Dive into the extraordinary vocal prowess of Dame Joan Sutherland with this exquisite 2-CD collection, "La Stupenda - The Supreme Joan Sutherland." Released in 2001, this album is a testament to Sutherland's legendary status as one of the greatest dramatic coloratura sopranos of all time. Spanning a generous 2 hours and 32 minutes, the album features 27 tracks that showcase her breathtaking range and technical brilliance.
This compilation brings together some of the most iconic arias and ensembles from Sutherland's illustrious career, offering a comprehensive overview of her artistry. From the soaring heights of "Casta Diva" from Norma to the delicate beauty of "I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls" from The Bohemian Girl, each selection highlights Sutherland's unparalleled ability to convey both power and nuance. The album includes beloved works from composers such as Verdi, Puccini, Bellini, and Donizetti, as well as lesser-known gems that demonstrate the breadth of her repertoire.
Sutherland's crystalline tone and effortless agility are on full display in pieces like "O giusto cielo" from Lucia di Lammermoor and "In questa reggia" from Turandot. The album also features a rare opportunity to hear Sutherland in a non-operatic context with the inclusion of the popular song "Home Sweet Home" and the operetta "Where Are The Songs We Sang?" from "The Boys from Syracuse."
"La Stupenda - The Supreme Joan Sutherland" is not just a collection of songs but a celebration of a voice that has left an indelible mark on the world of opera. Whether you are a seasoned opera enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, this album offers a captivating journey through the extraordinary career of Dame Joan Sutherland. The album is a great addition to any classical music collection, offering a timeless reminder of why Sutherland is revered as "La Stupenda."
Attila / Prologue: Santo di patria..allor che i forti corronoGiuseppe Verdi, Dame Joan Sutherland, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Lakmé / Act 1: Viens, Mallika, ... Dôme épaisLéo Delibes, Dame Joan Sutherland, Jane Berbié, Monte-Carlo Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Les contes d'Hoffmann / Act 2: Les oiseaux dans la charmilleJacques Offenbach, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Richard Bonynge
Die Zauberflöte, K.620 / Act 1: "O zittre nicht"Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Dame Joan Sutherland, The New Symphony Orchestra Of London, Richard Bonynge
Linda di Chamounix / Act 1: "Ah! tardai troppo... O luce di quest'anima"Gaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestre De La Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire, Nello Santi
Semiramide / Act 1: "Serbami ognor"Gioachino Rossini, Dame Joan Sutherland, Marilyn Horne, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Beatrice di Tenda / Act 2: "Eccomi pronta...Deh, se un' urna"Vincenzo Bellini, Dame Joan Sutherland, Ambrosian Singers, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
La fille du régiment / Act 2: Pour ce contrat fatal...Salut à la FranceGaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge
La traviata / Act 1: "Un dì felice, eterea"Giuseppe Verdi, Dame Joan Sutherland, Carlo Bergonzi, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Sir John Pritchard
The Bohemian Girl / Act 2: "I Dreamt I Dwelt In Marble Halls"Michael William Balfe, Dame Joan Sutherland, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Home Sweet HomeHenry Rowley Bishop, Dame Joan Sutherland, Tina Bonifacio, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Casanova: Nuns' ChorusJohann Strauss II, Dame Joan Sutherland, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Lucia di Lammermoor / Act 3: "O giusto cielo...Il dolce suono...Ardon gl'incensi"Gaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Opera Chorus Of Paris, Orchestre De La Société Des Concerts Du Conservatoire, Nello Santi
Norma / Act 1: Sediziose voci...Casta DivaVincenzo Bellini, Dame Joan Sutherland, Chorus of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Alcina / Act 1: "Tornami a vagheggiar"George Frideric Handel, Dame Joan Sutherland, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Concerto for Coloratura and Orchestra, Op. 82: 1. AndanteReinhold Glière, Dame Joan Sutherland, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Concerto for Coloratura and Orchestra, Op. 82: 2. AllegroReinhold Glière, Dame Joan Sutherland, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Lucia di Lammermoor / Act 1: "Sulla tomba che rinserra...Verranno a te sull'aure"Gaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Richard Bonynge
Rigoletto / Act 1: "Gualtier Maldè...Caro nome"Giuseppe Verdi, Dame Joan Sutherland, Ricardo Cassinelli, John Gibbs, Christian Du Plessis, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Esclarmonde/ Act 1: Esprits de l'air!...Roland! Roland! Roland!Jules Massenet, Dame Joan Sutherland, Huguette Tourangeau, John Alldis Choir, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Operette: Where Are The Songs We Sang?Noel Coward, Dame Joan Sutherland, Decca Studio Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Falling In Love With Love ("The Boys from Syracuse")Richard Rodgers, Dame Joan Sutherland, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
I Puritani / Act 1: Son vergin vezzosaVincenzo Bellini, Dame Joan Sutherland, Margreta Elkins, Pierre Duval, Giovanni Foiani, Ezio Flagello, Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Richard Bonynge
Turandot / Act 2: "In questa reggia"Giacomo Puccini, Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
Tristan und Isolde, WWV 90 / Act 3: "Mild und leise wie er lächelt" (Isoldes Liebestod)Richard Wagner, Dame Joan Sutherland, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Adriana Lecouvreur / Act 4: Poveri fiori, gemme de'pratiFrancesco Cilea, Dame Joan Sutherland, Welsh National Opera Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
La Sonnambula / Act 2: Ah! non giunge uman pensieroVincenzo Bellini, Dame Joan Sutherland, The London Opera Chorus, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge