Dame Joan Sutherland, the legendary Australian dramatic coloratura soprano, graces your collection with "The Voice of the Century," a stunning compilation released in 2006. This 2-hour and 34-minute masterpiece is a testament to Sutherland's unparalleled vocal prowess and her enduring legacy in the world of opera. The album, featuring 29 tracks, showcases her remarkable range and control, from the soaring heights of coloratura to the depths of dramatic expression.
Spanning a variety of operas, "The Voice of the Century" includes iconic arias such as "Casta Diva" from Norma, "Ah, je veux vivre" from Roméo et Juliette, and "Sempre libera" from La traviata. Sutherland's performances are accompanied by the distinguished Philharmonia Orchestra and the Ambrosian Light Opera Chorus, under the baton of her longtime collaborator, Richard Bonynge. The album is a treasure trove for opera enthusiasts, offering a comprehensive overview of Sutherland's illustrious career and her contributions to the genre.
Recorded under the Decca Music Group Ltd. label, this album is a celebration of Sutherland's artistry, capturing the essence of her powerful and expressive voice. Whether you are a seasoned opera aficionado or a newcomer to the genre, "The Voice of the Century" is an essential addition to your classical music library.
Roméo et Juliette, CG 9 / Act 1: "Ah, je veux vivre"Charles Gounod, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
La traviata / Act 1: "E strano!...Ah, fors'è lui...Sempre libera"Giuseppe Verdi, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Lakmé / Act 2: "Où va la jeune Indoue" (Bell song)Léo Delibes, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Luisa Miller / Act 2: "Che! e segnar questo mano...Tu puniscimi, o Signore?"Giuseppe Verdi, Dame Joan Sutherland, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Vasco da Gama: La Marguerite a fermé sa corolle... Ouvre ton coeurGeorges Bizet, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Richard Bonynge
Lucia di Lammermoor / Act 3.: "Oh, giusto cielo!...Il dolce suono"Gaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Sir John Pritchard
Lucia di Lammermoor / Act 3.: "Ohimè! sorge il tremendo fantasma...Ardon gl'incensi"Gaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Rinaldo Pelizzoni, Cesare Siepi, Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Sir John Pritchard
Lucia di Lammermoor / Act 3: "Spargi d'amore pianto"Gaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Robert Merrill, Cesare Siepi, Coro dell'Accademia Nazionale Di Santa Cecilia, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Sir John Pritchard
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
Les contes d'Hoffmann / Act 2: Les oiseaux dans la charmilleJacques Offenbach, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestre de la Suisse Romande, Richard Bonynge
I Puritani / Act 2: "O rendetemi la speme...Qui la voce...Vien, diletto"Vincenzo Bellini, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Der Opernball: Im chambre separéeRichard Heuberger, Dame Joan Sutherland, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Casanova: Nuns' ChorusJohann Strauss II, Dame Joan Sutherland, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Le Cid / Act 3: "De cet affreux combat...Pleurez, mes yeux"Jules Massenet, Dame Joan Sutherland, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
La Sonnambula / Act 2: Ah! non giunge uman pensieroVincenzo Bellini, Dame Joan Sutherland, Coro del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Orchestra del Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Richard Bonynge
Faust, CG 4 / Act 3: "O Dieu! que de bijoux...Ah! je ris de me voir"Charles Gounod, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Francesco Molinari-Pradelli
Semiramide / Act 1: Bel raggio lusinghierGioachino Rossini, Dame Joan Sutherland, London Symphony Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Semiramide / Act 1: Dolce pensieroGioachino Rossini, Dame Joan Sutherland, 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
Rigoletto / Act 1: "E il sol dell'anima"Giuseppe Verdi, Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, London Symphony Orchestra, 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
Eva / Act 1: War es auch nichts als ein TraumFranz Lehár, Dame Joan Sutherland, Ambrosian Opera Chorus, New Philharmonia Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Pacific 1860: This is a Changing WorldNoel Coward, Dame Joan Sutherland, Chorus, Decca Studio Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
L'elisir d'amore / Act 1: "Chiedi all'aura lusinghiera"Gaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, English Chamber Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Turandot / Act 2: "In questa reggia"Giacomo Puccini, Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, John Alldis Choir, London Philharmonic Orchestra, Zubin Mehta
Maria Stuarda / Act 2: "Da tutti abbandonata"Gaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Luciano Pavarotti, Orchestra del Teatro Comunale di Bologna, Richard Bonynge
Lucrezia Borgia / Act 2: Era desso il figlio mioGaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, The London Opera Chorus, National Philharmonic Orchestra, Richard Bonynge
Rosmonda d'Inghilterra: "Ancor non giunse...Perchè non ho dei vento...Torna, torna, o caro oggetto"Gaetano Donizetti, Dame Joan Sutherland, Orchestra dell'Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia, Sir John Pritchard
Dame Joan Sutherland, the Australian dramatic coloratura soprano, captivated global audiences with her extraordinary vocal prowess and charismatic stage presence. Born in Sydney in 1926, Sutherland's journey began by imitating her mother's singing, eventually leading her to triumph in the Sun Aria competition. Throughout her illustrious career, she was renowned for her contributions to the bel canto repertoire, earning her the affectionate nickname "La Stupenda." Her notable roles included Norma, and her voice was often described as a celestial instrument, combining beauty and power in a way that set her apart as one of the most remarkable sopranos of the 20th century. Sutherland's legacy endures, celebrated for her unparalleled vocal technique and her ability to enchant audiences with her stunning performances.