The Dueling.....sopranos? Joan Sutherland/Edita Gruberova "Sempre Libera" from "Traviata"

Something a little different....requested by Mr. Mooorhe. :-)
Edita Gruberova takes on the great Joan Sutherland in this flashy and difficult aria. Some of the transitions are pretty subtle, so pay close attention :P The splicing was a made a bit awkward when I realized that the tenor was included in Gruberova's recording but not in Sutherlands... :-/ so please overlook the small error.
If anyone else has ideas on what singers/songs/arias they would like to see compared this way, please mention them! I can't guarantee that I'll be able to act on your idea/request, but there's a good chance I will. ;-)
In many ways comparisons are unfair, but we always wind up comparing anyway,:-) So I thought it would be interesting to compare 2 sopranos singing an aria phrase-by-phrase so to speak. I'm all for FRIENDLY debate, please avoid profanity or you will be blocked. This is not to detract from the accomplishments of either singer. Ideally you will appreciate them both for their own unique talents. Please state the reasons for your preference when posting. :) Enjoy, and I may make more of these in the future, perhaps with other singers as well.

[@wotan10950]

I didn't realize there was any question! As far as bel canto vocalism, yes, Gruberova had some great successes. But Sutherland is the gold standard. It's really that simple.

[@emncaity]

Yup. Just never been hit-you-in-the-chops power like this.

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

I agree 100%

[@leoperarm]

I can't say which one is better, both are my favourite sopranos, but I think that Gruberova's inetrpretation was nicer ^^

[@vettegaddia6234]

Totally no contest. Sutherland is already legendary for all time. A lot of opera fans today haven't even heard of Gruberova. Gruberova was very good. But very good is not the same as the grestest bel canto of all time by the name of Joan Sutherland.

[@janvukelic7362]

Please, respect them both. These two ladies are the best considering the tehnique. They have different voices and amazing acting skills. Thes both are perfection!

[@draganvidic2039]

VERY far from the truth…

[@marr6920]

Even though I consider Edita Gruberova a very great singer... and I am SERIOUS! Even though she has such a wavy, light and mellow voice, and even though she is able to produce a F or an F# effortlessly, she still cannot compare to the great dame Joan. Joan's coloratura, trills, staccati and bel canto cannot be compared!!!!!

[@elenaschafermusic]

I really don't like comparing singers as each of them is unique in their own way.. but I have to say, while Edita sings right into my heart, I somehow don't feel a lot when Sutherland is singing. Sutherland for me seems to be singing almost too perfect. Although the technique is incredible of course, I miss the emotions... Needless to say, they are both two of the greatest opera singers to ever walk this earth!!

[@Smile6784]

Gruberova's voice is lighter, more 'silvery'. I prefer her to Sutherland's heavier tones.

[@FeelinMinnesota]

There's no competition between a Brunhilde size voice with perfect coloratura (Sutherland) and a litlle canary squealing (gruberova)

[@SirDiogoferreira]

SUTHERLAND SUTHERLAND SUTHERLAND FOREVER!!!! =D

[@Almaviva123]

Sutherland simplifies the last bars. If you listen carefully you can hear that Gruberova sings "pensier", Sutherland just sing a vocalise here!

[@jasonhurd4379]

Although both ladies were leggeros, comparing them really is apples and oranges. Sutherland shone in the big dramatic roles, like Norma, Lucia and Violetta (and please no trolling about how Lucia and Violetta are not dramatic soprano roles; Callas proved for all time that they are). Sutherland's weightier tones and grand manner suited these roles well, while Gruberova sounded like the proverbial canary in them, playing out of her league. However, in the Queen of Night, the leggero role par excellence, Gruberova was well nigh unbeatable. Also, she sang this role in Vienna and Munich, where the diapason is higher; I believe Vienna tunes to 444 or 445. On a warm night there, top F is far closer to F sharp than otherwise. Gruberova certainly never had to transpose Der Hölle Rache down a whole tone the way Sutherland did when she sang it under Klemperer. And of course there is Gruberova's piece de resistance. There is no one, perhaps not even Siems and Kurz, the creatrixes of the two Zerbinettas, who has sung this role with as much verve, panache and security as Gruberova. Sutherland wisely never attempted it; she knew where her strengths lay. And Gruberova's Konstanze was, IMO, perfection. So, my verdict: For Verdi and bel canto: Sutherland. Mozart and Strauss: Gruberova. Honorable mention for Gruberova in Schweigsame Frau, a hair-raisingly difficult sing that she accomplished magnificently.

