Comments on: Donizetti – La Fille du Régiment / Sutherland, Pavarotti, Malas, Sinclair, ROH Covent Garden, Bonynge

By: Bjorn Viberg

Bjorn Viberg — Wed, 26 May 2010 06:47:25 +0000

Donizetti – La Fille du Régiment / Sutherland, Pavarotti, Malas, Sinclair, ROH Covent Garden, Bonynge is a recording under the direction of Richard Bonynge who leads the Orchestra and Chorus of The Royal Opera House. On this recording from 1968 we get to hear Pavarotti early on his career and the result is nothing short of magnificent. We also get to hear the equally amazing Joan Sutherland. The booklet is close to 180 pages and contains liner notes, one photograph, a painting of Donizetti and an etching on the back. The liner notes are written by Jeremy Commons and Kennth Chalmers. Highly recommended. 5/5.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Antonio

Antonio — Wed, 26 May 2010 04:34:11 +0000

The following is a rating of the greatest coloraturas who can trill. Remember a lot of coloraturas can’t trill, so some of the greats of the past may not be included such as Galli-Curci, Pons, Anna Moffo, Renata Scotto, and Sumi-jo.
Base on a scale of one to ten possible points.

1) Joan Sutherland 1955-1961……………..10.0
2) Joan Sutherland 1962-1968………………9.5
3) Sills………………………………..9.5
4) Tetrazzini……………………………9.0
5) Joan Sutherland 1969-1976………………8.5
6) Melba………………………………..8.5
7) Joan Sutherland 1977-1985………………8.0
Roberta Peters………………………..7.5
9) Leontyne Price………………………..7.0
10)Maria Callas………………………….7.0
11)Joan Sutherland 1986-1990………………7.0
12)Renee Fleming…………………………6.5
13)Cheryl Studer…………………………6.0
14)Marilyne Horne………………………..5.5
15)Monserrat Caballe……………………..4.0

Note Sutherland’s trill was perfect between her earliest years of 1955-1961, then it started to decline.
But within that time limit, her trill is invinsible. Especially look for a Sutherland 1956,1958,1960 concert in one cheap cd on Amazon for her Alcina. The trills are so tight and the two notes are so awesome that even Sills will have to take second place. And Sills consistently had a super trill all through her career. Her problems are the trills above a G. Sutherland’s trill is fantastic go to high B.
Rating: 5 / 5

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 26 May 2010 03:42:34 +0000

Opera stars who recognized the importance of "singing off the text" included di Stefano, Pavarotti and most definitely, Maria Callas. That's one of the reasons I have so many of their recordings. Joan Sutherland, on the other hand, thought vocalism and beautiful tonality superceded everything. I wrote a review once in which I compared her singing to "vocalizing around a hot potato in her mouth." And yet, the best rendition of "The Daughter of the Regiment" remains this London recording featuring Miss. Sutherland and Pavarotti as the principals, and the diva's husband, Richard Boninge, as the conductor. She is only medium lousy in this recording. And while the London microphone is as usual for them, distant, (causing the singers to compete with massed trombones), the effect is not too bad.

But what distinguishes the recording is the fresh voiced, very young Pavarotti. The baritone, chorus and spoken dialog are good, too. (Remember, Donizetti wrote this for the Paris Opera, so the language was French and there was spoken dialog.) But Pavarotti's rendition of "Ah! mes amis, quel jour de fête!" is its standout aria-cum-recitative and ultimately, the most amazing feat of tenor agility I have ever heard. Pavarotti takes the five high c's in a row (called for at the end) with absolute aplomb. In the many recordings extent, his is by a long way, the very best. Indeed, it was worth purchasing the complete album to hear it whenever I wished. It's now available for 99 cents on Amazon's "Download MP3," (a somewhat foreshortened version, though.) Gee, I could have saved myself a lot of money. All I had to do was wait forty-five years or so.

Rating: 5 / 5