Product Details

• Format: Classical, Color, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Kultur Video
• VHS Release Date: October 22, 1991
• Run Time: 142 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6301302761
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #463,127 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Second opinion, May 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sydney Opera House Gala [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Dame Joan in her prime was the greatest coloratura soprano of this or any other century. But to have heard her in her prime 1956-1978, this tape absolutely pales in comparison. But Sutherland past her prime is still the best in the world, so this is a recommended tape. For the most amazing singing ever, purchase the cd "The Art of the Prima Donna". It is Joan's resume. The most impressive collection of coloratura arias sung to absolute perfection.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Dame Joan dazzles in some spectacularly florid music., April 27, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Sydney Opera House Gala [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This video is a treasure. I can't imagine NOT having it in my collection of Dame Joan Sutherland videos. Even at the age of 58, Sutherland delivers the goods in her inimitable style, sailing through technical and musical hurdlesthat would cause most of her colleguesto pale. The trills, (in all registers) the scales and the appeggios are of course in evidence. The notes above the high C are still ringing, on pitch, andfocused. But the sheer beauty of the sound, the creamy texture, the totally secure delivery is, as always, a totalpleasure. Dame Joan is in excellent voice in this performance and demonstrates her mastery of the art of song. In my opinion, one of the last of her really great concert performances to be captured on video.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A precious treasure, July 6, 2003

By 

D. Fair (Baltimore, MD) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Sydney Opera House Gala [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Oh my goodness! I can't explain to you how happy I was to watch this video over and over again. I borrowed it from the library and now I have to buy it! This really is a treasure. It's just so exciting to see Joan and Marilyn Horne perform in recital. Horne favorite excerpts include "Iris hence away", Rossini's "Mura felice" from La donna del lago, and Meyerbeer's Les Hugenots "Non, Non". Horne's voice can move so amazingly fast! Wow! And her diction is sooo good! She sings "Beautiful Dreamer" and I can understand every single word. No joke. And the Rossini... well... you haven't heard Rossini till you've heard Horne.

Sutherland's "Tornami a vagheggiar," "The Gypsy and the Bird" and Zerlina's Aria from Auber's Fra Diavolo, are all spectacular. Any worry about Sutherland not being in her "prime" is stripped away when you watch in disbelief as this 58 year old woman (an age when most sopranos have retired years ago) sings C's, D's and E's with the same amount of solidity, power, and authority that she's sung at anytime throughout her career (if not better!). I like how she treats her high notes at this age. She finally knows how to use them. She's not scared of them cause she knows she HAS them. Even in 1986 she was singing SOOO well. I liked her voice in these later years. It had some weight and heft.

Together, they sung that Semiramide duet, the famous Norma one, the Lakme Flower duet, and the Barcolle from Tales of Hoffmann. The Semiramide one was amazing. I could listen to that one over and over again. The Norma duet brought the house down. Mostly because both singers were so into the music (they probably realized mid-way that this was probably the last time they would ever sing that together again). It was all just so beautiful.
A treasure to watch over and over again!!