[@pauloribeiroal1766]

CONGRATULATIONS! MISS GRUBEROVA.

[@gustopheles]

I love Gruberova, and I'm not a big Sutherland fan. But I have to concede that there is no dispute: Joan demolishes Edita.

[@feesbro7]

i agree with not comparing,but if i had to i would definitely be on the Sutherland wagon. Edita has character in her voice and her version was great. However, Joan Sutherland is an all out phenomenon!

[@peejes]

All Sutherland - I like Gruberova, but I was surprised how much more beautiful Joan was (even with that shaky high note)

[@donatello1]

I like them both...Hard to compare...If you want a richer more dramatic sound, with more feeling, you have to go with Gruberova...In this performance I go with Gruberova.

[@operadude32]

LOVE 'EM BOTH! 2 incredible talents of the 20th & 21st centuries. Even though they are both sopranos, they are two different types/fachs: a dramatic coloratura and a lyric coloratura/leggiero. Joan to my knowledge never sang Zerbinetta & Edita never sang Leonora in Il Trovatore. It's very fun to hear them spliced together! Thanks.

[@Mooorhe]

Very good! I'm going with Sutherland, definitely. Gruberova uses dynamic variation more, but Sutherland's effort just blows me away here! Thank you for another great video! (Would you object to me having a go at one? Crediting you for the idea, of course)

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

For me it's Sutherland......she has a computer like perfection in everything she sang here

[@JoanSutherlandFan]

Isn't something new. Joan always will wins every voice battle with anyone. Simple. She perfected her voice skills and become a technician master. Is unanime, each opera lover know this ;)

[@Feisenbach]

Not when it comes to expression. That wasn't something she really cared about.

[@draganvidic2039]

@@Feisenbach No chestvoice, wrong vowels, bad diction, no actress… She was a good singing machine her first 10 years.

[@adeeo]

Yeah? Let Joanne sing Zerbinetta... You can never compare two jewels... Mozart and Strauss for Joanne? No. Verdi? Yes

[@ShawDAMAN]

Thanks, and thanks again for the suggestion. =) I would probably have to take Sutherland too, for pure impressiveness and beauty of voice- but I do like Gruberova's interpretation and I loved her warm closing Eb! I would not object at all to your making one. ;-) What did you have in mind? =)

[@qingsong5056]

Of course Edita gruberova!

[@coraberger4947]

Wie kann man zwei unterschiedlich aufgenommene Aufnahmen vergleichen, wenn nicht mal das Orchester dasselbe Volumen bzw die selben Lautstärke hat? In der brillanten und makellosen Technik der Fiorituri sind beide aber ebenbürtig.

[@dianaventura7999]

No way are any coloratura, dramatic, lyric or spinto comparable to Joan Sutherland except Callas or Sills. I like Gruberova, but on stage at the Met, Sutherland is twice the size at least. Whoever put this audio up is NOT sizing the two voices properly. Sutherland is far superior to Gruberova vocally. And Gruberova knows it. Don't compare a microphone recording to a LIVE one! Not to mention the trills, staccato, the fioritura and of course the Huge high notes of Sutherland...no contest.

[@williammaddox3339]

Sutherland's voice I suspect is at a minimum 3 to 4 times bigger than Gruberova's.

[@ShawDAMAN]

Thanks for listening! =) I love Gruberova's high notes too. Very warm and full. To me there's not a huge gap here but, I give Sutherland the slight edge. Thanks again :)

[@ShawDAMAN]

Thanks for listening!

