Joan Sutherland - Era desso il figlio mio

Joan Sutherland sings the final aria of Donizetti's Lucrezia Borgia in this 1980 Royal Opera House production.

[@baritonebynight]

Dame Kiri said it best "there will never be a voice like (Dame Joan's) again".

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

I never get tired of hearing Joan Sutherland's rendition of this aria. Simply stupendous.

[@dianaventura7999]

This role is perfect for an older Sutherland. Her voice is much darker here than it was when she was thirty-something. I love the young Sutherland. But this older Sutherland singing "Era Desso" is absolute proof that she can be a great singing actress. No one can touch her in this role. Caballe and Sills are also great Borgias. But Sutherland IS Lucrezia Borgia!

[@oliviero.m750]

True. I went to Spain years ago and Gruberova was amazing in that role.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

@@oliviero.m750 Greby stinks. Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@janm.c.munich3513]

@@arnoldamaral7406 Peasant

[@emitch9213]

No, Caballe is Lucretia Borgia...🌹❤

[@crazyorganist1609]

@@emitch9213 Caballe's voice wasn't big enough for Lucrezia.

[@melbapatti]

54 years old and 30+ years into her professional singing career, still singing like the pro she always was. This is brutally difficult music to sing, and Dame Joan not only tosses off the runs and trills with ease, but also ACTS brilliantly. To take an unwritten but traditional high Eb at the end only proves what a secure (and genuinely THRILLING) performer she was. She did the same thing in Lucia. Anyone who repeats the false rumor that she was a mediocre actress obviously never saw her in Lucia or Lucrezia Borgia in which she was riveting, in which both her personality and voice were titanic (that’s TITANIC), and in which her musicianship was impeccable. She was stupendous indeed, and rarely, if ever, gave a bad performance. No one has replaced Caballe, Callas, Sutherland, Price, Arroyo, Tebaldi, Nilsson, Verrett, Scotto, Freni, Marton, Rysanek, and the list could go on and on. All except Callas and Tebaldi were singing the year this video was recorded. We had giants singing 40 years ago.

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

I agree with every word you wrote 100%. We did have giants singing in those years

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Agreed. Giants. It was not that long ago either. What a golden age!

[@mscott3918]

Renee Fleming, when in her thirties had to change the ending, to have the final high note before the end, and transcribed down, because she couldn't do what Dame Joan could do at 54.

[@mscott3918]

Daniel Hammond I doubt we will ever be able to hear singing like this again. The new generation seems to just want to squeeze out a thin high c and expect overnight stardom - without the work and dedication. Not worth going to the opera these days. The best production I have seen in recent years was Philippe Jaroussky's production of Artaserses in Nancy, and that was all counter tenors.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

@@mscott3918 Unfortunately I think you are probably right.

[@cristetoile11]

This is indeed the greatest Lucrezia´s interpretation of all times... amazing grace! Rest in peace Lady Sutherland, you were an elegant and true diva...

[@fido3449]

Did you ever see flowers land on the stage before the curtain has even fallen ? Only if you heard our Joan. ..

[@-Tesla-Live_]

Stunning! Joan was an opera singer in the grandest and most thrilling sense. She only had to set foot on a stage, and suddenly it was a very special place for everyone in the theatre.

[@hugothebear]

I always think she managed so well as she aged, the youthful beauty of her voice faded of course but it developed a real edge which Joan used to good effect in these later roles. And as she kept most of the flexibility she could negotiated all the florid passages and still turn a proper trill. The one thing that you can't get from a recording is the scale and intensity of the tone of her voice in the theatre, and her stage presence, sure her acting was quite modest but she always commanded her stage and enchanted with the sheer sound of that voice. A one off remarkable artist !

[@Hako2004]

The greatest Lucrezia without doubt, and one of her greatest roles.

[@magicmonkichi]

one of my first major exposures to opera was a dvd of this performance. I'll never forget the first time watching it. Nobody has come close to Sutherland's Borgia for me. We had so much, now we have so little. Even in her last Borgias she was amazing. Don't see her likes or anything near now adays.

[@johnruggeri843]

The size, quality, size, flexibility and evenness of her voice are special. Whenever I heard her, I felt I was in a special and glorious musical world. BRAVA !!!!!!!

[@canpete1]

SUPREME is the word..not a trace of deterioration at 54!! and after 25 years of singing. If you haven't heard the rest of this performance she's even better.

