Dame Joan Sutherland and Margreta Elkins sing the Greatest Duetto of Opera

[@lalagonegaga]

Wait, how tall was Margreta Elkins?

[@LohengrinO]

ahahahhahahahahaha dame Joan stands one step above her and they have same height... ahahahha I said the exact same thing 5:58 and dame Joan was supposedly TOO TALL ahahahaha Margreta was a Giant!

[@Diva_D]

@@LohengrinO I read someplace that Elkins was 6'4"

[@sutherland9]

@@LohengrinO I saw Dame Joan sing I Puritani with Salvatore Fisichella in New York. He stood one step (or two) above her on the set during the duets .... it did look a bit silly

[@blessOTMA]

They bring years to my eyes, such is the beauty of their voices.

[@paullewis2413]

Margreta Elkins was an outstanding singer who never seemed to get the recognition she so justly deserved.

[@ThomasDawkins88]

I entirely agree, but apparently much of this was her own doing. After she had a daughter, she rarely sang outside of Australia and turned down offers from the MET and Bayreuth Festival. While I have great respect for her decision to stay close to home for family, it does help explain why she wasn't known more internationally.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

@Penthesilea If you track a copy of the 1978 Sutherland Norma recorded in Sydney, Elkins was the Adalgisa.

[@mturkic]

Elkins was the best Mezzo Australia ever produced

[@stefanocautavera]

Their voices blend so well.

[@blessOTMA]

Unbelievable! Thank you!

[@veramayer9571]

Proof that Bellini was a genius, if one was needed. One of the reasons I love this opera is the dynamic between Norma and Adalgisa, the compassion they have for one another, when it could all so easily turn to hatred... and this duet, with their voices blending in perfect harmony, is a wonderful expression of the way they support each other. And what a glorious performance this is!

[@matthewbrown17]

The relationship between the two female leads is honestly one of the most beautiful parts of the opera. Norma directs her rage at Pollione, her children, and herself… But never at the object of his affections. She understands that Adalgisa feels exactly what she felt years before and cannot curse her enamored heart.

[@veramayer9571]

@@matthewbrown17 probably my favourite part is actually "O, rimembranza", where Norma realises Adalgisa is going through what she herself had gone through... There's nostalgia, and pain, and compassion there. And then, in spite of the cruel blow of finding out Adalgisa has now replaced her in Pollione's heart, the compassion for her miraculously survives - and is answered by Adalgisa's unwavering loyalty, who chooses to give up her love rather than turn her back on Norma. It's beautiful and very touching. There's also a lot of compassion for Elvira in I puritani. I think it's something Bellini was particularly good at.

[@PeteBMan]

I'd love to hear it as the soprano/soprano pairing but the types that even try these days is less than abysmal.

[@Jeanne90275]

While his music is always glorious, it wasn't until he came upon this story that Bellini's genius unfolded. They say all of life is contained in Shakespeare...the same could be said of "Norma." Truly a masterpiece.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Elkins not only sang beautifully, but she looked fabulous on stage. She had presence. I saw her sing Saint-Saens Delila in, I think, about 1981, she would have been fifty at that time and she was amazing, like a film star. Sutherland writes about Elkins in her autobiography. Apparently she did not like wearing hats. Thank you for the video!

[@dustydragqueen]

I barely knew of her until this video. She's divine! Seems underrated. A beautiful, refulgent, and unforced technique. She definitely keeps up with Joan.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

@@dustydragqueen She was Adalgisa in the 1978 Sydney DVD of Norma with Sutherland. 👍

[@dustydragqueen]

Thanks! SO glad her glory was also captured! I've never seen that production/performance. @@danielintheantipodes6741

[@tenorschofield]

DIVINE!!!

[@yuh8946]

I like how the high notes doesn't overpower Elkins, love that when it happens in duets.

[@Theangelbeltza]

Thank you Lohengrin O.

[@rugby8-Philadelphia]

Wow! That was Fabulous!!!!! (Gotta love Joan's hair 😍) 😎😎😎

[@LohengrinO]

the first and REAL Princess Leia dame Joan was

[@predickament]

Transporting! Thanks!

[@KlausT]

Glorious!

[@johannabennett2069]

Your videos are so great. Can I repost your videos?

[@LohengrinO]

suuuure, I own nothing :D use your own creative imagination for the titles...

[@johannabennett2069]

@@LohengrinO Thank you so much.

[@roberthorn1838]

Glorious singing that's for sure! Operahowever is also about words, which are singularly lacking here..in my opinion

[@gianerajohn436]

Hell naw. Sutherland spends most of the duet with a cramp on her jaw vocalizing on O and U.