Customer Reviews

Donizetti: Lucia di Lammermoor (London 1959)

5 star:		(12)
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2 star:		(1)
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This Lucia was recorded in 1959. Sutherland was so much the perfection of human voice then that no words can describe it, you must listen to believe. Lucia's fiendishly difficult music was completely conquered by the legendary Sutherland technique. I've never heard such displays of trills, runs, staccatos and brilliant high notes. No wonder Sutherland had the entire operatic world at her feet. I dare say that this LIVE recording is even better than both of Sutherland's studio sets. The definitive Lucia of our time. This is truely great, great singing.

This live recording was done in 1959 right after Dame Joan's legendary Convent Garden Lucia. Words cannot describe her beauty of tone and phenomenal technique. In this set, Sutherland is EVEN more amazing then the two studio recordings of this opera. NOTHING, there is NOTHING that you can take from La Stupenda's Lucia. There is not one note out of place! A zillion stars!

I prefer the great Dame LIVE, than her many studio recordings. This Convent Garden LIVE Performance is unparallel in ALL criterias. This is one of the greatest moment of our Operatic History. I truely believe that this performance will make you believe that Sutherland is the greatest operatic phenomenon of our time!!

forget callas, sutherland has the voice that puts all to shame, she has a dreamy voice, pure and clear...soaring effortlessly to high E! and trills and scales like no other...

The catalog Lucies do not compare with this live recording. It is truely the definitive recording of Lucy. With Sutherland in fine voice and pouring out the most stupendous coloratura with the great maestro Serafin at the podium. Remember that Serafin had earlier coach the great Callas also. Both are great.

Listening to this recording, (which, considering its age, is of very good sound quality), I am amazed at the vocal fireworks this young Sutherland conjures up singing what must be one of the most difficult soprano roles in opera. Owning more than 4 recordings of this opera, including studio and live versions with Callas and Sutherland, this is my most favored and treasured. Indeed, perhaps even out of my entire opera collection spanning over 80 operas, its one of my "desert island" recordings.

I prefer Sutherland with someone else in the pit than her husband Richard Bonygne. Here the revered Tullio Serafin who had been Callas' mentor and friend is conducting and he and young Sutherland had a magical night. In 1959 Joan Sutherland's voice was almost impeccable even though the poor singer was plagued by a terrible sinus-infection. The voice is bright, luscious and sounding very dramatic. Hers is a beautifully innocent Lucia and once you've heard her cadenza in the madscene you'll never ever forget it. As this was recorded when her sinus-infection was as its height some high notes are not AS secure as usual, but not AS secure with Sutherland still stands for 10000x better than her rivals. So, buy this Lucia, put it in your CD player and be swept away by the miracle that was La Stupenda!

Spell-binding, staggering, fantastic, flawless singing. Sutherland brings back the golden age!

if you want to hear the legendary sopranos of bellini's era, check this one out, please, callas, you just have to hear all the pushing, this is what opera is about, joan sutherland..a voice that is perfect..size and technique

I prefer the great Dame LIVE, than her many studio recordings. This Convent Garden LIVE Performance is unparallel in ALL criterias. This is one of the greatest moment of our Operatic History. I truely believe that this performance will make you believe that Sutherland is the greatest operatic phenomenon of our time!!

Sincerely, Pui Wing Fung