[@alexandroalvarez2464]

This particular performance is classed as Historical performance by ROH. This is certainly true and has become some sort of standard to live up to. Sadly this opera has become a rarity these days. Perhaps is because there aren’t female bel canto opera singers capable of carrying such taxing role

[@SR-jx8yu]

@@alexandroalvarez2464 So true, today the only singer who can really do justice to this role is the great Mariella Devia. I hope Nadine Sierra will mature into this role

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

I listened to this again - and am impressed with her ability! This has got to be the hardest thing EVER to sing - all those insanely difficult fast passages and trills added in the reprise-then to top it all off with the Eflat! She was over fifty here and looked great in this age appropriate role. Brava Joan!

[@fredojoaquim4764]

So wonderfully sung and acted☀️🌟La Magnificent Stupenda.💖 Era desso ll figlio mio. He was my son, my only hope, my only confort.

[@16thCenturyArt]

Superlative performance. There is no scale to measure it with. Never will...

[@Polemocrates]

PERFECTION................................

[@davidgordon8313]

She wasnt called"La Stupenda" for nothing. What a magnificent voice! What a loss to the world!

[@herrbrucvald6376]

In the 1977 Australian Opera production, Lucrezia presses her sorrowful face to her son's cheek at the final moment, and it is far more moving than her dying here. It brings tears to my eyes. The smallest details in theatre can have such different effects. Donizetti is such a genius---but the casts for his works don't exist. Sutherland + Donizetti = divine

[@fanofbelcanto]

Pavarotti was calling her, the Divina ! in that scene, she really is ! Sutherland was an incomparable artist, and surely the voice of the 20th century. From Haendel with Alcina, Rodelinda, or Bellini, I Puritani, Norma and Donizetti legendary Lucia, Maria Stuarda and marvellous Lucrezia, she will stay forever the Queen of Belcanto. Thank you Joan !

[@FraSarn]

Divina. Una regina. She just nailed it.

[@iskander1223]

Anyone who says that Sutherland doesn't have temperament should hear this. She does more acting with her voice than 'Modern' divas do with all their so-called acting

[@brunoantony3218]

So true, especially Natalie Dessay’s circus acting 🎪

[@dianaventura7999]

Totally, Sutherland nailed this. One of the grestest thing I've ever heard. And I've heard a million performances of this, this is one of the best of all time.

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

diana ventura I love reading your comments. I always learn something new about either the singer, the aria or the opera itself.

[@ahogbin2644]

Magnificent. I went to a performance a week or so later and she was even better. The Eflat held longer and the audience went beserk. No one to touch her today!!!

[@anandy9292]

no other person can sing this like that

[@mscott3918]

an andy Especially at the age she was when she gave this.

[@alexandroalvarez2464]

I agree with you.

[@spyridonroumeliotis7831]

She was pure perfection from beginning til the end in this role.

[@ktrewin23]

Remember banishing the family from the front room so I could watch this when it was broadcast live! I had a thing about Alfredo Kraus afterwards. I still do! Brilliant Joan!

[@Hako2004]

Sutherland started as a mezzo-soprano....not a well known fact, and resisted becoming a soprano. I have her Australian performance of Lucrezia, a few years prior to this, and the low notes were spine-chilling.....stronger and darker and more menacing than heard here. I had huge goose-bumps from the low register in that earlier performance.

[@bellini7verdi]

la cantante de opera mas grande de todos los tiempos.......y encima durante mas de 40 años...............ni veristas.....ni nada de nada pudo con esa voz...........viva el belcanto de joan sutherland........lo mas grande de este planeta en cuestion vocal y musical...............y nadie podra volver a emular semejante hazaña.........clase......elegancia.....pasion....divismo......humildad...serenidad....y estrellaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.........hasta el finalllllll

[@callastoujours]

O.M.G.!!!! What else could I add?????

[@caninbar]

I love the high note and fall...So diva...

[@gokouson180]

Good Lord! Those chest tones at 1:15! I've never heard that from her. And I just realized this was 40 years ago!!

[@joshtemples8398]

I would sell my soul to have a soprano of Sutherland's caliber on the stage today....

[@wetering777]

Indeed,......LA STUPENDA FOR EVER and I prefer to refer to her as DEAR JOAN. She was as great a lady as a singer. Dear Dame Joan,.......thank you for everything and may you rest in peace.

[@eberlinpascal2837]

Sutherland est la meilleure dans ce rôle ,sans aucun doute .Une technique éblouissante et une interprétation exemplaire .Une vraie prima donna ,c'est absolument fantastique .Cette air final est diabolique de difficulté et elle le chante à la perfection .❤️

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

The one and only Joan Sutherland.

