Rating: 
Summary: Love this but...
Review: I absolutely love this DVD, it presents us with some of Joanie's greatest singing. But I also have to defend Callas here: "She was not a nice person", and that based on a "Live CD"?? I guess that was some interview or something, but since I have all of them I find nothing particurlarly cruel in them. And even if she HAD slipped once or twice: One cannot judge a person one NEVER met based on an interview or something she once said. All of us have and had moments of cruelty, we can still be nice people. And Caballe called Maria her "sweetest friend and advisor" for example. What does Callas character have to do with this DVD anyway? I find such comments to be off topic and rather petty. Sutherland too said some unfriendly things that were recorded, as did Domingo, Pavarotti, Tebaldi etc. So what? Tebaldi is sweetness herself. I believe that a singer's nature and feelings are their own business, not ours to judge. I wouldn't dare to judge someone I never met on something I heard on a "live CD". Following the books Callas was tense but when at ease she could even be hilarious and make mock of herself as a prima donna.
Rating:
Summary: Love this but...
Review: I absolutely love this DVD, it presents us with some of Joanie's greatest singing. But I also have to defend Callas here: "She was not a nice person", and that based on a "Live CD"?? I guess that was some interview or something, but since I have all of them I find nothing particurlarly cruel in them. And even if she HAD slipped once or twice: One cannot judge a person one NEVER met based on an interview or something she once said. All of us have and had moments of cruelty, we can still be nice people. And Caballe called Maria her "sweetest friend and advisor" for example. What does Callas character have to do with this DVD anyway? I find such comments to be off topic and rather petty. Sutherland too said some unfriendly things that were recorded, as did Domingo, Pavarotti, Tebaldi etc. So what? Tebaldi is sweetness herself. I believe that a singer's nature and feelings are their own business, not ours to judge. I wouldn't dare to judge someone I never met on something I heard on a "live CD". Following the books Callas was tense but when at ease she could even be hilarious and make mock of herself as a prima donna.
Rating:
Summary: 6 Stars again Dame Joan
Review: I am obvously a big fan of Dame Joan.Her coloratura is definitely incomparable. The video and sound is reasonable, bearing in mind it was recorded forty years ago ( Hence that captured her absolute prime ).I don't want to be lengthy, as most customers already gave this a great review.Just buy it and there'll be no regrets---garanteed.
Rating:
Summary: The DVD of the year for stupendous singing
Review: I have never in my life heard anything like this. I am a huge opera fan, and I don't believe my ears!
This is a Sutherland that I've never heard. The voice is sooooooooo beautiful. The high notes and the coloratura so exact and easy. I'm sorry, but this has to be the most astonishing collection of coloratura arias I've ever heard. And as for drooping or mushiness. I never heard any of it here. I've heard that from Sutherland elsewhere.
I do see three or four very nasty and angry sounding critiques by a person who obviously hate Sutherland. One bad review is enough, why do you write four bad reviews? I'm a handwriting specialist, I can tell by your writing pattern that you are doing that, so don't deny it, just stop it.
Anyhoo, I thought the Lucia was good. But the Sutherland here is way beyond that, it's awesome. Sorry I'm going on and on, but I never knew she could sing like this, or anyone, for that matter. Callas was formerly my favorite soprano, but no way can she sing like the Joan Sutherland here.
I am a fan for life.
P.S. Any suggestions? I want more of this.
Rating: 
Summary: Technically, a work for the archives
Review: I must admit that I was disappointed with this DVD. I purchased this DVD based on some familiarity with Joan Sutherland's voice and the distinctly positive input from the reviewers of this disc. Joan Sutherland was in her vocal prime prior to the advances of today's recording technology and this fact has resulted in a recording that is less than perfect. (Certainly not her fault) Some of the audio performances are scratchy and the videos in some are slightly flawed. The settings look typical of the late50-early 60's TV production and by today's standard, I suppose, are outdated.
If you may have seen these performances live or been familiar with J. Sutherlands' talents when she was at her best, you might really enjoy this disc.
To me the DVD was expensive and the above mentioned technical flaws did not allow me to appreciate this work as I had expected. I suppose I should be grateful that these recordings are available at all, and I am, but..... Technically, at best, a work for the archives: useful for a look in the past at this great singer and her God given talent, but not something I would want to play everyday.
