That Decca produced such a loving and thorough anthology as The Art of Joan Sutherland in the lean times of 2004 is a testament to Joan Sutherland's artistic stature and commercial success. She is among the elite few opera stars to have enjoyed both in equal measure, and whose discographies have remained available for many years without interruption. Indeed, Sutherland was among the greatest singers of her time. The doleful beauty of her voice could express extremes of both tragedy and sublimity, and her high notes were ...
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That Decca produced such a loving and thorough anthology as The Art of Joan Sutherland in the lean times of 2004 is a testament to Joan Sutherland's artistic stature and commercial success. She is among the elite few opera stars to have enjoyed both in equal measure, and whose discographies have remained available for many years without interruption. Indeed, Sutherland was among the greatest singers of her time. The doleful beauty of her voice could express extremes of both tragedy and sublimity, and her high notes were virtually unmatched for their clarity and brilliance -- qualities that made her an ideal interpreter of bel canto music, the music on which her fame rests. The Art of Joan Sutherland covers that bel canto territory (Bellini, Donizetti, Verdi, etc.) well, but what sets it apart from other Sutherland collections is how thoroughly it covers the other aspects of her recording career: the six volumes include everything from Handelian opera and oratorio, Wagner, Mozart, Grand opera, and...
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