Joan Sutherland - Verdi: Rigoletto (Who's Afraid of Opera?)

Gilda - Joan Sutherland
Rigoletto - Pieter van der Stolk
Duke of Mantua - Andre Turp
Maddalena - Huguette Tourangeau
Sparafucile - Neilson Taylor
London Symphony Orchestra
Richard Bonynge
1973

[@ModestNeophyte]

in high school, (late 90s for me) My chorus and concert choir teacher made us watch this in class. Eventually, she started using it as a threat, and we'd all GROAAAAAN

[@blessOTMA]

These show were meant to be mere introductions and were, imo, well done.Opera stars were in the regular\mainstream news, certainly on PBS, for the rest of the decade. (It helped there were many great voices then!) And of course having films of Joan at this age is a grand bonus. Thank you for posting them!

[@MrStpendouslvforjo]

I haven't seen this one in a long time! There is so much beautiful music in this opera! Joan's voice is at its best here! Thanks for posting this.

[@allenjones3130]

Before Sills and Pavarotti came along, Sutherland helped popularize opera with this series.

[@crazyorganist1609]

The great Joan Sutherland and the late Huguette Tourangeau

[@gottfix]

Ella es increíble, parece que cantara un ángel

[@cadoh8143]

Muito obrigado Vinicius.

[@reianae.smiley8573]

5:38

[@rakellcolotta3675]

I have never understood why Gilda must appear in a nightgown? I think her own clothes would be more realistic. Anyway this is a very dramatic piece and one of the very first operas I learned to love. When I saw this at the Met (I can’t remember the cast!) I was moved to tears. It was a beautiful production. Joan’s voice is well suited to this piece.

[@crazyorganist1609]

She's been raped by the Duke that's why she's in her nightgown

[@allenjones3130]

The role of Gilda was an integral part of Joan's repertoire, and she recorded the role twice for Decca.

[@ahogbin2644]

Sutherland’s wonderful floaty lift in her voice on superb display but the supporting cast apart from Tourangeau is particularly weak. Who cast Stolk? The 30 minute format really shreds the piece.

[@chipichipichapachapa733]

I don't think it's a children's opera...

[@crazyorganist1609]

No but it introduces them to it and that's important

[@mrturtle1128]

Don't think this is targeted to kids despite the whole puppet set up

[@rakellcolotta3675]

It’s one of the first operas I learned to love as a child. So kids can appreciate it their own level.