Joan Sutherland--Mad Scenes

On this CD:

1. I Puritani, opera O rendetemi la speme
Composed by Vincenzo Bellini
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Joan Sutherland, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

2. I Puritani, opera Vien, diletto, è in ciel la luna!
Composed by Vincenzo Bellini
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Joan Sutherland, Piero Cappuccilli, Nicolai Ghiaurov
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

3. Dinorah (Le pardon de Ploërmel), comic opera in 3 acts Bellah! ma chèvre chérie!... Dors, petite
Composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Performed by L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande with Joan Sutherland
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

4. Dinorah (Le pardon de Ploërmel), comic opera in 3 acts Dieu! comme cette nuit... Ombre légère (Shadow Song)
Composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Joan Sutherland
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

5. Hamlet, opera in 5 acts À vos jeux, mes amis, permettez-moi
Composed by Ambroise Thomas
Performed by Welsh National Opera Orchestra with Joan Sutherland
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

6. Hamlet, opera in 5 acts Le voilà! Je crois l'entendre
Composed by Ambroise Thomas
Performed by Welsh National Opera Orchestra with Joan Sutherland
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

7. L' Étoile du Nord, comic opera in 3 acts C'est bien lui... La la la air chéri!
Composed by Giacomo Meyerbeer
Performed by L'Orchestre de la Suisse Romande with Joan Sutherland
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

8. Lucia di Lammermoor, opera Eccola!... O giusto cielo!... Il dolce suono
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
Performed by Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden with Joan Sutherland, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Sherrill Milnes, Pier Francesco Poli
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

9. Lucia di Lammermoor, opera Ohimè! sorge il tremendo fantasma
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
Performed by Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden with Joan Sutherland, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Sherrill Milnes, Pier Francesco Poli
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

10. Lucia di Lammermoor, opera S'avenga Enrico!
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
Performed by Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden with Joan Sutherland, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Sherrill Milnes, Pier Francesco Poli
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

11. Lucia di Lammermoor, opera Spargi d'amoro pianto
Composed by Gaetano Donizetti
Performed by Royal Opera House Orchestra Covent Garden with Joan Sutherland, Nicolai Ghiaurov, Sherrill Milnes, Pier Francesco Poli
Conducted by Richard Bonynge

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Joan Sutherland is spectacular in these operatic selections, almost all of which were recorded during her prime--between 1962 and 1971--when her voice was at its freshest, and mannerisms such as sloppy diction and droopy phrasing were at a minimum. The characters here depicted are tragically loony, permitting the composers to lavish upon them coloratura fantasies that make for exciting listening, but restrict the roles to the few singers who are capable of managing the swirls and trills of the high tessitura. Sutherland reveled in these parts; the more difficult, the better. It's impossible to select highlights in a disc that's brimming with them, but her signature role, Lucia di Lammermoor, with its flowing vocal line and ravishing soprano-flute duet, offers some of the most exciting singing you'll ever hear; the top notes never strained, always full and rounded. But, then, everything else on this indispensable disc is a delight. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

I Puritani: O rendetemi la speme
I Puritani: Vien, diletto, e in ciel la luna!
Dinorah: Bellah! ma chevre cherie!...Dors, petite
Dinorah: Dieu! comme cette nuit...Ombre legere (Shadow Song)
Hamlet: A vos jeux, mes amis, permettez-moi
Hamlet: Le voila! Je crois l'entendre
L'Etoile du Nord: C'est bien lui...La la la air cheri!
Lucia di Lammermoor: Eccola!...O giusto cielo!...Il dolce suono
Lucia di Lammermoor: Ohime! sorge il tremendo fantasma
Lucia di Lammermoor: S'avanza Enrico!
Lucia di Lammermoor: Spargi d'amaro pianto

Amazon.com

Joan Sutherland is spectacular in these operatic selections, almost all of which were recorded during her prime--between 1962 and 1971--when her voice was at its freshest, and mannerisms such as sloppy diction and droopy phrasing were at a minimum. The characters here depicted are tragically loony, permitting the composers to lavish upon them coloratura fantasies that make for exciting listening, but restrict the roles to the few singers who are capable of managing the swirls and trills of the high tessitura. Sutherland reveled in these parts; the more difficult, the better. It's impossible to select highlights in a disc that's brimming with them, but her signature role, Lucia di Lammermoor, with its flowing vocal line and ravishing soprano-flute duet, offers some of the most exciting singing you'll ever hear; the top notes never strained, always full and rounded. But, then, everything else on this indispensable disc is a delight. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Stupenda indeed!.......2006-12-30

Sutherland knocks the socks off the listener in each of these selections. This is a fantastic introduction if you really want to know why Sutherland was the reigning queen of colouratura in her day.
Superb sound and recordings range from early 70's to early 80's.

And interesting album.......2004-05-07

This is an interesting album. The Puritani is from 1973, Hamlet from 1983 (wow!), and the Lucia from 1971. This is like a showcase of the later Sutherland voice. It's different from the younger voice. It's a darker, wiser tone. For starters, let's take the Hamlet scene. Not quite as many fireworks as the 1960 one, but the vibrato isn't so fluttery and kinda out of control. It's a slower, more steady and studied tone. She wisely omits some of the high notes (I mean, she's 57 for heaven's sake!). I consider a lesson in how to sing healthily and proper in the later vocal years. It's really a lesson to all singers to just hear her. The Puritani is magical. Just beautiful eerily cool music. The ornaments in the second aria are really quite amazing. And the high Eb at the end of Vien, diletto is amazing. Just that trademark Eb like she does in Traviata. Perfection. This Lucia is actually my favorite compared to her 1959 and 1961 ones. Now, don't get me wrong, each of those is wonderful in their own fabulous ways. The 1959 is fresh and bright and exciting. The 1961 is a clear understandable and beautiful tone with all the great ornaments she was working on as she was developing the role. I find this one super cool because it's just cool to hear how this voice can still have handle the demanding Lucia lines. Cause you see, her voice was getting heavier with age and it's just kinda amazing to hear "Wow! She's still got the chops!"

A great follow up to..........2004-01-13

Callas' Mad Scenes Album, I love this CD. Joan sings the hell out of each piece even though the interpretations and characters suffer from it, I barely hear any madness... Anyway, I want to comment on several things written here:

1)What one music class (Which school is that) says doesn't mean a thing, I trust my own ears and known experts like Steane, Kesting and Porter.

2)The Sills-Fan isn't worth a thought, I too think he's an immature brat.

Sutherland rules, who's this Beverly Sills.......2003-07-14

Sorry for not being current, or I'm too young. But who is Beverly Sills? I thought with Sutherland retired, the reigning soprano is Renee Fleming.
Whoever she is. Her fans are getting annoying. I'll be sure that I don't take any of their recommendations.

Sutherland "Voice of the Century".......2003-07-13

In a music 111 class, I compared divas Sutherland, Sills, and Callas all singing the mad scene from Lucia. I didn't say who was who.
It was my final project. And I handed a survey to see who is the better bel canto singer.
Sutherland--1971 recording
Sills-------1969 recroding
Callas------1955 recording
Here is the results.
1)Sutherland....40 votes
2)Sills.........07 votes
3)Callas........00 votes
I got an A on the project. And the students were astonished by Sutherland's mad scene by a huge margin, as you can see. NO one voted for Callas.
Without question, Sutherland is the best coloratura, at least with the Lucia mad scene. But this set has all mad scenes. Some even more difficult than the Lucia. I invite you to hear this, and make up your mind
Dont let some immature kid who just know how to call people names and bash Sutherland influence you. Listen to Sutherland. You will be a believer.

Music Track:

Music Track

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