Product Description

Ever since Joan Sutherland’s historic first "Lucia" at Covent Garden in 1959, the critical acclaim for her interpretation of this role has been unending. And the praise for this performance by Dame Joan read as such:

"Joan Sutherland is quite simply one of the musical miracles of this century. She lifted the cheering capacity audience to their feet in her famous role of Lucia di Lammermoor. She brought memorable musical life to the Donizetti heroine, who murders her bridegroom on her wedding night. By the time the spectacular mad scene rolled around in the third act, the great voice had blossomed into full splendour. She sang with effortless beauty through those dazzling vocal gymnastics. It has been over a quarter of a century since that historic first night in Covent Garden when Sutherland sang her first Lucia and a legend was born. It seems her voice has lost little of its freshness and beauty. What has been added is depth of experience absolute professionalism and a moving insight into the music of this role." –SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Whenever "La Stupenda" assumes the role of "Lucia" we can be sure that we are witnessing the stuff of legends. Indeed, we are fortunate to have a visual record of her "Lucia", which is without question one of the greatest achievements in opera this century.

CAST (in order of appearance):

NORMANNO…ROBIN DONALD
ENRICO…MALCOLM DONNELLY BR>RAIMONDO…CLIFFORD GRANT
LUCIA…JOAN SUTHERLAND
ALISA…PATRICIA PRICE
EDGARDO…RICHARD GREAGER
ARTURO…SERGEI BAIGILDIN
CONDUCTOR…RICHARD BONYNGE

THE AUSTRALIAN OPERA CHORUS
THE ELIZABETHAN SYDNEY ORCHESTRA
THE AUSTRALIAN OPERA BALLET

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #111307 in DVD
• Released on: 2007-03-27
• Rating: NR (Not Rated)
• Aspect ratio: 1.33:1
• Formats: Classical, Color, Dolby, DVD, Subtitled, NTSC
• Original language: Italian
• Subtitled in: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 145 minutes

Customer Reviews

The Australian Revival for La Stupenda
This is an unusually good production for those who have come to notice the generally second-rate nature of the Australian Opera productions on DVD/VHS. This is a 1986 production centered entirely, and rightfully, around Sutherland. The vocal poise and execution are phenomenal and, in some ways, better than the 1982 performance from the Metropolitan. Typically, for AO, the diva is surrounded by very modest singers, so forget any of the rapturous singing one associates with Sutherland and Pavarotti, Kraus, Domingo, Milnes, Horne, Cossotto, etc. Still, the performance is atmospheric and effective. What's most striking, upon reflection, is that at age 60, this soprano could outdo anybody on the planet, then or now. When one considers that a pinched and off-pitch singer such as Anna Netrebko could earn the soubriquette ":The Belle of Bel Canto" for her decidely unlegato and shrill rendering of Bellini's Elvira, then perhaps opera in America is the parakeet in the coal mine: there's little question we are experiencing a precipitous cultural decline.

Joan Sutherland Shines Above a Rather So-so Cast
I first got into buying this DVD via Youtube, seeing Miss Sutherland's 1982 MET "Lucia." Her E-flat at the end of the Mad Scene seemed so quiet, that I thought, "Hmm, I wonder if this E-flat is the last one she sang, since it wasn't the most impressive?" I was wrong. She does sing her very last E-flat (that I know of) in this 1986 Sydney Production. It's quite short, but it's still huge, and echoes throughout the auditorium. So, that's the main reason I decided to buy this DVD, but not the only reason, as I soon realized after viewing. High notes aside, Sutherland's singing is fantastic. Yes, her coloratura passages aren't as fast as the 1982 MET version, but they're all still pitch perfect (I don't think she hit a wrong note all night!), and overall, she seems to be better, vocally, than in the other version, which is a feat only Joan could pull of, being four years later than the MET version. Also, her acting, while not fantastic, is still very good. My favourite part of her acting is at the end of the Mad Scene where she runs up to Raimondo for support, and she looks up at him as a child would, nodding her head, as if to ask "Is it going to be o.k?" When he shakes his head, she looks terrrified, and runs off in another direction, frightened at the prospect that once again, she's got no one to catch her when she trips. I LOVE that touch! And now for the supporting cast. To be perfectly honest, after hearing people like Chaliapin and Pavarotti, I wasn't very pleased with the supporting cast. All of the tenors seem to have that annoying terribly nasal timber about them. The baritone and bass were of the kind that when singing high parts, sounded weak, and low parts, sounding like they weren't singing, but talking. It's hard to explain, rather than just listening to it. Acting-wise, though, the supporting cast all did a bang-up job, probably better than Joan. An earlier reviewer said that the lighting was too dark, and while I agree, you can still see all the characters, it sets a good moody atmosphere, and you get used to it after about 10 or so minutes. So, buy this DVD? Yes, for Joan's overall singing, it's a better deal; but buy the MET one too, because of the fantastic scenery and supporting cast (i.e. Alfredo Kraus).