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Stream Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor / Joan Sutherland, Alfredo Kraus, Pablo Elvira, Paul Plishka, Richard Bonynge, Metropolitan Opera Movie Online.
Movie Title: Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor / Joan Sutherland, Alfredo Kraus, Pablo Elvira, Paul Plishka, Richard Bonynge, Metropolitan Opera Donizetti - Lucia di Lammermoor / Joan Sutherland, Alfredo Kraus, Pablo Elvira, Paul Plishka, Richard Bonynge, Metropolitan Opera is available for streaming or downloading. |
In 1961, when The Met smooth made road tours, a friend and I stood to hear a young Joan Sutherland verbalize Lucia, so it was with high hopes that this DVD went into the player. In 1982, at the height of her talent, Dame Joan did not disappoint. Teamed with a cast that includued the sumptuous direct of Pablo Elvira as Enrico, and the comely, poised tenor of the slack Alfredo Krause as Edgardo, this Lucia overwhelms the viewer, both visually and acoustically. The conductor is Dame Joan’s husband and coach, Richard Bonynge, arguably the finest conductor of bel canto opera. But the performance all comes down to Sutherland, and, for those who were not fortunate to have heard her before her retirement, this disc is overwhelming evidence of why she was referred to as “La Stupenda”! Vocally spectacular, with a range, fluidity and temperment that makes this as finish to a perfect performance as one is likely to peer, Dame Joan literally brings the house down at the slay of the “inflamed scene”. Pioneer, once more, has demonstrated how well opera and DVD technology work together. Don’t miss this disc!!
But then, Sutherland is probably my all-time current soprano. I had the spacious superb fortune to glimpse a performance of this production at the Met when I lived in Manhattan at that time. Because the Met is such a grand house (I sat in the orchestra share), the sound on the video is considerable better than at the live performance. Krause, in particular was difficult to hear, and Elvira’s deeper scream often almost impossible to hear, even in the orchestra seats. Dame Joan is of course noteworthy older than the heroine, but her difficulties both in protest and physical movement do her seem that remarkable more touching and vulnerable in the role, to me. The fact that her dispute is not the pristine, perfect instrument is was in the 60s and 70s, also, for me, adds emotion and expressiveness to this particular production. I will always be able to appreciate this performance, and as a lover of vocal and musical beauty, that is quite a comfort to me. I highly recommend this particular version to anyone who loves the opera, and especially who like Sutherland’s articulate.
BTW, this is NOT a review of the Australian Opera performance, but the Met Performance of 1982, which I saw live at the Met.