Joan Sutherland live in Verdi's Requiem: Libera Me - 1960 (In Memoriam)

[@crazyorganist1609]

Her phrasing is sublime. the beauty of her voice is unparalleled

[@photo161]

...Thank you for these words of appreciation, which, as precise as they are in their praise of Joan if they were written a thousand times over, they could not begin to express the appreciation we feel for the unparalleled joy her great artistry gave us all, one and all.

[@dianaventura7999]

From the top notes to the middle notes, to the low notes...perfection. And sooo HUGE. That's the condition of Sutherland's commanding voice in 1960. She revisited this part magnificently in a studio recording in 1967 with Pavarotti and Horne. But the LIVE recording with Giulini shows her in even better voice and diction. This recording also shows the volume of the Sutherland voice without all those studio mics messing up her enormous sound. Obviously, the massive orchestration/chorus is not a challenge for her.

[@paullewis2413]

@Imagique Sad but true. I´m a great Sutherland fan but there is no denying that her voice declined fairly rapidly after the late 60`s. Sure she could still reach those incredible highs but the middle and lower registers (never her strongest point admittedly) became as you say mushy and frankly unattractive. However in her prime c. 1958- 1970 she was incredible and absolutely unique.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Paul Lewis she was Incomparable indeed. La STUPENDA! Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@elonbriar2589]

dont know if anyone cares but if you're bored like me atm then you can watch pretty much all of the latest series on instaflixxer. I've been streaming with my gf for the last few months =)

[@deandrehugo1103]

@Elon Briar definitely, I have been using instaflixxer for since december myself :D

[@jondavwal13]

@@paullewis2413 This was actually mostly in recordings. Live the difference wasn't all that great until about 1982.

[@paullewis2413]

Joan in the late 50's/ early 60's had a voice that absolutely no one, not even Callas, could match for sheer power and thrilling sound. Not as complete an artist as Maria but a totally unique voice with unmatched technique, certainly in bel canto, probably in all history.

[@paullewis2413]

@Charlie Charlie Yes I've heard many of Callas' early performances, admittedly often in very poor sound quality, and she was incredible and more dramatic than Sutherland but I stand by what I said about the latter's voice in her prime, thrilling beyond compare!

[@ernie821]

OMG. I never knew she had done this. What a treat to find this 🙂 Thank you for posting. Loved it. Love her.

[@photo161]

How thrilling to hear her imperious climactic high C rise above the massed orchestra and chorus! (at about 11:24)

[@jasonblack4208]

There's no changing around the balance or providing additional amplification. She just cuts through the whole damn thing with her natural voice, like a battle cry in a thunderstorm.

[@christiaandhooghe]

This version of Libera Me is soooooo much better then the studio recording!!!! Wooooow, I love it.

[@SirDiogoferreira]

It is definitively a sin to dislike this interpretation of Dame Joan... RIP my inspiring goddess!

[@MoiraRussell]

I just about lost it in front of my laptop at 5:34 or so in, 'et lux perpetua.' Nobody like Joan.

[@photo161]

And it is amazing to hear how her spectacular high C (at about 11:25) rises thrillingly above the massed sounds of the chorus and orchestra.

[@dollartwenty]

We shall never hear her like again Thank God for recordings!

[@jasonblack4208]

the best aspects of this performance are 1) That rising portamento at 10:30 was LEGENDARY! 2) Joan was always good at clean onsets, but this ordinarily took the form of smoothly caressing the note. Here, she ATTACKS the notes with a kind of fiery intensity rarely seen in her later work 3) The shimmer of her upper register is so intense that mimics the squillo of a Puccini soprano in its ability to shine through dense orchestration. It leaves you thinking "wait...did she have a heavy, powerful voice or a light, floaty voice? I can't tell" 4) most people prefer a deeper, darker voice for this piece, but imo, most of those singers don't fair as well in the middle section with those high-lying legato passages, gentle high notes above the staff, etc. 5) later Joan developed a bit of a muffled quality (likely resulting from deteriorating diction), but here, we hear her voice in full, silvery clarity.

[@CaptFitzbattleaxe]

This is still one of the most moving clips of music I've ever heard. RIP.

[@johnruggeri843]

Early Joan- the huge beautiful voice is thrilling. Excellent diction and laser attacks and wonderful legato.

[@wilsonwatt9283]

Yes, She always sang better with good conductors. She was lazy with Bonynge because orchestras had little respect for him and knew they were only her ""accompanists"" under his direction. All of her best recorded work outside of Esclarmonde was done in early work or with conductors other than Bonynge or live with other conductors.

[@barbaranorthwood]

@Imagique Serafin conducted her twice. What you are listening to is the product of years of close collaberation with her husband. He alone helped to define the wonderful clarity and agility for which she was famed.

