Dame Joan Sutherland - Joan Sutherland - My Favourites (CD ALBUM (1 DISC))

Dame Joan Sutherland - Joan Sutherland - My Favourites (CD ALBUM (1 DISC)) Dame Joan Sutherland's personal selection of her favouriterecordings, with her own liner notes. Tributes from Moffatt Oxenbould and Fiona Janes, previously unpublished photographs, a series of costume designs for her key operatic roles, and illustrations of all the original jackets from which the selection was made. Plus her recipe for Christmas Pudding, all issued to commemorate the tenth anniversary of her passing. With barely a shadow of permissible exaggeration, 'The Voice of the Century' was Decca's title for a 1977 compilation of arias from the defining roles sung by Dame Joan Sutherland. On her death in 2010, Operamagazine acclaimed her still as 'one of the voices of the century' who almost single-handedly Ówith the support of her husbandand mentor, Richard BonyngeÓrestored the bel canto repertoire to the opera house. Now, a decade on, Eloquence releases Sutherland's personal selection of her own favouriterecordings, from a Decca catalogue studded with award-winning albums. What makes this particular collectionunique, and an essential acquisition for all who treasure their memories of the supreme successor to Melba, is Dame Joan's introductions to each item. Choosing them, she could look back over a career spanning more than 40 years, from her career-launching competition win in Sydney in 1949singing 'Ritornavincitor' to her first Alcinain 1957 Óat St. PancrasTown Hall, of all places, and her famous Royal Opera Lucia in 1959 that floored the critics.However, Dame Joan's selection does not include such vocal blockbusters Óthough with the Queen of Night's 'O zittrenicht' there is a nod to her unheralded Royal Opera debut in 1952 as the First Lady in Die Zauberflöte. Rather than her fearless negotiation of their Mad Scenes, she chose passages of moving recovery from Normaand La sonnambula, and in doing so generously acknowledges her partnership of warm mutual understanding with Marilyn Horne. Nevertheless, there is plenty of her pinpoint coloratura to be enjoyed, from Massenet's EsclarmondeÓalong with Norma, her favouriteopera Óto Graun'sMontezumaand Glière'sConcerto: 'such a relief not to have to remember the words'.Sutherland took particular pridein her revival of rarities such as Leoni's L'Oracolo, but her choice of favouritesconcludes in lighter vein with songs by Arditi, Hahn and Kreisler which beguiled as well as dazzled her recital audiences: 'Trifles, perhaps, but I enjoyed singing them'. She recalls living next to and working with Noël Coward Ó'I think hewas quite pleased with me!' Óand finally pays tribute to her musical education in Sydney with 'Love will find a way' from The Maid of the Mountains. All in all, it's a unique journey through Dame Joan's life and career, enhanced by several tributes from her colleagues, previously unpublished photographs and rarely seen costume designs for 'La Stupenda' in many of her signature roles. "Callas is wonderful, yes, but the one to keep your eye on is the girl singing Clotilde." Edward J. Dent "Nothing touched 'Mira, o Norma'æ I still can't walk down the street in New York without someone coming up to me and saying theywill never forget our partnership." Marilyn Horne "[Sutherland] was one of the greatest singers of the last century, possessed of a voice second to none: warm even, flexible, large and wide-ranging, always used to musical and dramatic ends. It was a thrilling and glorious sound." Sir John Tooley Tracklistings: 1 GRAUNMontezuma: Non hancalmale miepene 2 MOZARTDie Zauberflöte: O zittrenicht 3Ó4 BELLININorma: Mira, O Norma ÓSi, finoall'oreestremecompagnatuam'avrai 5 BELLINILa sonnambula: Ah! non giunge 6 VERDIAttila: Santo di patria...allorcheiforticorrono 7 MASSENETEsclarmonde: Esprits de l'airæ Roland! Roland! Roland! 8 LEONIL'oracolo: Feritoæ L'hannoferito 9 LECOCQLe CÓuret la Main: Un soirPerez le capitaine 10 OFFENBACHRobinson Crusoé: Conduisez-moiversceluique j'adore 11 ARDITIIl bacio 12 HAHNSi mesversavaientdes ailes 13 GLIÈREConcerto for Coloratura and Orchestra: I. Andante 14 GOUNODRepentir(O Divine Redeemer) 15 KREISLERSissy ÓThe King Steps Out: Stars in my eyes 16 COWARDOperette: Countess Mitzi 17 BENEDICTThe Gypsy and the Bird 18 FRASER-SIMSONThe Maid of the Mountains: Love will find a way Dame Joan Sutherland, soprano Richard Bonynge, conductor