I was 20 when my boss at the time would say he was going to see Dame Joan after work that evening. I so wish I had had the presence of mind to go with him.
It wasn't only the voices, stupendous. It was the look on Pavarottis face when he realised he was singing with a star. nothing else. Sheer unique never hear again.
This was her last performance of an opera excerpt. She ended with Home Sweet Home. She was in better voice than in her farewell Les Huguenots in Sidney 3 months earlier.
Parigi, o cara noi lasceremo, La vita uniti trascorreremo: De' corsi affanni compenso avrai, La tua salute rifiorirà. Sospiro e luce tu mi sarai, Tutto il futuro ne arriderà. Parigi, o caro noi lasceremo, La vita uniti trascorreremo: De' corsi affanni compenso avrai, La mia salute rifiorirà. Sospiro e luce tu mi sarai, Tutto il futuro ne arriderà. Parigi, o cara noi lasceremo, (de' corsi affanni) Si (compenso avrai) Noi lasceremo (tutto il futuro ne arriderà) La vita uniti trascorreremo: (de' corsi affanni) Noi (compenso avrai) Trascorreremo: (tutto il futuro ne arriderà) De' corsi affanni (de' corsi affani) Compenso avrai (compenso avrai) Oggi la tua salute, la tua salute rifiorirà, rifiorirà, rifiorirà... (oggi la mia salute, la mia salute rifiorirà, rifiorirà, rifiorirà...) De' corsi affanni (de' corsi affani) 2x De' corsi affanni (de' corsi affani) Compenso avrai (compenso avrai) La tua salute, oh si rifiorirà (la mia salute, oh si rifiorirà) Autor(es): Giuseppe Verdi
Dame Joan was never known for her diction, although apparently she sounded better live than on recordings. When I was in diction class in music school we were told "all singers must have exceptional diction....unless you are Joan Sutherland and then it doesn't matter because no matter what you sing it sounds great."
@@rheinhartsilvento2576 But it suits this aria. This is not an aria of power and sonority. Rather, it’s delicate and almost fading, as if Violetta in her frail health is aware of her oncoming death and is allowing herself one last dream so as to leave in happiness. She’s perfect here to me. This performance brought me to tears. I’m not denying that she felt that this was the time to retire, but she could still sing beautifully.
It had always been my dream to see Sutherland live on stage. I actually had two opportunities that were sadly thwarted at the last minute. In the late 80’s she was singing “Anna Bolena” in San Francisco. She came down with a viral infection and had to cancel her last performance. (The one I had a ticket for!) Then she and Pavarotti were scheduled to perform a concert together at the Oakland Coliseum. On her flight in to the Bay Area she suffered a punctured ear drum, of all things, and had to bow out from the concert. (At least I got to see Luciano.) I was destined never to see the great “La Stupenda” sing live. (A life time regret,)No coloratura soprano ever sang “Lucia” as well as the incomparable Dame Joan.
@@nornsnornsnorns Exactly. A gala performance can only make sense in the second act of Fledermaus. Possibly in The Barber of Seville during the voice lesson scene, but can you imagine an impromptu line of non related arias and duets disrupting the second act of Faust or Madama Butterfly?
I like it! I wouldn’t have chosen it, but I think it fits with her overall vibe as this incredible, larger-than-life opera diva. She is “La Stupenda” after all! She must have the gown to accompany it!!!
![Dame Joan Sutherland & Luciano Pavarotti: Parigi, O Cara [La Traviata] (Verdi)](/img/logo.svg){kind=logo}