[@rakewell2]

OMG, thank you for reloading this!!! i was so frustrated when it disappeared, i just LOVE this video, it's unbelievable!

[@ThaiHainanese]

amazing Joan

[@65attila]

MS. Sutherland is perfect for this role. Thank you for posting.

[@mariastrikwerda3074]

I have heard no other soprano ever sing this aria and sound beautiful...only Sutherland sounds wonderful in this aria. With other sopranos this sounds like a voice wrecker, with Sutherland it sound so natural comfortable and beautiful. Love it!

[@HJKey]

Caballé.

[@crazyorganist1609]

That's the thing Sutherland sang everything with ease and exceptional agility

[@draganvidic2039]

Alun Rhys Williams She transposed arias and had no low register and ugly chestvoice and couldn’t act. Besides all that she had a lovely big canarybird voice before 1980.

[@draganvidic2039]

Alun Rhys Williams I know too well...

[@draganvidic2039]

Alun Rhys Williams I know. That’s why they are fans.

[@fredojoaquim4764]

Dame Joan Sutherland 💖is so majestic . Her presence on stage is full of confidence. Her "bell canto" voice is powerful and lovely. I adore🌷 Lucrezia Borgia, a magnificent opus by Donizetti (music) and Felice Romani (libretto). Thank so much for posting it. Grazie.

[@AS-rx4tp]

I never get tired of this. 😊

[@romearomeo]

Magnifica! La Stupenda!

[@AnnaBariacchis]

Amazing! And very fascinating to observe her chest and realise how very hard physically it is to sing on such a high level.

[@machovoce6826]

I own this performance and have watched it many times. It's too bad the DVD cuts off the curtain calls. The flowers absolutely carpeted the stage. But I always come back to this thought: I don't know how she pulled that "era desso" out like that after such a long evening. This is, after all, the last music in the opera. As June Anderson said, "she sounded as fresh as a daisy."

[@mscott3918]

Macho Voce I was lucky enough to see this live. The audience went crazy, quite rightly so.

[@chrisryan9071]

Oh how thrilling to see this - the utter commitment to both the drama and the music. We are lucky, those who heard her sing live in the theatre - and even luckier, those who met her and and spent quiet time with her. I am one such blessed. Thank you indeed for the posting ...

[@wotan10950]

Chris Ryan I am one of them too. I saw her quite a few times in opera and recital. And I met her backstage once. She was pleasant enough, but Bonynge was by far the warmer and more talkative one; he spoke with me for 20 minutes, and I am a nobody in the music world.

[@mscott3918]

This would challenge a singer half her age, and I doubt we will ever hear anyone sing like this again

[@fredobatista4367]

Magnificent Bel canto. 💚Dame Sutherland 💐

[@tklogan111809]

The pinnacle of Bel Canto. And to think that Donizetti wrote this aria reluctantly. The original Lucrezia was Henriette Méric-Lalande who refused to wear a mask in the prologue on the fear that fans wouldn't recognize her. She also demanded a showpiece for the finale which made no dramatic sense. Donizetti gave her this extremely taxing piece just to punish her. But according to reports, Henriette had the last laugh and sang it brilliantly. No one today knows what she sounded like, what we do know is that no one in the last 100 years could go anywhere near the majestic singing of Joan Sutherland, the Voice of the Century. Hail to La Stupenda!

[@wotan10950]

astroboy royale Agreed! Although I think Caballe and Sills were also very good as Lucrezia. But really, no one topped Sutherland in this role.

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

I HEARTELY AGREE!!!!! THE RADIANT GLORY OF ALL VOICE I LOVE YOU JOAN!!!!!! SHE IS SUPREME!

[@davidwalker7151]

I saw Dame Joan in the 1980s at Covent Garden in the roll of Lucia what a night. I met friends from Amsterdam who represented Decca when they said they were from abroad we all got an autograph written in red ink representing Blood. Amazing.

[@wilsonwatt9283]

Here we see Sutherland's actual great achievement as a dramatic coloratura. In roles that demanded pathos [rather than anger] she excelled. It is unlikely that anyone will ever match, let alone surpass, this interpretation of Lucrezia. I think that this is also why she was so drawn to French opera where many of her characterizations are without peer. They ask for the gentle but strong woman rather than the heroic queens or pathetic ladies of Italian operas of the period.

[@Sassandre]

Simply Beautiful

[@mimidu1]

R.I.P. Dame Joan Sutherland (1926-2010)

[@alextudor43]

Dame Joan ! I love her

[@erny1957]

For this aria: Sutherland, first;...

[@HJKey]

😍

[@-Tesla-Live_]

La Stupenda regna per sempre!

