COMPOSERS: Arne,Bellini,etc,Gounod,Handel,Mozart,Rossini,Thomas,Verdi
LABELS: Decca
ALBUM TITLE: Collection: The Art of the Prima Donna
WORKS: Arias
PERFORMER: Joan Sutherland (soprano); ROH Chorus & Orchestra/Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
CATALOGUE NO: 467 115-2 ADD Reissue (1960)
Recorded in 1960, this is a 16-aria survey of the best of Joan Sutherland, from Handel’s Samson (‘Let the Bright Seraphim’) to Verdi’s Otello (a heartbreaking Willow Song), via Arne, Mozart, Bellini, Rossini, Meyerbeer, Gounod, Thomas and Delibes. Sutherland may not have much truck with consonants; her Baroque style sounds slightly outdated compared with today’s performance practice; and the recording balance puts her voice well to the fore of the orchestra. But such comments are trifling when the artistry is this great, the technique this flawless, and the voice this beautiful. This is singing to bring tears to the eyes, shivers to the spine and a lump to the throat. Claire Wrathall
Arne, Handel, Bellini, Gounod, Rossini, Verdi, Mozart, Thomas, etc
Recorded in 1960, this is a 16-aria survey of the best of Joan Sutherland, from Handel’s Samson (‘Let the Bright Seraphim’) to Verdi’s Otello (a heartbreaking Willow Song), via Arne, Mozart, Bellini, Rossini, Meyerbeer, Gounod, Thomas and Delibes. Sutherland may not have much truck with consonants; her Baroque style sounds slightly outdated compared with today’s performance practice; and the recording balance puts her voice well to the fore of the orchestra. But such comments are trifling when the artistry is this great, the technique this flawless, and the voice this beautiful.
Our rating
5
Published: January 20, 2012 at 1:18 pm