- becoming La Stupenda!

Like most great success stories, it took a lot of hard work…

For the Australian Joan Sutherland in London in 1951, a beautiful voice was not enough. There were so many things to learn - new roles, new arias, how to act, how to dance, how to move on stage; and so many hurdles to overcome - a chronic health problem, physical shortcomings, financial challenges (as there were no scholarships for her at the Opera School of the Royal College of Music). It was not until after 4 auditions that Covent Garden finally took notice and hired her. In London as in Sydney, patience, perseverance and determination paid off. In the ensuing years, she graduated from small parts to ever bigger roles in the mezzo-coloratura /dramatic soprano category. And with a blend of coaxing and coaching, Covent Garden soon had a star!

But NOT a WAGNERIAN!

Although she did get to sing and record some Wagner. (By her own admission the record cover at left is one of her favorites.) The coaxing to NOT become a Wagnerian came mostly from Richard Bonynge, but not because he was anti-Wagner (which he is not). From the very beginning, he thought Joan Sutherland’s voice to be just perfect for the romantic roles of the bel canto repertory he so loved.

JOAN SUTHERLAND SINGS WAGNER

And in time, he was proved right.

In 1959 Joan Sutherland, singing Donizetti’s Lucia di Lammermoor brought Covent Garden to its feet. The following year in Venice, singing Handel’s Alcina, she was christened…

LA STUPENDA!

Debuts in the world’s music capitals followed, one after another. Joan Sutherland took the operatic world by storm, praised for her delicately filigreed coloratura, for the beautiful lyricism, the purity of tone and the wide-ranging strength of her voice. It was distinctly, unmistakably Sutherland’s. Her triumph was Richard Bonynge’s as well for it affirmed the much awaited rebirth of his beloved bel canto.

A LIFE ON THE MOVE
A film by Brian Adams

Joan Sutherland - A Life on the Move - Part 1