Rating: 
Summary: How can anyone bash a tearful farewell to a 63 diva
Review: To be truthful, I never watched the opera Fledermous itself. I bought this mainly for Dame Joan Sutherland, whom I love both as an artist and a person.
The fanfare and the ovations are both exciting and bittersweet. It was a farewell party to end all farewell party. I must have watched this a thousand times, and never tire of it.
I am sadden that someone would hate this great lady so much that he gave three star to this just because Miss Sutherland was the person being honored here. He added that had Dame Joan not be there, he would have given five stars.
My word, this is a 63 year old soprano who has given so much to opera. She's opened doors to so many great singers such as Domingo, Pavarotti, Horne, among others who may not have reach their zenith as quickly had Dame Joan not promoted their talents.
I do not think she sang terribly. She's 63 years old! Her voice is a shadow of what it once was, which was the most magnificent soprano in the world. But a shadow of La Stupenda's voice is still better than almost everyone else in opera today, she is that great. I personally found the Traviata duet with Pavarotti very beautiful and touching. You can clearly see how much the great tenor adores our diva.
I do have to say that the "Mon coeur s'ouvre a ta voix" sung by Marilyn Horne was gorgeous. What a voice she has.
I'm sorry, I have to change the subject. As I'm crying as I watch this video. The overwhelming ovations are well deserve. She will, and always will be the one and only, Prima Donna Assoluta.
Rating:
Summary: People will most likely remember this for the gala...
Review: which celebrates Joan Sutherland's years of stupendous singing at Covent Garden. She still has it, as can be seen, and she also brings along two colleagues with whom she was identified throughout her prime: Marilyn Horne and Luciano Pavarotti. They also give quite a sing, and her husband Richard Bonynge conducts lovingly from the pit. (There's also quite a bit of ballet, which may not please hard-core opera fans like myself, but watch it in fast-forward - it's hilarious!) But the performance itself is not to be taken lightly. As the "bat" of the title, Anthony Michaels-Moore is a sly presence, shown mechaneering the plot events to his advantage. his diction is clear, and he tosses high As at the end of his Act 1 duet with Eisenstein with ease. As Eisenstein, Louis Otey sings well - unfortunately, he's another high baritone singing this tenor role, and there's a sort of puffiness that invades his timbre. His wife Rosalinde is taken with savage wit by Nancy Gustafson, and in Act 2 her Hungarian countess has flair. Her tone comes off as a little lumpy, only really noticeable in the florid passages in the watch duet and the Csardas. Adele, the maid, is taken by Judith Howarth, who (thank GOD!) doesn't present the little ninny of tradition, but a spunky creature who uses guts to get the night off from Rosalinde in Act 1 (where most Adeles whine and simper) and face a stand-off with Eisenstein in Act 2 (where most faint and shriek away). Her cadenza in her Act 3 audition aria includes a fabulous trill on top D. Bonaventura Bottone is a wonderful Alfred, a delicious caricature of an Italian tenor (although frankly, Strauss never specified Alfred as being Italian). The rest of the cast is a real ensemble, and the end result is superb. John Mortimer's translation is excellent, although I had to snag myself a print copy of it to double-check what was being said / sung at specific times. The cast (with an interesting mix of Anglo and American) generally performs it well.
Rating:
Summary: Girl, this is fabulous
Review: Yes, this is one of my favorite dvds. Dame Joan Sutherland, the quintessential diva. Girl, I've been around a long time, and this is the most fabulous gala. It tears me up to see my favorite diva being honored by her adoring fans. If I had a thousand dollars I would have been there myself. And yell brava until I lose my voice.
Rating:
Summary: to the "clumpy and awkward" "critic" Jan
Review: You know quite well that this cd is all about the retirement banquet of the greatest diva of the last century. So stop bashing the quite good performance of a fabulous Die Fledermous and enjoy the party honoring one of opera's all time greats.
You can also purchase a few good vintage Sutherland DVD's and educate yourself that we are indeed fortunate to have so many recordings visually and vocally of a true musical giant as Dame Joan.
Rating:
Summary: Dame joan, you'll be missed, you remain Prima Donna Assoluta
Review: Your voice in its prime is the greatest the operatic world had ever heard. Here, in your retirement at 63 you still "have it". Although the golden sound is only 30% of what it once was, which was incomparable nad the most beautiful soprano before the public, you still have the personality and stage presence that raises the temperature of the opera house everytime you walk in.
There is only one Joan. And she has no equals.
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