| George Osborne: Britain risks lost decade due to 'credit card' economy George Osborne will today warn that Britain faces a lost decade of debt unless the country tackles its "credit card" economy. telegraph.co.uk |
Joan Sutherland, celebrated opera singer, dies aged 83 Tributes paid to Australian soprano, known in her heyday as 'la stupenda', whose career spanned four decadesJoan Sutherland, the opera star known in her heyday as 'la stupenda', and Maria Callas's successor as the most celebrated soprano in the world, has died at her home in Switzerland, aged 83.Sutherland shot to fame in 1959 in Franco Zeffirelli's production of Lucia di Lammermoor, with its famous mad scene. By then, she had been singing at the Royal Opera House since 1952, and continued to do so until her last production, Donizetti's Anna Bolena, in 1988. She was also a mentor and friend to the young Luciano Pavarotti.Sutherland, who was born in Sydney in 1926, married the Australian conductor Richard Bonynge in 1954. With his guidance, she began to specialise in the Italian bel canto repertoire, especially Donizetti, Bellini and Verdi roles such as Violetta in La Traviata.Antonio Pappano, the music director of the Royal Opera House, paid tribute. "I had the opportunity to work with Joan on two occasions: [Francesco Cilea's] Adriana Lecouvreur – I was the lowly prompter – and Anna Bolena. She actually was 'stupenda'. A lovely human being who could sing anybody off the stage – and I mean anybody. What she did for bel canto music and its technique cannot be underestimated. We have lost one of the true greats."Author and music blogger Norman Lebrecht described her as a "simple, friendly woman, happiest in a dressing room with a magazine and her knitting. She avoided tantrums, had no airs and graces, and in retirement shunned the limelight. For all her unassuming personal modesty, her voice defined an operatic era."Ahead of a Guardian interview in 2002, which was to take place at the Royal Opera House, she said: "I don't think anyone remembers me there now."Fortunately she was quite wrong: she was stopped by staff members asking for her autograph as she walked through the building.Joan SutherlandOperaAustraliaCharlotte Higginsguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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