Joan Sutherland 1926-2010
- October 12th, 2010
- Posted by EUEditor
Dame Joan Sutherland has died in her sleep (11.10.10) aged 83 at her home in Switzerland after a long illness.
The renowned singer, from Sydney, had a vast repertoire, performing in over fifty leading roles in the principal opera houses, in a career spanning more than 40 years.
A dramatic coloratura soprano, her highest note was a high F sharp in altissimo. *
She began on stage in 1947, appeared at Covent Garden in 1952, and gave farewell performances in 1989, at Covent Garden, and at the Opera House, in Sydney.
Audiences responded to the natural personality and the voice, at the Domain (“Opera in the Parkâ€), in Venice (where they started calling her La Stupenda – “stunning one”), or London, where a 20-minutes standing ovation would elevate her career.
“With people calling you La Stupenda over many years”, she would say, “of course it takes a lot of hard work.”
Dame Joan Sutherland is survived by her husband, Richard Bonynge, the pianist and conductor, and their son Adam.
*See schedule of live, complete roles of Joan Sutherland: Wikipedia, SF, “Joan Sutherlandâ€. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Sutherland, (12.10.10).
Pictures nfa.org.au, greenz.jp