Joan Sutherland

Joan Sutherland is a Soprano Australia, does not celebrate in particular for its contribution to the revival of the art of the Bel canto in the years 1950 and 1960.

Its beginnings

Born in 1926 with Sydney and girl from a Mezzo-soprano having given up his career, it learns initially much from his/her mother with whom it sings and listens to many recordings. She attends the school Sainte Catherine de Waverley, the oldest establishment Anglican of Sydney. At eighteen years, years, it starts serious studies of song. She begins in 1947 in Australia by singing Didon from the Didon and Énée from Purcell. In 1949 it gains the most important contest of Australia, Sun Aria, and it leaves for England in order to study at the School of opera of the Royal College off Music. In 1951, she sings for the creation of Judith of Eugene Goossens. Its European beginnings take place on October 28th, 1952 with Covent Garden in the role of the First Lady of the Magic Flute of Mozart.

At the beginning of its career, it is formed with the repertory of dramatic soprano Wagnerian, according to the example of Kirsten Flagstad which it regards as the largest professional singer having ever sung. In 1953, she interprets its first great role with Covent Garden, Amelia in a Ball masked of Verdi, that she connects with Aïda . Always in 1953, it takes part in the creation of Gloriana of Benjamin Britten. In 1954, she marries the pianist and leader Richard Bonynge, which convince it to specialize in beautiful the canto since she has a remarkable ease in the higher register of colorature. From 1954 to 1957, it successfully approaches a broad repertory of roles coloratures and dramatic: Eva of the Main Singers of Nuremberg of Wagner, Agathe of the Freischütz of Weber, Desdemona of Otello , Gilda of Rigoletto , Donna Anna of Don Giovanni and much of others.

In 1957, she sings Alcina Händel, undertaking with this role her redécouverte forgotten operas of the period baroque and belcantist. In 1958, she sings Mrs Lidoine at the time of first English Dialog of the Carmelite nuns of Francis Poulenc.

Stupenda

In 1959, one offers to him to sing Lucia de Lammermoor with Covent Garden under the musical direction of Tullio Serafin, in a setting in scene of Franco Zefirelli. This role transforms the career of Joan Sutherland and scene of the madness made of it celebrates it a star. In 1960, it records the Art of Prima donna , which constitutes one of the most remarkable recordings of operatic arias never carried out.

In 1960, Sutherland became a vocal miracle and a large diva. She sings Lucia with Paris with great success then in 1961 with La Scala and with the Metropolitan Opera. In 1960 it occurs in superb Alcina with Fenice of Venice where it is called " Stupenda" (" Prodigieuse") and this nickname will be from now on it everywhere his. She sings Alcina also with Dallas at the time of her American beginnings.

Joan Sutherland adds to its repertory large heroins of beautiful the canto: Violetta ( Traviata ), Amina ( the sonnambula ) and Elvira ( I puritani ) in 1960; Beatrice di Tenda in 1961; Marguerite de Valois ( Huguenots ) and Semiramide of Rossini in 1962. She adds Marie of to it the Girl of the Regiment in 1966 (recovery to the Met of New York the 2/17/1972 birthday of the beginnings in Lucia and this role remains one of those where she is most admirable, thanks to its colorature perfect and with its interpretation sharp and full with humor.

In the years 1970, its voice becomes more expressive and it improves its diction. It then approaches more dramatic roles like Maria Stuarda and Lucrezia Borgia of Donizetti as well as the extremely difficult role of Esclarmonde of Jules Massenet. She even successfully records Turandot in 1972 although she never sang the role with the scene.

At the end of the years 1970, the voice of Joan Sutherland slightly starts to decline. However thanks to its vocal flexibility and with its technique without defect, it continues to sing the most difficult roles remarkably. During the years 1980, she adds Anna Bolena, Amelia of I Masnadieri and Adriana Lecouvreur with her repertory. For its last performance she sings Marguerite de Valois of the Huguenots in 1990, at the 64 years age. However its last public appearance takes place at the time of a representation of " The bald person souris" with his/her friends Luciano Pavarotti and Marilyn Horne in Covent Garden of London on December 31st, 1990.

Joan Sutherland receives many rewards and decorations throughout its career. In 1961, it is made Commandeur of the British Empire then anoblie in 1978. June 9th, 1975, Dame Joan Sutherland becomes Compagnon about Australia. In 1991, it receives the Order of Merit, one of highest decorations of the United Kingdom and Australia specifically granted by the Queen.

In 2004, the price of the Kennedy Center is decreed to him for the whole of its career. Joan Sutherland appears in the jury of many international contests of song and is the godmother of contest BBC Cardiff Singer off the World. She had one of the more long careers of singer of opera and its recordings of studio, primarily at DECCA, are best-sellers. In 2006 it received the Price of the Academy Charles Cros for the whole of its career discographic.

Vocal description

Joan Sutherland is one of the best examples of dramatic soprano colorature. It has a round and full voice even in the highest notes. In the lower register, it can reach major notes of mezzo. Its higher register is without equal. It can reach against-semi broad and shining without any effort, even at the end of its career, and sing a line high colorature with full voice. One must also note his legato perfect. Until 1962, its voice has an Argentinian sound full with freshness. Then it must change technique because of health issues and it acquires a creamier, dark and firm voice then. From 1980, the voice makes hear light a vibrato and a buckled average register but it overcomes these defects by a technique without fault.

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