Dame Joan Sutherland

about

Dame Joan Sutherland OM, AC, DBE (7 November 1926-10 October 2010) is an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the bel canto revival of the 1950s and 1960s. She was hailed La Stupenda after an Alcina performance in La Fenice in 1960. Joan Sutherland was born in Sydney. Her mother was a mezzo soprano who had given up her career. She learned a lot from her mother, with whom she used to sing and listen to many recordings. She attended St Catherine's School, Waverley, the oldest Anglican girls' school in Sydney. When Sutherland was 18, she started to study singing seriously. She made her debut in Australia as Dido in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, in 1952. Previously, in 1950, she had won Australia's most important competition, The Sun Aria and went to London to study at the Opera School of the Royal College of Music. In 1951, she sang in performances of Eugène Goossens's Judith. She made her European debut as the First Lady in Die Zauberflöte at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, on October 28, 1952. In November of the same year she gave five more performances at Covent Garden in Bellini's Norma in the role of Clotilde, with Maria Callas as Norma. During her early career, she was training to be a Wagnerian dramatic soprano, following the steps of Kirsten Flagstad, whom she considers the best singer ever. In 1952, she sang her first leading role at the Royal Opera House: Amelia in Un Ballo in Maschera. Later, she sang Aida. Also in 1953, she sang

top songs

albums

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Joan Sutherland: Joy to the World

Joan Sutherland - The Greatest Hits

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The Ultimate Christmas Album

Joan Sutherland - Complete Decca Studio Recitals

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Christmas Music 100 Hits

Joan Sutherland / Luciano Pavarotti - Love Duets

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Joan Sutherland "La Stupenda"

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Opera Arias - Nessun Dorma - Casta Diva - O Mio Babbino Caro

Flower Duet - The World's Most Beautiful Duets

The Voice Of The Century

Live from Lincoln Center

The Art Of The Prima Donna

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