Joan Sutherland - "Quando rapito in Estasi" (London, 13/08/1960) [Excellent Sound]

[@raybercse1]

She caresses the notes and lingers on them which gives the words a mesmerizing effect. The fluidity and ease is so natural mostly due to her expert breathing. As usual, in her case, amazing pyrotechnics.

[@MrMin316]

The most beautiful, exciting voice the world has ever known.

[@cadoh8143]

Thank you. Great Sutherland. Perfect!!!!

[@jmiller05]

The fresh, exuberant heroic sound of prime Suherland. The top notes just pour out of her like a flood and her coloratura is ridiculously deft.

[@ryan.engstrom]

So insanely beautiful 😍

[@MrQbenDanny]

Joan sang like this when she was a teenager, nobody taught her much, it's a Gift from God. Teachers, husbands, and coaches love to exaggerate their contribution. I saw her plenty at the Metropolitan, though I will confess I went for Luciano. My favorite Joan part was in La Fille du regiment. The loud laughter in the Met is unforgettable. Great Artist. Her last Trovatore was painful and nobody gave a damn, she's JOAN SUTHERLAND.

[@williammaddox3339]

According to the NYT review on opening night in 1987 in Trovatore she was not in good voice. The live broadcast at the end of her run she was in quite good voice. She was up and down in the late 80"s.

[@stephenfletcher6801]

I’ve heard recording of this great singer when she was very young, and NO....she did NOT always sound like she does here. She had a huge wobble when she was young and even her husband has talked about not liking her voice when he first heard her. She worked hard to refine her voice, and the result of that work is evidenced here in this recording.

[@ThomasDawkins88]

@@williammaddox3339 She and Bonynge both say that in her final years of singing her biggest problem was becoming less consistent. But when she had a good night, she was still second to none.

[@misanthropelife]

Perfection

[@dramaturge231]

Glorious. Dame Joan, Caballé and Leontyne in the 60’s were each unstoppable.

[@RM-py1bq]

I totally agree! The 3 best sopranos I ever heard 'live." I was fortunate to hear Sutherland 2x (in recital, & in "Norma" w/ Horne -- I have their autographs). Heard Caballe in recital. Also heard the great Leontyne's farewell recital! In the same echelon I'd add Leonie Rysanek (heard at the very end of her career), Eileen Farrell (in a rare appearance post-retirement), and Jessye Norman (heard just before her Met debut).

[@lawrenceallen6508]

Good God , Dame Joan never ceases to amaze us .

[@nelifitkova8568]

If I was in the hall, I would applaud like that!

[@ktrewin23]

And quite rightly, the audience went wild!

[@MrMin316]

No one else can sing like this....La Stupenda!!!

[@paullewis2413]

The late 50’s and the early 60’s were the high point of Joan Sutherland’s voice - the World had never (in all probability) heard anything like this and possibly will never again. La Stupenda indeed😁

[@krowapaulinka4351]

The only thing more sublime than Sutherland as Lucia is young Sutherland as Lucia!

[@tabarro1877]

Wow!❤

[@aetion]

΄Εγραψε λαμπρή ιστορία (και) στην όπερα αυτή, η μεγάλη ντίβα. Ευχαριστώ, φίλε μου.

[@arnoldamaral7406]

Dame Joan at her best. Brava La Stupenda 👑

[@josecarrerastema8654]

Spettacolo immenso