Great Stars of Opera - Telecasts from the Bell Telephone Hour 1959-1966

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The most spectacular of the 21 operatic excerpts on this two-hour collection of Bell Telephone Hour telecasts is the last and longest--Joan Sutherland singing the Mad Scene from Lucia di Lammermoor--more than 13 minutes of incredible vocalizing, still as fresh and technically dazzling as it was when it was televised in 1962, shortly after her Metropolitan Opera debut in that role. In a sense, video recording was not Sutherland's best medium. She was not a great actress or a conventionally beautiful woman, but the video representation of her slightly awkward stage presence makes her vocal grace and agility sound all the more impressive. Equally historic is a scene from Boris Godunov melodramatically sung by George London shortly after his triumphant Bolshoi debut in that role (though one wishes he had been allowed to sing it in Russian for his American audience). A discovery of sorts is Risë Stevens's performance of a long monologue from Natoma, a long-forgotten opera by Victor Herbert.

Leontyne Price looks very young and extraordinarily talented in selections from Il trovatore and Aida; Birgit Nilsson produces great sounds in music from Turandot and Götterdämmerung. The list could go on much longer. The names on the cover of this disc are (except for the unfortunate absence of Maria Callas) virtually a who's who of the leading Metropolitan Opera singers of the late 1950s and early '60s. It would be pleasant to have Galina Vishnevkaya, Christa Ludwig, Cesare Siepi, and Walter Berry as well, but their careers blossomed elsewhere and we must be thankful for what is here--thankful, in particular, that there were once programs on commercial network television that presented material of deep and permanent value. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

"Truly the Golden Age of Opera".......2004-02-21

Allow me to get my 2 negative comments out of the way. 1.The disappointing visual transfer to dvd format.2.The hatchet job done on the 20 minute finale of Wagner's Gotterdammerung.It was condensed into a 2 minute snip-it. As a devoute of the great Birgit Nilson,I was teed off to say the least. That said,on to the kudos.
The roster of artists is an impressive one.The vocal selections are some of the greatest ever written. I have a newfound respect for 2 singers I previously thought overrated, Franco Correlli & Renata Tebaldi.I found each vocally thrilling!
The vocal phenomenon Leontyne Price did not disappoint.Her throne is a secure one. Her vocal superiority will never be surpassed. She is particularly radiant in the Aida segment.
I feel fortunate to own this epitaph to the amazing artistry of these great singers. I can't wait to order the Vol.2!

spectacular!And the sound and picture is good for the period.......2003-07-27

This is the one to get if you're on a budget and want to see and hear the greatest singers of the 20th century in their glorious prime. We all have our favorites. But you can't mention divas without mentioning Price, Nilsson, Tebaldi, and Sutherland. All in top form. It was a real treat to see Price sing her Verdi arias so gloriously. She was certainly one of my favorite divas of all time. But then I also think Tebaldi is a contender for the voice of the century. Everyone knows that Nilsson is the Wagnerian soprano of the Century, but can she beat out Joan Sutherland, which mad scene from Lucia may well be one of the most astonishing thing ever to be put on tape. On the male side, my wife went crazy about Franco Corelli's drop dead gorgeous movie star looks. She keeps rewinding that portion of the DVD. I have to admit he is a good looking guy, but I'm more impressed with his superhuman tenor voice. He is probably the tenor of the Century along with Mario Del Monaco.
This is a thrilling opera potpouri that my wife and I can't stop watching. If it was a tape, we would have worn it out months ago! I give it 10 stars!

Greatest opera stars of our time in great forms.......2003-07-24

And the sound and picture is superb, very, very clear picture and the sound is stereo. The singing is magnificent. There are no highlights. Everything is wonderful. Sutherland, Corelli, Farrell, Price and Tebaldi. Who can beat these phenomenal singers?
A cheap price for a huge piece of opera history!