[@gkreno1]

Dame oh how wonderfuuuul thanks

[@albertogutierrezlopez2378]

MIA CARA JOAN, PECCATO NON POTETE VEDERTI MAI DAL VIVO MA SECONDO ME SEI PIU' VIVA CHE MAI...SPLENDIDA...DICEVA VENEZIA...UNICA...IL MONDO!

[@ettorebariton]

don't forget she is 62 years old when she sings this, but the voice is at a high level of performance...brava sutherland

[@brunoantony3218]

Omg this is 1980 she was 54 not 62, get it right!

[@andrebontemp]

magnifique expressive splendide dame Joan

[@skitzo429]

R.I.P Joany

[@fredojoaquim4764]

Wonderful.

[@PedroFurtado]

Adoro essa ária. A dramaticidade da osquestra soa perfeita com a interpretação de Sutherland, é perfeito!

[@tjw2469]

I want people throw flowers to me like that one day

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

Sublime!

[@vanmusician]

I was at her very first performance of this role - Vancouver 1972. It's on KZbin. Awesome!

[@acitipo]

maravillosa!!!! casi llegando a los 60 años canto fantasticamente bien!!! todo una diosa la reina del Jet set de la Opera!!!!!

[@edthesp]

Thank you for posting this. I love this aria and this is the first time I've heard Sutherland sing it.

[@antben8992]

Voce potente senza mai essere "virago". Straordinaria!

[@carmelolorito945]

Eccezionale!!!

[@gweneddyn]

What a masterpiece O___O

[@goddess749]

incredible

[@blessOTMA]

The. Greatest.

[@acitipo]

GRACIAS A LA STUPENDA LA MEJOR DEL SIGLO SE RESCATO TODAS LAS OPERAS Y ARIAS ANTIGUAS QUE NADIE CANTABA Y ELLA LAS PUSO EN EL TAPETE PARA ADMIRARLA!!!!

[@nuriagaraumarti4859]

ANGEL COSTA Rica

[@cristetoile11]

Personne n´a jamais su rendre les drames de la Renaissance comme Donizetti et Bellini l´ont fait. Cette version majestueuse en est le témoin. Sutherland est unique, la plus grande Lucrezia que le monde a connu.

[@jameshowlett847]

That's one Duke Alfonso who will sell no wine before its time. How about that uncharacteristically strong chest voice at 1:11, go on, Joan. I like this better than the studio recording, she whips up some real drama here, and you get some feeling for the size of her voice.

[@larrywoods6318]

so very true.......absolutely great

[@manonscate69]

Esa señora tenía un mi sobreagudo muy muy muy grande, no cabe duda que Juan tenía un apoyo diafragmático creíble. Es por ello que Joan fue la mejor técnico vocal de todas las sopranos del siglo pasado. Sin duda un personaje histórico en la música muy importante.

[@kid926]

Fantastica JOAN

[@elisapradaorosa5210]

Inalcanzable en coloratura , incluso en la madurez , la gran Maestra del repertorio belcantista

[@CarlosHernandez-vv6bx]

Sutherland está soberbia en esta Borgia. Si el timbre suena maduro, no es ningún impedimento, porque es la madre del tenor! Vocalmente gloriosa, la cabaletta final con agudo marca de la casa es la guinda a una noche sensacional en la que, por cierto, Kraus está también increíble.

[@davidsongarrett8087]

The Greatest of The Great!

[@ESGAREAL]

algunos dicen que no tenía muy buena dicción, pero eso no importaba, era Joan Sutherland, de las más grandes de la historia, única e irrepetible...

[@marcocampus7943]

Those 'adesso è morto' so low is One of the best think that i listened.

[@thomastmwc]

I wanna cry, so btfl

[@richardposner8526]

La Stupenda, indeed. I will be forever blessed that I saw and heard her in "Norma" at the Met. if only she didn't look so much like the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland!

[@wotan10950]

Richard Posner Haha! You're right! I saw her about a dozen times in the theater, and the voice was always astonishing. But those costumes! She often looked like the Statue of Liberty.

[@SilfredoSerrano]

Great Eb from Sutherland, especially for her age!

[@vettegaddia6234]

+Silfredo Serrano Joan would be about 54 in this 1980 production. The E flat was good, but the low B flats were good too.

[@SilfredoSerrano]

Her low B flats were never good.

[@vettegaddia6234]

***** The B flats were good in this performance. I suggest you listen to them. You realize that she has a voice the size of a Wagnerian soprano. So if her low notes even sound decent next to her middle or high notes, they are big.