[@gimmeachallenge]

Sutherland sings circles around Gruberova. The former sings devilish fiortura with seeming ease. The latter seems to be spending every bit of her energy on each phrase. It becomes exhausting to the listener.

[@stethor]

La Stupenda every time

[@marr6920]

Oh, now I get how people like Gruberova have such long careers! they sing so softly and less loudness

[@kgarmaker123]

To me, there is no contest. Sutherland is the clear superior.

[@ShawDAMAN]

Very likely yes. That probably goes for alot of singers. But, we have to work with what he have now.. ;-) (recordings.) Thanks for the recommendation. :)

[@Joca2212]

Eu acho as duas muito boas embora prefira Edita. Contudo, fica meu protesto pela qualidade sonora da gravação que foi colocada para Edita. Parece que esta em "mono" e com o volume mais baixo. Eu tenho esta mesma gravação em qualidade muito superior.

[@Mooorhe]

I was thinking of doing Spirto gentil, Son vergin vezzosa or Recondita armonia. I also would love to be able to do Bella figlia dell'amore or Verranno a te, but that would be complicated as it's more than one singer... and I'd have to find a suitable rival for the Pavarotti/Sills Verranno a te (even more difficult :p).

[@ShawDAMAN]

Excellent choices... =) Yes I would like to do trios/quartets/duets etc; too but it *would* be more difficult. (who would you compare, everybody? etc..) Duet's I think could be done though. It depends on the music too, music with convenient pauses in it is obviously easier to link together. It's hard to decide where to put the breaks sometimes. I wanted to do Recondita myself, with Lanza's excellent version :P But please, feel free! "Variety is the spice;" etc..... ;-)

[@rungiselerunn9237]

It seems almost offensive to compare the two 😂😂😂

[@JohnMBecker]

Are you kidding? Who are you, and how many sopranos do you know? None of them will tell you that this is more difficult than Zerbinetta's aria.

[@dianaventura7999]

On the stage, can Gruberova soar in the dramatic parts of Traviata as Sutherland? I think not. But Callas can...

[@Feisenbach]

This isn't about Callas. Does she really have to be brought into ANY discussion?

[@Homoclassicus]

Sutherland's diction is VERY good here. I understand every word. But did Gruberova have good diction? I mean, she scoops through the vowels and has a peculiar accent in some recordings. As for high notes, let's not compare. Gruberova's were terrific and ample, but everybody who was lucky enough to see all the major coloratura sopranos say Sutherland's could only be compared to spinto/dramatic sopranos like Nilsson. Sutherland's top was that of a (very rare) soprano drammatico d'agilità.

[@raigekimaru]

Gruberova got OWNED. not that I hold this against her, being owned by La Stupenda is a priviledge =P

[@machovoce6826]

This is a duel? In whose imagination? Is the Bob Ross better than the Bierstadt? You can admire them both, but come on people. Gruberova was and still is a fine singer, although no star soprano ever scooped more. But Dame Joan Sutherland is the prima donna assoluta del mondo.

[@LC-ig2jm]

Bravo, Macho Voce!!

[@acitipo]

Pues yo me uno a la inmensa mayoria NO HAY COMPARACION la Stupenda es UNICA, MARAVILLOSO TIMBRE, LA MEJOR DEL SIGLO, ENORME AGILIDAD.

[@ShawDAMAN]

@Lightstrikers thanks for your (ironically inflammatory) opinion (ha ha.) Unfortunately, no matter what you do, youtube opera postings seem to attract trolls and rude/pushy people, but actually I've had very very few such comments on these videos, and if you read the description you will see that I really try to avoid that sort of thing. I haven't made any of these in a long time but when I was making them they actually prompted (mostly) intelligent discussion.

[@gustopheles]

Aside from how much I enjoy her voice, the reason I prefer Edita's interpretation is that she is the better actor. I suppose, though, that Joan is technically the better singer.

[@adeeo]

have many times have you heard them both live?