A Historical triumph!.......2003-06-22

This VHS is supreme! Every single great diva and divo are represented. I find the picture and sound very exceptable. In fact, it's very good for that time period.
The highlights are too many to name. But if I was to name a few, it would be Leontyne Price singing the Verdi arias, Nilsson singing "In questa reggio", Franco Corelli, and Sutherland singing the mad scene for Lucia di Lammermoor.
I admit at being speechless after seeing and hearing Dame Joan perform this role in this tape. In all my life, I've never heard such singing of the most difficult music you can imagine. I know she's supposed to be the greatest coloratura of our time, but I never knew she was ever that good. Sorry for going on and on about this one, but gee, this is beyond praise.
Another interesting point is the different style of fashion and makeup the women had in those days. It's just a hoot.
There are some disappintments also, Callas was not what she was supposed to be. Her Vissi D'arte just wasn't that good.
But all in all, I love this tape, I must have played it a dozen times since I bought it a month ago. Bravo.

The best.......2003-06-06

This is a chance to evaluate Callas, Nilsson, Price, and Sutherland. Where else can you get that.
I'll buy this for the 1962 Lucia mad scene with Dame Joan alone.
And if you think that Dame Joan is great in that mad scene, get her DVD "The Complete Bell Telephone Hour Performances 1961-1968" and the VHS "The Age of Bel Canto". Those are Sutherland's most amazing videos.

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Wouldn't have missed it for the world
La Stupenda indeed!

The Essential Sutherland
Starring: Joan Sutherland
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ASIN: B0007CILKC
Release Date: 2005-02-22

Description

Dame Joan Sutherland, together with her husband, conductor and director Richard Bonynge, introduces operatic highlights from her extensive repertoire, including many of her greatest roles - Lucia di Lammermoor, Norma, La Fille du r giment, Lucrezia Borgia, Adriana Lecouvreur and Lakm . Also featured, singing with Dame Joan, are Marilyn Horne and Luciano Pavarotti. Sutherland and Bonynge place the performance extracts within the context of Dame Joan's remarkable forty-two year singing career and explain the charm and attraction of each role from the performer's point of view. Highlights from her greatest roles including: Lucia di Lammermoor, Norma, La Fille du regiment, Lucrezia Borgia, Adriana Lecouvreur, Lakm . Performing with Joan Sutherland are Robert Allman, Anson Austin, Heather Begg, Monique Brynnel, Malcolm Donnelly, Graeme Ewer, Robert Gard, Clifford Grant, Marilyn Horne, Cynthia Johnston, Patricia Price, John Shaw, Ronals Stevens, Huguette Tournangeau and Gregory Yurisich. Recordings by Opera Australia from the Sydney Opera House.

Customer Reviews:

Wouldn't have missed it for the world.......2006-09-18

These are excerpts (frequently 2 from the same opera) from some of Sutherland's operas. Some excerpts are truncated. Don't like any of the Strausses or Poulenc. Otherwise it was sublime and fascinating. Sutherland and Bonynge sat on a sofa and said a few words introducing each opera and excerpt, sometimes historical, sometimes fitting it into Sutherland's career. The music was glorious and the introductions filled in many gaps in my knowledge of Sutherland and/or the operas. Would give teeth to have some DVDs of Sutherland singing (like the ice breaker of the renaissance of bel canto, her Lucia at Covent Garden) when she was very, very young. That would be worth a king's ransom. If you like Sutherland or bel canto or both (they go together like coffee and cream), I highly recommend this DVD. About 2 hours long. It's companion piece, "The Best of Joan Sutherland," is also wonderful though it has fewer operas on it and there are some duplications. Bonynge is very serious. Sutherland is happy and laughs a lot. Bonynge made one very good remark about Sutherland's singing in "The Merry Widow." He said some people think she shouldn't have done it, not someone who sings Norma, Traviata or Lucia. Then he just espostulated, "Nonsense!" Clearly they both know music like I know my own name, and both exude intelligence and erudition and culture and class while being very nice, very down to earth people. I just painted myself into a corner. What I mean is they are both educated and brilliant, but are not snobs or phonies at all. Loved both DVDs.