[@annettefallon1652]

Wilson, u are right! I think other conductors tell her that she is mumbling to herself when she sings slow passages. In this performance, she is singing to the audience. That makes a major difference in her accent and using an edgier, brighter tone. When she gets involve in the music, she is the greatest singer in modern history!

[@dickn.ormous1064]

​@@wilsonwatt9283 Esclarmonde is a trashy over the top opera, no wonder it was Bonynge's favorite opera.That man was tackiness personified.The Liberace of conductors.

[@jondavwal13]

@@dickn.ormous1064 I don't disagree but what it requires of the soprano is pretty unique (Turandot plus Ariadne auf Naxos, LOL). Norma comes close but Sutherland's performances of Esclarmonde are really really the true document of what her voice was capable of and she wasn't even at her peak.

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

Perfection. Never heard this recording before. Truly a voice divine!

[@paullewis2413]

Absolutely! Not just unbelievably powerful but also incredible technique whereas no score, no matter how difficult, held any terrors for her - unique!

[@TheVaughan5]

Of course Joan takes centre stage on this upload but just listen to the outstanding conducting of Guilini with the Philharmonia and the incredible Philharmonia chorus probably coached by the legendary Wilhelm Pitz. Wow, this was music making at it's highest order, doesn't get any better.

[@debbiewoodburn6786]

Simply stupendous. Simply sublime. The inimitable and incomparable Joan Sutherland.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Debbie Woodburn LA STUPENDA 👑 my friend. Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@blessOTMA]

She was sublime. The greatest.

[@photo161]

What ever could this legendary diva not sing?!

[@MrMin316]

Goosebumps....So exquisite!

[@keith.pierson4243]

Magnificent. Just as her Don Giovanni with Giulini is exceptional. Thank you

[@paullewis2413]

Yes, certainly the most thrilling Donna Anna ever and here she is again amazing. A tragedy that she developed an awful, what I would call "matronly" sound by the early 70's, she could still soar up to the highs with ease but the middle register became muddy and unattractive.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Paul Lewis No fault of her own when you have someone controlling your every move. Sad but true. Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@johnpickford4222]

@@arnoldamaral7406 Not to be read but both you and Paul Lewis discredit yourselves by making unfair and veiled comments about Richard Bonynge. I hardly doubt that he would have supported or encouraged her matronly muffled sound in the middle register considering all the work he devoted to her vocal development. By the early ‘70s she was in her mid-forties and prime of any singer when ALL attributes remain is very short. As much as I love Elisabeth Schwarzkopf I wish that Sutherland, Eileen Farrell or possibly Renata Tebaldi recorded the piece commercially with Giulini.

[@barbaranorthwood]

As a tribute it couldn't be bettered. Thank you.

[@65attila]

Amazing singing and intensity- one of the greatest to have left reordings. I was lucky to have heard her on stage..

[@arnoldamaral7406]

65attila So was I. Past her prime 😢. What a powerful voice she had. Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@paullewis2413]

@@arnoldamaral7406 I heard Joan in 1965, still in her prime. Ok admittedly I was too young to remember much except the excitement of hearing the greatest singer on earth at that time :-) Again in 1973 , past her best though still wonderful.

[@ioSonoCallas]

Magnificent and moving tribute to a great Joan Sutherland! In 4:08 there is Joan Sutherland's magnificent photo on stage with Giulietta Simionato, both left us in 2010!!!

[@Paddy818]

Great tribute to a great artist!

[@Richiesutherland]

Thank you for this beautiful and sensitive tribute, as well as the fantastic background of Joan's 1960 Edinburgh performance of the Verdi Requiem, with Giulini conducting. Bravo. And of course, Brava!

[@APB1202]

Thank you so much for this compilation. The combination of the photos from throughout her life/career and the emotionally charged interpretation of "Libera Me" is a powerful tribute to her great life and career. Thanks for taking the time to put this together.

[@Homoclassicus]

Thank you! I'm glad that my aim seems to have been successful for you and others. I tried to enhance both music and images by combining them and thus make this a moving and powerful tribute.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Homoclassicus A great job for a great LADY my friend. Thank You Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@acacia-bloom]

This was definitely before started swooping, covering her vowel sounds and wooly consonants, and boy, it was riveting. The vibrato was slightly quicker and makes the voice sound more vibrant. Unfortunately the recording is running something less of a semitone higher than it should. I should imagine that the original sounded appropriately a touch heavier.

[@ktrewin23]

This makes my cry every time. Thank you for your sensitive hard work. Love Joan.

[@danielintheantipodes6741]

Thrilling. Unutterably incredible!

[@PIPZZZ02]

A really beautiful imaginative tribute. Thank you.

[@heigei1]

God bless her.

[@gerardbedecarter]

A beautiful retrospective.

[@jenni4claire]

She was magnificent.

