular recital yet, by the very agile Joan Sutherland. Is she human? All I know is that I've never heard anything like it. She may be one of the great divas in the history of opera. She certainly have no equals when it comes to voice. I don't agree with some ppl who think she is cold. But even if she is cold, the loveliness of her voice far compensates.
She is an icon to be sure. Grab this.
Rating:
Summary: The big deal is the beautiful singing of Dame Joan
Review: Every once in a lifetime, an exceptional opera singer comes along and takes the opera world by storm. Joan Sutherland is that great singer. Zeffirelli called Joan the phenomenal singer of our time, that she was sensational. Pavorotti himself said that Joan Sutherland was definitely the voice of the century, a great artist and beautiful. She is also admired by Horne, Te Kanawa, Merrill, Tebaldi, Domingo and countless other divas and divos of our time.
It is the sublime voice that gave her the name La Stupenda by the Italians who almost never take on to foreigners. But they love Sutherland. Her debut at La Scala earned the diva 30 curtain calls, a record.
As another fan said, this collection of arias from 1961-1968 is the best of Sutherland. I agree. I enjoy this DVD over all others, and consider it essential and necessary.
Rating:
Summary: The Queen of opera...without comparisons...including Callas
Review: Everyone who is an opera lover knows that as a coloratura soprano, Ms Joan Sutherland is beyond compare. Her trills, runs, arpeggios and other tricks in her formidable bag of coloratura gems are so close to perfection that she has been called the "Voice of the Century"by her legions of devoted fans. This recital, "Bell Telephone Hour, 1981-1868" is her greatest hits. So much has been said about the legendary voice of this great Australian diva that I am going to use a quote from a very famous American singing idol to define her phenomenal talents. Dinah Shore, a very famous singer in her own right, though in a quite different style of vocalism, was a big fan of Ms Sutherland. Early in the 1960's (about the time of this record of "The art of the Prima Donna"), Ms Shore invited Joan as a guest on her popular televison show. The following is her introduction of Ms Sutherland... "She's from Australia, she's a soprano, and when she made her debut at Milan's La Scala Opera House, she had to take thirty curtain calls. This is the artist who has critics all over the world calling her a phenomenal singer, possessing a phenomenal voice. She is the most spectacular coloratura ever heard. So I'm proud to invite you now to sit back and - well, pick a word: be thrilled, devastated, knocked out by one of the most magnificent operatic voices of our time. Here to sing for you, 'Ah!fors'e lui' from La Traviata. - Miss Joan Sutherland". She sings that very aria here, with a high E that will floor you. It is spectacular, huge and full of ring(sqillo). The coloraura is incomparable, the highest of tessitura is easy for her, effortless, to be sure. I can see you will rewind and rewind to realize what you've heard!!! She is the "Voice of the Century", and the greatest coloratura in the traditional of Grisi, Malibran, and Jenny Lind...except even better...much better. To conclude, I'm not tryint to exaggerate, but a voice like her's only comes once in a lifetime, if that. Surely, the greatest singer of the last Century, at least.
Rating:
Summary: Must Sills and Callas fans always insult Sutherland?
Review: Everyone who's seen and heard this dvd consider it a wonderful and incredible experience. Sutherland has the most spectacular instrument on the face of this earth. Hear it, believe it.
As for her acting, it is good to me. Not outstanding like Callas. But Sutherland's singing is so good that she is already consider by almost all experts as the coloratura of the Century. Her technique in the art of bel canto is well documented.
This DVD show the soprano in the spring of her career. Every item is superb and a delight. I have not one opera fan whom I show this video to who didn't gasp in awe.
To hear the how Sutherland get the title "Voice of the Century", all you have to do is to listen to this dvd.
Remember, when people attack and insult others, it's a sign of jealousy. It's ok to criticize, but to say someone "stinks". That shows the immaturity of the person. Especially to go to write a critique of a dvd they've never even seen and dismiss it shows insecurity.
Rating:
Summary: To the critic who obviously has a lot of hatred
Review: First things first. This is the most jaw dropping display of vocal perfection I've ever, ever heard. And I have heard almost every great diva and divo who's ever made an opera recording. And nothing even comes close to the wonders of this magical collection. I give it my highest recommendation.
Now to the the next agenda...
Please ignore and forgive the immature remarks from this critic who thinks Dame Joan is a joke. Sutherland can be many things, but she is not a joke. She is the "Voice of the Century". This reviewer sounds angry and is probably an unhappy person. He is obviously jealous of Sutherland's divine musical gifts.
His notion that a great artist must have feelings to be great is false. Is he then dismissing Vladimir Horowitz, considered by many to be the greatest pianist of the Century as being a bore? Horowitz has been criticized to be too perfect techically and have no feeling, like a machine. So Franz Liszt is also boring, because he too was a great virtuoso and was criticize as being not sensitive enough. Another legendary artist is Paginini. He too was criticize for having no feelings, just another virtuoso. In the vocal department, why not also discard Ponselle, Melchoir, Flagstad, Melba, Tetrazzini, Nilsson, Price, Corelli, and countless other great singers who were also said not to show enough emotions and are not great actors or actresses. This is rediculous.
Sutherland's vocal gifts makes her a wonder and she amazes her fans and they worship her as a great prima donna. Her acting may not be the stuff of legends, but her instrument is flawless. Her trills, runs, staccati, and awesome upper register is probably the best the opera world has ever seen. Her vocal instrument can be compare to a Steinway piano comparing to the upright piano instruments of Sills or Callas.
I'm a Sills fan and Callas fan too. But I like Sutherland best because of her incandescent beauty.
I don't even believe you've even seen or heard this incredible dvd yet. But if you can swallow your pride, give it a try. I can bet you will be dumb founded by it's spectacular contents. It is the single most breathtaking display of coloratura singing available in a DVD hands down.
The young Sutherland in this DVD is the earliest in her career. Her voice had consonants then, she could act, and she even is skinny and beautiful. And her coloratura and sublime voice was enough to make Callas retire and take up pottery. This is not to say that Callas was not also super. But in a different way. She and Sills were the consumate singing actresses. But even you have to admit they don't compare to Sutherland when it comes to voice.
You are entitle to your opinion, but to say that the "Voice of the Century" is "not a big deal, what a laugh", you are depriving yourself of one of the great beauties in all of opera...Dame Joan Sutherland.
You yourself admit that Sutherland's voice is an amazing instrument. That alone should deserve 3 stars. Your one star review is obviously a jealous act and insult. Go back to your Callas's or Sills' great roles sites and write your reviews there. I resent your writing a negative review of this beauty without actually heard or seen it.
Rating:
Summary: The most spectacular singing of all time
Review: his if the single most impressive collection of the most taxing coloratura singing ever compiled in a
set of two DVDs. These are recordings of the great Dame from 1960-1968. This is the period
when she reigned supreme - easily surpassing the efforts of Callas, Caballe, Sills and every other
bel canto diva.
The singing has to be heard to be believe. I personally consider this collection to surpass even her
most popular cds including "The art of the Prima Donna". And as a bonus you can watch it as well
as listen to it.
I've already bought several sets of these as gifts and for future use. I believe that when you watch
these dvds you will immediately be convince that you are watching the greatest display of bravura
singing to ever graced a stage - past, present, and future. Bravissima!
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