Delibes: Lakmé LIVE April 1967 Seattle Sutherland, Tourangeau, Hecht, Opthof, Poretta, Bonynge FULL

Sutherland's first Lakmé in great broadcast sound. I give all the credit to Erik on the Joan Sutherland Appreciation Society who was kind enough to share this recording with me. Thanks again Erik!
The date of this performance is indeed from April of 1967, but I don't know the exact date. Enjoy!
Cast:
Conductor: Richard Bonynge
NILAKANTHA (Brahman priest), Joshua Hecht
LAKMÉ (Daughter of Nilakantha), Joan Sutherland
MALLIKA (Slave of Lakmé), Huguette Tourangeau
HADJI (A Hindu slave), Lowell W. Pat Palmerton
GÉRALD (Also a British officer), Frank Porretta
ROSE (Her friend), Patricia Schlosstein
MRS. BENSON (Governess of the young ladies), Thelma Salvesen
ELLEN (Daughter of the Governor), Marlena Kleinman
FRÉDÉRIC (A British officer), Cornelis Opthof

[@davidhansel897]

Thank you for posting this! Prelude: 0:07 Act 1: 03:04 Act 2: 48:19 Bell Song: 1:07:30 Act 3: 1:39:14

[@michaelparker719]

Sutherland brings to this role gorgeous sound, amazing agility, and a tender caressing manner that completely suits the young Lakme who has for the first time fallen in love. She acts with her voice the amplitude and ease of which as astounding. What a joy to experience this performance of Delibes’ charming opera.

[@crisha721]

Wow! The impact of her voice is astounding. Such and impossing sound

[@user-highbaritone]

If you have this then you would know Irving Gutman. I listened to this at his home on his reel to reel in 1971. This and many more he had. Thank you for posting.

[@vanmusician]

This production took place immediately after Sutherland sang 5 Lucias here in Vancouver. I went to 3 of them. I was at university, so wasn't able to get to Seattle to see this.

[@cesarthomas6613]

QUE ALEGRIA!!Fanático de Sutherland.....Unica!! Y que buen sonido.....Muchísimas gracias!!

[@eric644]

Pure magic. Joan at her peak in a role that suited both her gentle lyrical nature and brilliant virtuosity. A rare find.

[@LohengrinO]

woooooow I think dont have this :p and wow 6:00 Entrance of Lakme

[@oderflanell]

glorious performance

[@markbeck8384]

An added comment: I once had a record of Massanet"s Esclaremonde, which is also a Bonynge-Sutherland vehicle. To anyone out there who loves this Lakme, they would probably like Esclaremonde, too. Wonderful singing, and very fairy tale Byzantine-exotic. They also did a nice Massanet Roi de Lahore that's a wonderful find.

[@LJB103]

The second opera that I saw at the Met was Esclarmonde with Sutherland and Giacomo Aragall. Great singing!

[@JURISMICH]

If you have liked Porretta, you would like Cupido , after Aragall, in Esclarmonde.

[@LJB103]

@@JURISMICH ???

[@josephcollins6033]

Mark, I've wondered on and off for years if I should buy that recording. I remember the broadcast!!!!!

[@kbhprinsesse]

@@josephcollins6033 you mean "Esclarmonde"? It's wonderful!!!!!!!!

[@HerculesPorridge]

Just astounding.

[@markbeck8384]

Way back when, this was my first Lakme. Since then, I have heard some very fine singing, and seen casting that seemed more age-look appropriate to the role. Nevertheless, this is the one I love. I 've never heard it sound better: Sutherland-Tourangeau are terrific, Bonynge is great at this kind of thing, and I'm glad they included the ballet. I know that operas like this (Samson & Dalila/L'Africaine/Pearl Fishers,etc) are maybe not so politically correct these days; but they are so gorgeous. That romantic exoticism has a pull, just like the fairy tale Rimsky-Korsakov operas.

[@josephcollins6033]

Thanks, Mark.

[@ThrivingJean]

Magnifique! Thank you very much for sharing!

[@OperaMyWorld]

Amazing!!! Thank you 🙏

[@chrisfinlay3274]

wonderful thanks.

[@eloyguevara9447]

espectacular es poco...................es de otro mundo...................vocal....................solo para ella................................la unica capas de hacer semejante musicalidad............esplendorosa.................y estremecedora......................

[@josephcollins6033]

Thanks for a gorgeous Sunday morning!

[@cadoh8143]

Agradeço por nos presentear tamanha raridade.😊👏👏👏💜

[@eloyguevara9447]

imposible igualar ni de cerca..........por mas que lo intenten........y por mas que estudien...........y por mas que se quiera emular semejante voz......................es imposible..................tenia unas cualidades unicas................alucinante.........forma de cantar......................y de ejecutar...................el trayecto sonoro de esa manera.................tan.............de otro mundo....................

[@cesarthomas6613]

las funciones fueron losdias 10-13-15-19 y 22 abril de 1967-

[@JURISMICH]

1:48:08 "Ah viens dans la forêt profonde"😀Porretta, short career, but long life.

[@michaelparker719]

Fantastic to have this finally available. Is the Seattle Hoffmann out there somewhere? Would love to hear that as well.

[@AkaiGX]

I would like to think Seattle opera would have that recording as well in their archives. I do know some people that have the original private reel-to-reel tapes of that recording. However one of the copies has deteriorated beyond use from what one owner has told me. The other copy might be still in tact.

[@ulysse8752]

🎰