Sutherland, Joan (1926-2010), an Australian operatic soprano, won acclaim for her brilliant vocal technique. Her voice had a depth and richness not usually associated with the ornate style of her operatic roles.
Sutherland ranks among the greatest singers of her time for her range, flexibility, and the magnificent resonance of her voice. She played a major role in the revival of bel canto opera, which was popular in the 1700’s and early 1800’s. Sutherland was a master of the bel canto style, which emphasized beautiful tone and great technical skill. In 1960, an Italian music critic called her “La Stupenda” (the Stupendous One), a nickname she carried the rest of her career.
Joan Alston Sutherland was born on Nov. 7, 1926, in Sydney and received her singing training there. She made an impressive debut in Sydney in 1947 as Dido in Henry Purcell’s opera Dido and Aeneas. Sutherland moved to London in 1951. In 1952, she made her debut at the Covent Garden Opera in The Magic Flute. In 1954, she married Richard Bonynge, a Sydney-born conductor and vocal coach. He conducted most of her performances and served as her advisor in developing her career. Sutherland created a sensation at Covent Garden in 1959 in the title role in Lucia di Lammermoor, one of the most demanding roles in the opera repertoire.
Sutherland first performed in the United States with the Dallas Opera in 1960. She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City in 1961, repeating her triumph as Lucia. That year, she was named Australian of the Year. Sutherland wrote an autobiography, Joan Sutherland: A Prima Donna’s Progress (1977). Queen Elizabeth II made Sutherland a Dame Commander in the Order of the British Empire in 1978, and the singer became known as Dame Joan Sutherland. She retired as a performer in 1990. Sutherland died on Oct. 11, 2010.