[@77Opera]

Une vie pour la beauté de l'art lyrique! Très bel hommage! Merci à vous Homoclasicus

[@bellini7verdi]

ES LA UNICA VERDADERA CANTANTE DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS..........CON CANTO GRANDIOSO ...SINCERO Y DRAMATICO....Y TRAGICO...BELCANTISTA VERISTA....DE UN IMPRESIONANTE CAUDAL DE SONIDOS IMPOSIBLES DE CATALOGAR.............QUE UNA ORQUESTA SERIA E IMPRESIONANTE TAN SOLO TENDRIA UN HONOR..........EL DE QUE ELLA HICIERA EL CANTO DEL COMPENDIO ORQUESTAL..............LA BATUTA VOCAL ABSOLUTA...........LA PRIMA DONNA DE TODOS LOS TIEMPOS..................

[@bellini7verdi]

UNA VOZ PRECIOSA Y GRANDIOSA...........UN DIAMANTE...DEL TAMAÑO DE UN DINOSAURIO.............HERVIBORO...EL MAYOR DEL MUNDO

[@pedroni01]

Tak Joan Sutherjand for alt hvad du har givet.

[@bellini7verdi]

LA VOZ SUPREMA DE NUESTRO MUNDO..UN PRODIGIO DE VOZ.....DE SER HUMANO Y DE TODO.....PARA MI DESDE LUEGO ME CAUSA UN INMENSO DOLOR SU PERDIDA...PORQUE ME HA ACOMPAÑADO DURANTE.32 AÑOS ...Y ME SEGUIRA ACOMPAÑANDO EL RESTO DE MI VIDA.....PORQUE SU SONIDO ES EL CIELO Y EL CIELO SIEMPRE ESTARA CONMIGO Y ELLA AHORA ESTA EN EL.CIELO O LLAMELE H...PERO QUE VOY A PASAR HOY UN DIA MUY EXTRAÑO LO SE....QUE FUERTE...ME SIENTO MUY MAL AUNQUE SE QUE ES UNA COSA NATURAL LA MUERTE..SE ME HACE MUY DURO SABERLO

[@francescomazzella5940]

Only Divine...

[@wilsonwatt9283]

She always rose to the challenge of a great conductor. Although one understands why she chose to sing with Bonynge for most of her career, he deprived the world of the ultimate that she could have achieved. His mediocre conducting and very limited view of what vocal music should be [he had no appreciation of the drama of the human voice] took away from what Sutherland might have ultimately accomplished if she had sung regularly with greater conductors. Listen to any recording [live or studio] of her at any time in her career with another conductor and she always sounds better [both more musically perfect and more dramatic]. We are lucky for recordings like this that give us what she really was.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Wilson Watt Large egos are very dangerous & can do so much damage my friend. Dame Joan had an incredible gift that was misguided by a Narcissistic man. Voices like this great lady will not walk this earth again. This is a very good example of what Dame Joan was capable of singing with her beautiful powerful voice. Arnold Bourbon Amaral

[@dickn.ormous1064]

She cut corners with Bonynge. Grew sloppy and complacent. Bel canto repertoire can easily turn into an over the top trashy circus act which is exactly what happened with her.

[@johnpickford4222]

@@dickn.ormous1064 I don’t think for a moment that she was sloppy or complacent. She had a long distinguished career at the top of her profession. You are using this site to make a sloppy and poor observation due to your complacent and asinine opinion.

[@johnpickford4222]

@@arnoldamaral7406 It was also her career decision to work with Bonynge after poor experiences with mediocre conductors; not all were Serafin or Giulini. It is poor to render Bonynge as narcissistic because he wasn’t the conductor you expected him to be. For all your criticism, per Zubin Mehta, it was Bonynge that prepared her for the TURANDOT recording and he knew that she would be well prepared. I don’t think narcissistic played a part.

[@quaderno13]

Miss u..

[@hayerwhophtow6700]

Que correria!

[@henrifrombarcelona]

que en paz descanse

[@NLidar]

10:50

[@brunoantony3218]

7:14 !!

[@edysonurieldiaz]

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

[@FALC019]

Intro quidditch 2002 playa pffffff supreme

[@johnpickford4222]

Freddy Aloccer Grau: “Quidditch”? This is the Verdi Requiem and JOAN SUTHERLAND not a Harry Potter book (take your pick!) and Hogwarts.

[@liedersanger1]

Please identify where this performance was given, and if this is a live performance. Thank you!

[@Homoclassicus]

Live perfoermance in Edinburgh, 1960.

[@liedersanger1]

Thanks.

[@Twentythousandlps]

Recording is a half-tone too high.

[@johnpickford4222]

Mark Cogley: Listen a half tone lower! Seriously, how can you tell? This performance is available on the Testament label and I’m certain it’s correct there.

[@BucurEST1989]

disappointing

[@johnpickford4222]

Well, so is your asinine comment but I’m more polite than to draw attention to it!

[@feeniix6]

This had to be before her husband

[@tklogan111809]

7:17 !!