La Stupenda indeed!.......2006-06-07

I've always been a fan of Dame Joan, and this DVD immediately caught my attention. It has clips of scenes from many of her different signature roles, such as Lucia, Norma, La Fille du regiment, The Merry widow, Lakme, A very stirring duet with Marilyn Horne, a lovely duet with dear old Pavarotti, and many others. As an added bonus, each clip is introduced by Dame Joan and Her Husband, Richard Bonynge. Some people complain that she is not a very good actress in her recordings. Well, from watching this DVD and being able to SEE her sing, I would have to say that she is a very good actress. In closing, it was very nice to be able to see this incredible woman performing selections from her glorious 40+ year career. Any "Stupenda" fan should have this DVD.

Australian Opera Favorites / Joan Sutherland, Eva Marton, Richard Bonynge

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Australian Opera Favorites / Joan Sutherland, Eva Marton, Richard Bonynge
Starring: Various Artists
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ASIN: B000ETRA32
Release Date: 2006-04-25

Description

A selection of highlights from the world's best-loved operas, presented by Peter Ross. These highlights showcase the prodigious talents of Opera Australia and its gifted artists. The Merry Widow This sparkling opera concerns a national crisis in the picture-postcard country of Pontevedro, as the recently widowed Hanna Glawari appears to be in danger of marrying a foreigner. "The great asset of the performance is Dame Joan's singing, and her stage presence. She is enchanting, utterly at ease with the part, wholly lovable and genuinely merry." The Sydney Morning Herald Featuring: Joan Sutherland, Ronald Stevens, Gordon Wilcock, Anson Austin, The Australian Opera Chorus, The Elizabethan Philharmonic Orchestra, Conductor: Richard Bonynge. Lakmé - Delibes: The story is set in India in the mid-19th century when the British were imposing a suppressive rule over the many religious sects. "Lakmé was a warm affirmation that Joan Sutherland is not only a great star, but she is a sensitive and subtle artist..." The Financial Review Featuring: Joan Sutherland, Huguette Tourangeau, Henri Wilden, The Australian Opera Chorus, The Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra, Conductor Richard Bonynge. La Bohème - Puccini. Puccini's heart-rending love story tells of high-spirited young bohemians who are strapped for cash but draw strength from each other, and the poet Rodolfo's deep love for the young seamstress, Mimì. "The Australian Opera's La Bohème...is an absolute delight." The Australian. "If you see one opera in your life, make it The Australian Opera's production of La Bohème." The Daily Mirror, International Emmy Award winner. Featuring: Glenys Fowles, Neil Rosenshein, Rosamund Illing, John Fulford, The Australian Opera Chorus, The Elizabethan Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Carlo Felice Cillario. Tosca - Puccini: Tosca is grand opera, done grandly. Puccini's famous drama packs an enormous emotional punch in three acts, and is a classic of the stage for good reason. "Eva Marton's singing is the authentic sound of Puccini's heroine: ample in vocal color, size of tone and passionate accent." The Sydney Morning Herald Featuring: Eva Marton, Lamberto Furlan, John Shaw, The Australian Opera Chorus, The Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra. Conductor: Alberto Erede.

Joan Sutherland Collection (La Fille du Regiment/Les Huguenots/Lucrezia Borgia/Merry Widow/Dialogues of the Carmelites/Adriana Lecouvreur) - Amazon.com Exclusive

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Joan Sutherland Collection (La Fille du Regiment/Les Huguenots/Lucrezia Borgia/Merry Widow/Dialogues of the Carmelites/Adriana Lecouvreur) - Amazon.com Exclusive
Starring: Joan Sutherland , Anson Austin , Heather Begg , Gregory Yurisich , and Gordon Wilcock
Director: Peter Butler (IV) , Virginia Lumsden , and Brian Large
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ASIN: B00007C665
Release Date: 2002-11-12