[@ShawDAMAN]

glad you enjoyed it :)

[@SandrineAnterrion]

Joan. Joan

[@lalealynn]

you cant compare them they are too different and were great for diff reasons! Grubarova was very clean with her line and diction ..Stupenda well every one went on about how great the voice was but the voice came from good technique good placement. You did not go to hear stupenda for the words gruba rova gave you a whole performance BOTH GREAT!

[@luvmuzik4me]

I would have to go with Sutherland on this, her notes are 'rounder' for one.

[@ShawDAMAN]

I thought Gruberova wasn't in the same league too when I first listened to them both, but she's grown on me.

[@ShawDAMAN]

good comment, thanks

[@timsuffolk]

I agree totally with you Marc

[@MisterSoprano]

Well, none of them was a perfect Violeta, there are many better ones. I am total fan of Edita, but also like Joan - I'd agree you cannot really compare them. I prefere Edita in most roles, but true Joan is better in some (like Marie in Fille du regiment). Enjoy both! :)

[@jeannette291]

I agree. Joans voice has the ege Edita a little sharp on high notes for me, but both very good. Joans Bel Canto voice top class.

[@arisienltd8755]

Joan Sutherland far superior strong and vocally controlled, Gruberova too shrieky

[@bellini7verdi]

@ILoveJoanSutherland SUTHERLAND ES UN MILAGRO DE LA NATURALEZA TOTAL Y ABSOLUTO.ESO ES UNA VERDAD COMO VERDAD ES QUE LOS VOLCANES PUEDEN ECHAR TODA SU FURIA CUANDO ESTALLAN.

[@Homoclassicus]

Well, not having a real trill and not being able to attack a high note forte are two huge liabilities in this aria, so of course this isn't really the best piece to hear Gruberova's talents. Her trill is imprecise at best, and the high notes are usually hit not from the center of the note, but gliding toward it, or then singing them mezzoforte only.

[@bellini7verdi]

a buen entendedor pocas palabras bastan.

[@ShawDAMAN]

@bellini7verdi exactamente.

[@LC-ig2jm]

It's not a opinion sort of comparison. Dame Joan is widely recognized as the all time greatest bel canto soprano, no exceptions. Gruberova does not have anything in her coloratura technique that even remotely compares to even a 63 year old Dame Joan Sutherland.

[@adeeo]

Grubi sang actively like 65 years thousand of concerts... Let Joanne sing Zerbinetta, that she better never attempted... You can never compare two jewels... Mozart and Strauss for Joanne? No. Verdi? Yes

[@tjw2469]

In my opinion: Joan Sutherland sounds free with ease (natural expression) Edita Gruberova sounds controlled with tension (artificial expression)

[@ShawDAMAN]

Certainly!

[@pauloribeiroal1370]

Ouço Sutherland com prazer, porém, o vulcão Gruberova é encantador!

[@dhy5342]

It's hard to compare an older mono recodig against a newer stereo verson which naturally sounds much fuller

[@Eiswirth1]

Edita stabs at the music; Joan's voice just floats, and is much more beautiful, to my ear. And her coloratura is superior. But I like them both -- for different reasons.

[@MadonnaImperia]

I prefer Joan Sutherland. Her voice production and coloratura technique, including her marvellous trill, are perfect and her high notes are a wonder. In comparison Gruberová, who was a very talented artist, doesn't measure up. She has a strange attack on the low phrases, her trill doesn't really exist, her scales are imprecise and her high notes verge on shrillness.

[@michaelwalter2387]

Die Sutherland Singt immer gleich es klingt als habe sie einen Klos im Hals und ihre Höhe ist mit der Gruberovas keinesfalls zu vergleichen die atemberaubend ist und Überhaupt nicht Scharf.Die Sutherland klingt in jeder Oper gleich.

