Dame Joan Sutherland interviewed by Brian Adams in 1982

This interview was broadcast during the extraordinarily popular simulcast of Die Fledermaus by the Australian Opera and the ABC in 1982.

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

She is an absolute DARLING.

[@theon9575]

Not absolute, just maybe 90%. Flawed darling. She also held racist views, unfortunately.

[@joanketelby752]

@@theon9575 We're all flawed human beings darling.

[@DCFunBud]

Such a great lady! So gracious and unassuming.

[@luismontecinos9916]

Ii DO ADORE THE WAY SHE COMMUNICATES HER THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS

[@Dadacomero]

oh she is so lovely

[@CaptFitzbattleaxe]

Oh, how I wish she *had* sung some G&S. "Poor wand'ring one" with it's cadenza and high E-flat would have been perfect for her. Her comic timing for Rosalinde is amazing. (I'm planning on posting her 1973 assumption of that role.) Thanks for this lovely interview.

[@tklogan111809]

Classy. And refined.

[@AndrewGriffiths]

If you listen to Sempre libera on her recording of Traviata with Pavarotti and the National Philharmonic Orchestra, she replaces the second cadenza with the Poor Wand'ring One cadenza (they are already similar - intentionally on Sullivan's part but she goes entirely off score with this one) and then later on towards the end she replaces the written top C's with the "ha ha ha" from Poor Wand'ring One. I'm convinced she was sending a purposeful love note to Pirates on this recording!

[@johnpickford4222]

Andrew Griffith: I believe you are hearing what you want to. Dame Joan was a complete professional and the variations she used were likely worked out by Richard Bonynge or Douglas Gamely (sp?) and in keeping with Verdi. But I do recall reading a review of the ‘68 G&S PIRATES OF PENZANCE (with complete dialogue and John Reed) where the reviewer thought Sutherland and Corelli would be cast as Mabel and Frederick. Decca/G&S did excellent with their D’Oly Carte choices.

[@CaptFitzbattleaxe]

@vocalissimo1 All true. Despite my awareness of the conventional wisdom "Sutherland had a knack for comedy," I was blown away by her Rosalinde. Imagine what she could have done in G&S...

[@edejan]

As a lover of G & S, I agree!!

[@-Tesla-Live_]

@CaptFitzbattleaxe Yes, Joan could have been the mother of all Mabels! She actually seems to have a much better intuition about how to act comedy than tragedy. Her Australian sense of the ridiculous comes in handy, no doubt!

[@photo161]

Back in the day, I knew several fans of Dame Joan's who paled around with her when she was here in New York, and I remember well them talking about how much fun she was and how very funny she was, and just how many laughs they shared together.

[@catcrazy336]

I love her.

[@luismontecinos5810]

Brian Adams is a tremendous interviewer especially concerning opera stars

[@emma41093]

I

[@user-jt4js7ed3e]

Люблю.

[@emma41093]

Haha "trapped out here during the War" Must be awful to be stranded in Sydney.

[@operabilia]

See full tribute (in French) available here: www.musimem.com/sutherland_joan.htm

[@user-jt4js7ed3e]

Люблю.