[@SilfredoSerrano]

+Vette gaddia We simply have different criteria. I don't care how big they are, if they're ugly. For pretty low notes, listen to Christine Weidinger. Her voice was not as big, but the voice is complete. Sutherlands glory was her upper middle and top. There's nothing wrong with that, just a matter of taste.

[@vettegaddia6234]

***** As you know, I respect you. And if I know your taste, you are a huge fan of Gruberova. When the diva was young, her voice was silver. But as she aged, no comment. But if are going to Gruberova's low notes to Joan's, I will have to say, there is no competition. I can never hear Gruberova when she dips below a D. So Joan's chest tones are not pretty after she turned 50. But have you heard them in, say, the Art of the Prima Donna? When her low notes matched the voice across the board?

[@javiermarinevonburen4889]

Tuve el honor de escucharla en Madrid y Barcelona .. fue su retirada de los escenarios...!!! la más grande de todas en este papel junta a A. Kraus... la Devia le sigue siendo la mejor heredera...!!!

[@Daniliz81]

She is perfect for the role, yeah maybe her low notes are not the best....but she breezes through the notes and makes it sound so easy. Brava Sutherland!

[@Dadacomero]

l agree her low notes weren't the best but that "con esso è morto" at 1:11 sounds really baritonish and good compared to any soprano. lf Kraus was to sing that note it would have sounded a 1/10 the size of Dame

[@Daniliz81]

Yes, you're right :)

[@Homoclassicus]

Here at least I think her low notes sound great. And as a whole, though I do think she underdeveloped her low register, Sutherland only underwhelms in the low notes if compared with other real dramatic sopranos with great low register, like Callas, but definitely not in comparison with the average coloratura soprano dedicated to higher roles, even considering only the wonderful ones (compare her to Gruberova, Devia, Anderson, Moffo, for example).

[@Dadacomero]

Homoclassicus yes, and there was and there still is so much misinformation about female chest voice... even Joan in the video of her masterclass with Horne says low chest voice can ruin soprano voices, which is untrue l'm afraid that was also Bonynge influence. lt won't ruin anything if it's placed and supported properly

[@Hako2004]

Dadacomero Well, Sutherland is right, the low chest voice CAN ruin the soprano voice, but that doesn't mean it always will. If the soprano pushes too much on it, or doesn't drop the weight as she ascends the scale, it can harm over time. There is a difference, I think, between a secure anchor in the chest voice, and "belting" the chest voice. How does a soprano sing on breath, and not the throat, while belting?

[@raigekimaru]

I feel like Lucrezia was specifically written for an older coloratura soprano, as opposed to lucia or elvira.

[@aukurinisa3594]

1:15! Stupendous

[@Boergia]

I have seen this performance in The Hague, Amsterdam, London. Great forever. Caballé Is different.....

[@magicmonkichi]

Lucrezia and Anna, no body tops Dame Joan. Clear trills, great high notes. If you see the rest of this performance you'll see the number of flowers thrown to the stage. Viva La Stupenda!

[@Hako2004]

As I understand it she was singing mezzo stuff in the early vocal competitions....including one that resulted in first prize.....free tuition to study with John Dickens. She was 19 or so at that time. She was later asked to sing mezzo roles while at Covent Garden, but conductors who admired her lower register. Richard was adamantly against it, and the offers were refused. It was John and Aida Dickens that first lifted the Sutherland mezzo up to the high C.

[@galehout]

non dimentichiamoci mai che lei ha insegnato a Pavarotti il canto sul diaframma! Senza di lei, Pavarotti non sarebbe dventato Pavarotti

[@charleshahne1150]

Bravissima

[@raularango5973]

Maria Callas. Renata Tebaldi, Merylin Horne, Pilar Lorengar, Joan Stherland y Monserrat Caballe. Seis primadonas absolutas.

[@marinellabakken5863]

Raul Arango You forgot the Greatest voice of all: KIRSTEN FLAGSTAD.

[@raularango5973]

@@marinellabakken5863 is true.

[@herrbrucvald6376]

Sutherland = divine where are all the curtain calls at the end? let us see them, let us worship the opera gods!

[@ettorebariton]

sorry i was wrong : she is 55 years old here she is wonderfull

[@motardbear15]

When some people (also here) are just telling that she is "was" a bad actress , just look here , she is no "so bad actress at all"....And imagine the final "note" and trills...INBELIVIEBLE..I would have been in the audiance THAT day !!!!

[@raigekimaru]

how does a 60 year old woman have such a sexy voice? I hope I sound sexy too when I'm 60 =P