[@MadonnaImperia]

Michael Walter You may write your comment in German but your real language is that of insults. It is ridiculous to claim that Sutherland was inferior to Gruberová. The timbre of her voice, the "finish" or her technique, for instance her sublime trills, the sheer power of her voice - all those were superior to Gruberová. Sutherland could do everything Gruberová could do, apart from hitting high G - but Gruberová waited until she was advanced in years to sing the real dramatic coloratura roles like Norma and Lucrezia Borgia, and though she may sing them, the light timbre of her voice is inappropriate for those roles. So stop bashing Sutherland - you can enjoy Gruberová all you want, but she never was and never will be on the level of Sutherland.

[@michaelwalter2387]

MadonnaImperia Es tut mir Leid ich mochte das Timbre der Sutherland noch nie so richtig.Aber am ende ist es eine Frage des guten Geschmacks, und der ist nun mal unterschiedlich.

[@vettegaddia6234]

Michael Walter Taste has nothing to do with true talent. When you combine Joan's glorious voice with her astonishing technique, Gruberova is not even in her league.

[@MadonnaImperia]

Vette gaddia I couldn't agree more. Gruberová Is very good, but Sutherland is great - one of a kind.

[@operaquiron883]

PERFECCIÓN VS PERFECCIÓN

[@bellini7verdi]

como va a ver duelo entre un elefante y una hormiga?

[@AustrianAdrian]

Gruberova was a nice Violetta but I guess it would have been better to compare those ladie´s voices in a part like Puritani-Elvira or Fille du régiment

They're both great, but, haha, I love Edita.

[@ShawDAMAN]

@bellini7verdi Una hormiga puede escapar de la madriguera y el pie elefantes. :-P

[@vettegaddia6234]

To compare Gruberova to Dame Joan Sutherland, who is the single greatest dramatic coloratura of all time is like comparing hamburger(Gruberova) to filet mignon(Dame Joan). Every opera fan knows that Joan Sutherland is La Stupenda. Joan had a more beautiful voice, a much larger voice, she had a much better coloratura technique, by far a superior trill, and far, far better high notes. History will remember who the true greats are. I don't think Gruberova will be remembered 20 years from now. But Dame Joan will be remembered as La Stupenda forever. I don't like the scooped high E flat from Gruberova. Dame Joan's E flat is stunning.

[@stethor]

I agree 100%. I heard Sutherland over 50 times and she is superior in every way. Gruberova is punching above her weight.

[@crazyorganist1609]

Vette gaddia you are so true

[@janvukelic7362]

Vette gaddia If we should discuss, they both are the greatest soprano to ever exist, the people like you usually don't know anything about music so they must shit about another

[@emncaity]

Gruberova isn't hamburger. But nobody is Sutherland.

[@annettefallon1652]

Jan, since I am a voice teacher, I know about the human voice, especially the operatic human voice. Both Sutherland are great sopranos. But when you compare the most phenomenal voice of the Century to any other soprano, even Gruberova pales in the present of La Stupenda. Yes, I heard them both live several times.

[@Eiswirth1]

There is no co"contest": Sutherland is by far and way the better singer. Her brilliant sound has never been topped. Gruberova is painful to listen to in comparison.

[@adeeo]

You have never heard her live, so the comment is ridiculous. Gruberova sang constantly like 65 years. So what do you think you have to have for a technique to survive this?

[@raigekimaru]

@crazycellist973 Bartoli's coloratura are machine gun mechanical and unnatural. now, that works well in baroque music, but it doesn't fly in bel canto. only effortless, natural, florid coloratura like Dame Joan's will work in real bel canto. the legato must never be broken under any circumstances, even for the sake of coloratura.

[@bellini7verdi]

SUTHERLAND ESTA POR ENCIMA DE SOPRANOS DE TRES AL CUARTO.

[@ninelcond3275]

The queen of scoooping against La Stupida. La stupida wins.

[@Juancantor76]

You mean, La Stupenda, right?