Rating: 
Summary: Well, as for a review
Review: I too am floored by this exquisite DVD but not by some of the most ignorant reviews here of which I wish to correct one in particular. "Everyone who is an opera lover knows that as a coloratura soprano, Ms Joan Sutherland is beyond compare." If that were the case one might sue all the critics and experts who did just that. Sutherland as a singer was human, she too had flaws. But to that later. "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." Tricks, a good word to describe it. Why not one word on her interpretation? Did her Traviata move you? Did her Casta Diva deliver the agony of a tormented woman? (To me it does on this DVD but not to this raving reviewer?) "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!!!" Coloratura, eh? Anyway, amazing to see that one high note is all being described here. Since "Ah forse lui" is neither a coloratura-fest nor a tricks-gallery I wonder why there is no description of inflections, interpretation, drama and vocal colouring? What did Sutherland do with the role, the text and Verdi's concept? "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." This is absolute nonsense for several reasons. A) Neither of us has heard Lind, Grisi or Malibran, so saying Sutherland was so much better is ignorant. Malibran had NOTHING in common with Sutherland, she was a soprano sfogato. The comparison to Lind and Grisi makes sense but not the judgement on singers one cannot have heard because they never made recordings and lived over 125 years ago. So singers one has not even heard of have to be bashed in order to praise Miss Sutherland? That's ignorant humbug. "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." Sure, you're not. But answer me this: Have you heard ladies like Patti, Melba and Tetrazzini to make such a bold comment? As for this DVD: It IS a must buy for every operalover and indeed, Sutherland is in spectacular form here.
Rating:
Summary: Well, as for a review
Review: I too am floored by this exquisite DVD but not by some of the most ignorant reviews here of which I wish to correct one in particular. "Everyone who is an opera lover knows that as a coloratura soprano, Ms Joan Sutherland is beyond compare." If that were the case one might sue all the critics and experts who did just that. Sutherland as a singer was human, she too had flaws. But to that later. "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." Tricks, a good word to describe it. Why not one word on her interpretation? Did her Traviata move you? Did her Casta Diva deliver the agony of a tormented woman? (To me it does on this DVD but not to this raving reviewer?) "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!!!" Coloratura, eh? Anyway, amazing to see that one high note is all being described here. Since "Ah forse lui" is neither a coloratura-fest nor a tricks-gallery I wonder why there is no description of inflections, interpretation, drama and vocal colouring? What did Sutherland do with the role, the text and Verdi's concept? "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." This is absolute nonsense for several reasons. A) Neither of us has heard Lind, Grisi or Malibran, so saying Sutherland was so much better is ignorant. Malibran had NOTHING in common with Sutherland, she was a soprano sfogato. The comparison to Lind and Grisi makes sense but not the judgement on singers one cannot have heard because they never made recordings and lived over 125 years ago. So singers one has not even heard of have to be bashed in order to praise Miss Sutherland? That's ignorant humbug. "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." Sure, you're not. But answer me this: Have you heard ladies like Patti, Melba and Tetrazzini to make such a bold comment? As for this DVD: It IS a must buy for every operalover and indeed, Sutherland is in spectacular form here.
Rating:
Summary: stunning
Review: I'm not good with words, but I am impressed by this recital. I don't know how she can hit all those high notes
Rating:
Summary: Five star power for the Queen of bel canto
Review: I'm not good with words. I only know that this Bell Telephone DVD is incredible. I have always been a die hard fan of La Stupenda. But never have I heard her in this state of voice as it is here. Maybe it is that she did it 40 years ago when she was still young.
It puts all of my other Sutherland cds and dvds to shame. And that includes the Lucia and the Lucrecia Borgia.
I sit here and read all the remarkable and raving reviews and incredible as it may sound, these fans are not exaggerating. This really is the most spectacular display of bravura singing that has been recorded. But the only way to convince you that this is the epitomy of great singing is to experience this. After that, you'll be a believer, and a fan for life. As I have.
Rating:
Summary: GOOD PICTURE! GOOD SOUND! STUPENDOUS SINGING!
Review: Ignore the "basher" who says the sound and film is not good. It is a DVD, the sound and video is fine. I happen to own this dvd, so I know, and I consider it one of my treasures. The singing by the very young Dame Joan is incomparable. The voice itself is so fresh and girlish. Yet so large and flexible. What she does with the coloratura fireworks is nothing short of spectacular. The highlights are too many to name. But for sure the mad scene from Hamlet is one of them. She tosses off coloratura scales and runs like they were nothing, staccatos like a machine gun, and her high notes are awesome! They are huge... yet full of ring and they are as clear as can be. Oh, yeah, they're also dead on and effortless. As for her celebrated trill, it's in full bloom here. She can do it flawlessly with ease and as high as high B! Absolutely the highlight of the entire set is another mad scene, the one from "Lucia di Lammermoor". Dame Joan sings this better than both of her legendary recordings for Decca Records. You have to see this one to believe it. I personally had my jaws dropped on the floor for the entire scene. Actually my jaws were dropped from the first aria of this monumental DVD to the last. This really is Dame Joan Sutherland in her prime. The very best. I give this the highest recommendation I can make.
| 