Description

La Fille Du Regiment
Joan Sutherland's legendary performance in the Opera Australia production of Donizetti's masterpiece of operatic comedy. "La Fille Du Regiment" seems to burst over with Gallic wit and charm. It tells a atale of young love-frustrated, then victorious-and gave the composer Donizetti ample chances to write military rhythms, pastoral mood music and passionate love exchanges, as well as to create a role that any prima donna with a sense of humor and a lot of technique would fight to perform. The story centers on the waif Marie, who is adopted by a French army regiment, falls in love with a Tyrolean youth called Tonia, but is carried off to live with the Marquise of Berkenfield who plans to turn her into a genteel lady and marry her to an aristocrat. But at the final curtain the Marquise (who turns out to be her long lost mother) relents and lets her wed Tonio. Also starring Anson Austin, Gregory Yurisich, Heather Begg, Gordon Wilcock, and Marie-Claire. Richard Bonynge conducts the Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra, and the Australian Opera Chorus.

Les Huguenots
In tradition of grand opera, Dame Joan Sutherland's farewell perfromance to the operatic stage in Les Huguenots is a gala triumph of spectacle and drama. This technically complex production captures the tragedy of the St. Bartholomew's Day massacre, as well as the splendor and romance of 16th century France. Sutherland's glorious soprano voice is just one of the many brilliant highlights of this acclaimed performance, a revival of director Loft Mansouri's highly praised 1981 production. Often referred to as "The Night of the Seven Stars," Les Huguenots is a demanding production that requires the presence of seven major talents to sing the lead roles. For this reason, it is not often performed, but it is a most fitting end to the career of "La Stupenda," one of opera's brightest stars.

Lucrezia Borgia
Dame Joan Sutherland and tenor Alfredo Kraus star in Donizetti's tale of sixteenth century opulence and decadence. This Royal Opera production showcases Joan Sutherland's incomparable coloratura technique. Bel canto specialist Richard Bonynge conducts the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in this historic performance.

The Merry Widow
Joan Sutherland sparkles in the lead role of Lehar's delightful operetta in this Opera Australia production from the Sydney Opera House. Turn of the century Paris provides the glittering setting for this operetta, first performed in Vienna in 1905 and here given by the Australian Opera in the English version by Christopher Hassall, with Sutherland as widow Anna Glawari. The face of Pontevedro, her native country, hangs perilously on her marriage plans - if she weds a foreigner, the state will lose the benefit of her enormous wealth and will be left bankrupt. An Embassy plot to marry her off to the debonair Count Danilo Danilovitch is complicated by the secret affair which has developed between the French Attache, Camille de Rosillon and the Ambassador's wife, Valencienne. This light hearted tale of political and amorous intrigue unfolds amidst the gaiety of Parisian high society. Ronald Stevens sings Danilo, with Anson Austin as Camille and Anne Maree McDonald as Valencienne. The Elizabethan Philharmonic Orchestra is conducted by Richard Bonynge.

Dialogues of the Carmelites
Poulenc's only full-length opera is firmly rooted in the post World War II era. Based on the historical events of the time of the French Revolution, this story of a community of Carmelite nuns who go to the guillotine rather than renounce their calling can be received in many ways. Poulenc's warmly melodic and lyrical score is wholly dramatic and gripping, and Joan Sutherland, recreating the role she sang at the opera's British premiere in 1958, sings the second prioress with commanding moderation. This production serves the inspiration of Poulenc in every important particular of style, economy and theatrical force. Richard Bonynge conducts the Elizabethan Sydney Orchestra. Sung in English.

Adriana Lecouvreur
Cilea's romantic opera, based on the story of the renowned French actress Adrienne, is given here in a live recording of a lavish production by John Copley, which features the great Dame Joan Sutherland. Her luminous singing and dramatic power are finely matched by a strong cast, including Austin Anson, Heather Begg and John Shaw. The innate lyricism of the score is beautifully captured by conductor Richard Bonynge and enhanced by sets and costumes recalling the late nineteenth century.

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