[@yiudiumui]

i personally like joan's voice better

[@miaovoo7161]

Je préfère Gruberova, car elle a une voix beaucoup plus intensif que Sutherland. 而且薩瑟蘭的吐詞太爛了啦。。。下巴僵所以母音不純正

[@王润泽-x5v]

Voodoo Manman 格娃粉的恶臭

[@raigekimaru]

this comparison is simply unfair

[@RossiniSoprano]

@FeelinMinnesota Gruberova is not a little canary; someone like Jo or Dessay would fit that category.

[@bellini7verdi]

SUTHERLAND Y CALLAS son imcomparables.cantaron lo mejor que se ha cantado hasta este momento.otras voces serviran para otras cosas.pero nunca para ponerlas a la altura de la SUTHERLAND Y LA CALLAS.hay que saber diferenciar las cosas amigos mios.cuando hablamos de personas sin igual no podemos meter a todos en el mismo saco.

[@crazyorganist1609]

You can't compare these two

[@kgarmaker123]

I prefer Callas to either of them. She is the most believable as Violletta, and the musically most accurate. This is all pretty good singing from both ladies, but the role of Traviata is more than Sempre Libera.... its a second and third act, and in that, Callas was FAR FAR FAR better.

[@chonaV]

Gruberova of course. She's the queen of coloraturas. Her high notes were effortless compared to Joan's.

[@MadonnaImperia]

Sutherland's high notes were effortless too but she had a much larger voice than Gruberová, which makes the notes sounds a bit differently. And she was the queen of coloratura in her day. SO to be honest, I don't think your post makes much sense.

[@chonaV]

MadonnaImperia LOL. All opera singers have large voices. The difference is, Gruberova can control her high notes, while Sutherland has to sing it loudly because she can't control her high notes like Gruberova can. She Sutherland has to push it loudly for her to reach it.

[@MadonnaImperia]

That is simply nonsense. Not all singers have large voices, and Sutherland's voice is larger than Gruberová's. And what makes you say that Sutherland pushes her high notes? Singing them forte isn't the same as pushing them.

[@chonaV]

MadonnaImperia Yes, not all singers have large voices, but all OPERA singers need to have large voices, and they're both opera singers. Some singers have better control than others. Gruberova can sing pianissimo or grande at very high notes, others have to sing very high notes in forte all the time for they can't do it in pianissimo.

[@MadonnaImperia]

Not all opera singers need to have large voices. There are certain roles and kinds of repertoire where precision (or other attributes) is more important than size of voice, for instance the baroque repertoire. You seem to be bent on critisizing Sutherland at any cost, but the comparison between her and Gruberová and the things I wrote about them here were solely based on the two recordings being compared in this clip - I am not saying Gruberová is a bad singer, I'm just descrigin what I hear here. As for Sutherland, if you turn to other recordings, you will hear her sing high notes softly - one example is the lullaby in "Lakmé". I don't understand why you are so bent on hammering home the point about Gruberová being able to sing high notes softly - there are many other technical points that a singer singing such demanding repertoire as "La traviata" must master, for instance the trill, which Sutherland does superbly here and Gruberová does not. And even if we should only stick to the point of high notes etc. I have to say that it is easier for a voice of Gruberová's size to sing a pianissimo on a high note than for the much weightier Sutherland voice.

[@ShawDAMAN]

Lol.

[@bellini7verdi]

PASO DE TONTERIASSSSSSS...............A ESTAS ALTURASSSSS.......LO QUE ME FALTABAAAAAAAAAAA.................JAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJAJA

[@thomastmwc]

a bit too abusive -_-

[@vettegaddia6234]

Can you just go away. I'm surprise yutube lets you get away with the insulting comments.

[@operaclassicc]

I prefer Gruberova !

[@ninelcond3275]

It's called freedom of expresion you poor thing!

[@Lightstrikers]

"contests" and "duels" are terrible words these vids. Maybe "distinction" "variation" or "post you're subjective opinions about unique artistic differences that can't really be compare or contrast to inflame and troll other users' even more bias arguments" are better titles.

[@RestlessTheRED]

I'm sorry, I don't like either of them.

[@MrMin316]

So what are you doing here? LOL