Customer Reviews

Bell Telephone Hour: First Ladies of the Opera [VHS]

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This video, taped New Year's Day 1967, features FOUR prime prima donnas.First of all this video is in color, a rarity if you know all the video that is available from this period, remember there was no PBS. So you get to see all FOUR sopranos in uncut arias, complete with costumes, lighting and good audio.Birgit Nilsson - The most charming of the four, her "Turandot" excerpt, is first class.Leontyne Price - Her voice is glorious here, unfortunately after the taping of this show it was always questionable, and sometimes as in "La Forza Del Destino", downright bad.Joan Sutherland - Here she is demonstrating the coloratura voice with incredible ease.Renata Tebaldi - Captured in color, and, for the first time, shows her true beauty. Her highlight is "Suicidio" from La Gionconda, and it worth the price of the video.You are not truly an opera buff if you don't own this video. Recently, you may have heard of "The Three Sopranos". Or perhaps more than likely you haven't. That's because today they can't find even one soprano who is capable. Nowadays they sing everything and ruin their voices, Beverly Sills, being a great example.But here we have FOUR sopranos, each with a different forte and genre, all for your enjoyment. You will LOVE this video.

All divas pale in the presence of the great Dame Joan Sutherland. She has it all, big opulent tone and absolutely perfect technique capable of ANY vocal obstacles tossed at her. She is the vocal wonder of the century, and perhaps every century. You must hear her here, then buy her cd "The Art of the Prima Donna", and be floored by the most amazing singing of all time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A hit. A must have for your collection.

Four of the greatest sopranos gathered together in a 'bouquet' for this special presentation. Price, Sutherland, Tebaldi and Nilsson each sing two arias and are interviewed, briefly, by the conductor, Donald Voorhees.
A fine memento from what could be called another 'golden age' of singing. Callas is not missed very much. Highly recommended.