Country

:

Australia

Birth

:

November 7, 1926 in Sydney, Australia

Death

:

October 10, 2010 in Switzerland

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Opera

 

Joan Sutherland was a renowned Australian soprano who was born on November 7, 1926, in Sydney, Australia. She was the daughter of a Scottish father and an Australian mother. Her father was a singer and a choir conductor, and her mother was a pianist. Sutherland grew up in a musical family and started singing at a young age. Sutherland received her early education at St. Catherine's School in Sydney. She then went on to study music at the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music. She was a talented student and won several awards for her singing. In 1949, she won the Sun Aria competition, which was a prestigious singing competition in Australia. In 1951, Sutherland made her professional debut in the role of Dido in Henry Purcell's opera Dido and Aeneas. She then went on to perform in several other operas in Australia, including The Magic Flute, The Marriage of Figaro, and Don Giovanni. In 1952, she married Australian conductor Richard Bonynge, who would later become her musical collaborator and mentor. In 1954, Sutherland and Bonynge moved to London, where she began to establish herself as an international opera star. She made her debut at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden in 1959, in the role of Lucia in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor. Her performance was a huge success, and she became known for her ability to sing high notes with ease and clarity. Sutherland went on to perform in many other operas at Covent Garden, including Norma, La Traviata, and Rigoletto. She also performed at other major opera houses around the world, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York, the Paris Opera, and the Sydney Opera House. One of Sutherland's most famous performances was in the title role of Bellini's Norma at Covent Garden in 1960. Her performance was a critical and commercial success, and it established her as one of the greatest sopranos of her time. She went on to perform the role of Norma many times throughout her career. Sutherland was also known for her performances in the operas of Handel. She was one of the first singers to revive interest in Handel's operas in the 20th century. She performed in many of his operas, including Giulio Cesare, Rodelinda, and Alcina. Sutherland received many awards and honors throughout her career. In 1961, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for her services to music. In 1978, she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). She was also awarded the Order of Merit, which is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed upon a British citizen. Sutherland retired from performing in 1990, after a career that spanned more than 40 years. She continued to be involved in the music world, however, and served as a mentor to young singers. She also established the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Foundation, which provides support to young opera singers. Joan Sutherland was one of the greatest sopranos of the 20th century. Her voice was known for its clarity, power, and agility, and she was able to sing high notes with ease. She was also known for her ability to convey emotion through her singing. She was a true artist who dedicated her life to music, and her legacy continues to inspire singers and music lovers around the world.

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