Dame Joan Sutherland, A Year Later - Nella pace del mesto riposo, 1974

Dame Joan Sutherland sings Maria Stuarda's biting, yet poignant, aria "Nella pace del mesto riposo" live in this broadcast from Philadelphia in March of 1974. Richard Bonynge conducts.

[@JoanSutherlandFan]

This aria defines what a real dramatic coloratura soprano can do! Joan was the only to sing it with weight even in high tessitura!

[@Eiswirth1]

There never has been, nor will there ever be, a voice as great as hers. Who could match her technical superiority, her trill, her evenness of tone and agility, and the sheer beauty of the sound? No one. Callas, SIlls, Caballe...all great singers with unique, distinctive qualities, but none of them thrills me like Sutherland. Everyone who's ever heard her live says the same thing: The voice in the house was larger, more beautiful and more exciting than any recording conveys. I had a friend who sang in choruses with her, and he said they'd stuff the wings when they were off and she was onstage because they couldn't believe what they were hearing. My biggest regret is never having heard her live.

[@-Tesla-Live_]

You can tell from her exultant singing what a great high she must have been on that night. The whole performance is top class. Brava, Joan!

[@65attila]

I was at this performance - she was unbelievable.

[@LC-ig2jm]

So Dame Joan raised the second verse three semi-tones from Bb to Db? That makes the vocal line much, much higher. This is unreal singing even from her.

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

the greatest voice at its PEAK

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

the greatest voice in the world

[@Hako2004]

Those amazing high Dbs...better than the high C's or D naturals in most cases. A sweet spot in her upper register, right up until the twilight of her career.

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

The unmistakable voice of the inimitable Joan Sutherland.

[@blessOTMA]

Just unbelievable. Thank you, God...for Joan Sutherland.

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

Sublime! La Stupenda indeed!

[@Dadacomero]

incredibile in tutti i sensi possibili

[@cadoh8143]

Única. Ninguém alcança seu nível. Rainha do bel canto.

[@GloriaJanvier]

Stunning!

[@magicmonkichi]

BRAVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA~! ~! ~! long live La Stupenda~! Great posts, her Stuarda is unmatched~.

[@lotoffortune]

There seem to be at least 2 different versions of this cabaletta. The one that is most often heard stays in B-flat for the repeat, and is the one sung by Sills, Gencer, Caballe, etc. I have seen the score of this version, and it modulates into D-flat major for the repetition, To my knowledge, only Sutherland has ever sung this version.

[@crazyorganist1609]

She is

[@MultiZahl]

PHANTASTIQUE !!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@OscarGraumusico]

Power... bravísima

[@Hako2004]

I see, thanks for the insight.

[@Hako2004]

She appears to change key in the middle of the cabaletta...up.

[@herrbrucvald6376]

(a year later from what?) I agree this is the best version I've heard of her in this, better than the studio iteration.

[@magicmonkichi]

This was posted one year after her passing, as a tribute.

[@Hako2004]

I have never seen the score, but I read years ago she sang this piece up... like a tone and half. What is the original key, and which key is she in here?

[@crazyorganist1609]

Starts in Bflat transposes to Dflat. The score stays in Bflat

[@alwaysnew189]

modulation in Dflat major, when all other sing in bflat major lol :D