Maria Stuarda, opera: Qui si attenda/Wait for her here
Maria Stuarda, opera: Sì, vuol di Francia il rege/Yes, the King of France desires
Maria Stuarda, opera: Ah, quando all'ara/Ah, when I am led
Maria Stuarda, opera: In tal giorno di content/On such a happy day
Maria Stuarda, opera: Tacete! Non posso risolvermi ancor/Be silent! I cannot yet make up my mind
Maria Stuarda, opera: Fra noi perchè non veggio Leicester?
Maria Stuarda, opera: Why do I not see Leicester among you?
Maria Stuarda, opera: Hai nelle giostre, o Talbot/Were you asking for me
Maria Stuarda, opera: Sei tu confuso?/Are you embarrassed?
Maria Stuarda, opera: Era d'amor l'immagine/She was the picture of love
Maria Stuarda, opera: Sul crin la rivale/My rival stretched
Maria Stuarda, opera: Allenta il piè, Regina/Do not walk so fast, Madam
Maria Stuarda, opera: O nube che lieve per l'aria/O cloud that lightly moves across the sky
Maria Stuarda, opera: Nella pace del mesto riposo/In the tranquility
Maria Stuarda, opera: Ah! non m'inganna la gioia!/Ah! This joy is no illusion!
Maria Stuarda, opera: Da tutti abbandonata/Forsaken by everyone
Maria Stuarda, opera: Ah! Se il mio cor tremò giammai/Ah! If I have ever been afraid
Maria Stuarda, opera: Qual loco è questo? What place is this?
Maria Stuarda, opera: E sempre la stessa/She is the same as ever
Maria Stuarda, opera: Deh! l'accogli/Ah! speak to her
Maria Stuarda, opera: Va, preparati, furente/Go, mad woman, prepare
Track Listings (16) - Disc #2
Maria Stuarda, opera: E pensi? e tardi?/Are you still thinking about it? Are you still delaying?
Maria Stuarda, opera: Quella vita, quella vita a me funesta/That life which is so deadly to me
Maria Stuarda, opera: Ah, deh! per pietà sospendi/Ah! for mercy's sake at least
Maria Stuarda, opera: D'una sorella, o barbara/Oh pitiless woman, you have ordered
Maria Stuarda, opera: Vanne, indegno/Away, unworthy man
Maria Stuarda, opera: La perfida insultarmi anche volea/Even in my tomb the treacherous woman
Maria Stuarda, opera: O mio buon Talbot!/Oh, my good Talbot!
Maria Stuarda, opera: Quando di luce rosea/When the days casts
Maria Stuarda, opera: Lascia contenta al carcere/Leave your troubled life
Maria Stuarda, opera: Anna!-Qui più sommessi favellate/Anna!- Speak more softly here
Maria Stuarda, opera: Deh! Tu di un' umile preghiera/Ah! listen to our humble prayer
Maria Stuarda, opera: Oh colpo!.../The cannon shot!
Maria Stuarda, opera: D'un cor che muore reca il perdono/Take the forgiveness of a heart which is dying
Maria Stuarda, opera: Giunge il Conte/Here is the Earl
Maria Stuarda, opera: Ah! se un giorno/Ah! If once...
Maria Stuarda, opera: Ah! se un giorno/Ah! If once...
This opera becomes a battle of the divas in its great second act, with Sutherland, as Mary Stuart, pitted against the jealous, paranoid and vengeful Elizabeth I (Tourangeau). There is an intensely dramatic confrontation in... more » which insults are violently exchanged between the powerful monarch and her imprisoned but still regal rival to the throne. Mary wins the battle of insults, but this is a dangerous victory over one who has the power of life and death. Elizabeth orders Mary's execution and Act III becomes a spectacle of pathos and horror. Sutherland's usual style is more attuned to pathos than to the swapping of insults, but she rises splendidly to the challenges of Act II and she has a splendid supporting cast. --Joe McLellan« less
This opera becomes a battle of the divas in its great second act, with Sutherland, as Mary Stuart, pitted against the jealous, paranoid and vengeful Elizabeth I (Tourangeau). There is an intensely dramatic confrontation in which insults are violently exchanged between the powerful monarch and her imprisoned but still regal rival to the throne. Mary wins the battle of insults, but this is a dangerous victory over one who has the power of life and death. Elizabeth orders Mary's execution and Act III becomes a spectacle of pathos and horror. Sutherland's usual style is more attuned to pathos than to the swapping of insults, but she rises splendidly to the challenges of Act II and she has a splendid supporting cast. --Joe McLellan
CD Reviews
PRIME SUTHERLAND IN 'MARIA STUARDA"
06/24/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Another wonderful souvenir from the San Francisco Opera, this "Maria Stuarda" took place in November, 197l and it marked a high-water point in Sutherland's career. She had just completed a series of Rossini's "Semiramide" in Chicago, and had already contracted to open the 1972 San Francisco opera season in "Norma" (which has also been recorded and is available). This marked Sutherland's first performances of Donizetti's "Maria Stuarda", and proved to be a wonderful assumption. She is every inch the injured and martyred queen, and she is aided enormously by the Queen Elizabeth of Huguette Tourangeau. The two opposing roles are sung with alternative options in both directions ------ Sutherland takes all of the high options (which take her to D and E flat) while her lower-voiced counterpart goes down to the basement notes with a true contralto color. The huge vocal contrasts between the voices only enhances and heightens the gulf between the two queens. The supporting cast is excellent, and Bonynge shapes an involving and compelling performance. This is 1971 prime Sutherland and it doesn't get better than this."
A SUPERB RECORDING OF AN UNDERAPPRECIATED MASTERPIECE.
10/06/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Sutherland is magnificent as the tragic Mary Stuart. I loved the Sills version(not available on cd)and I love this recording as well. A great performance of a classic role."
Beautful Opera
05/11/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Sutherland is past her prime here, but still has the great technique to pull off a tour de force. This is probably the easiest of Donizetti's Operas, in terms of coloratura. But Sutherland's voice sounds very tragic here, and her acting is excellent. Look for Sutherland's voice before 1975 if you want to hear the greatest coloratura of this century."
Fine performane spoiled by recording
andrew j frishman | Magdalena, New Mexico | 05/27/2000
(3 out of 5 stars)
"No one is likely to be disappointed with the singing and playing on this recording. The problem with it is that it was recorded live, and every movement of the performers on stage, every rustle in the restless audience is extremely audible. Furthermore, no libretto is included. It should also be pointed out that this is not the Maria Stuarda with Pavarotti which is praised in the Penguin Guide. Lovers of Donizetti and of Sutherland will be pleased, particularly at such a bargain price, but there are many bel canto recordings available which are far more listanable and accessable."
What a trio , Sutherland, Tourangeau, Burrows (Welsh)
Mr. M. H. Cox | Ebbw Vale, Gwent United Kingdom | 05/31/2001
(4 out of 5 stars)
"It's a pleasure listening to these, with Bonynge ochestrating for his wife, and the superb projection of Tourangeau, makes this a must (although it appears to be unavailable at present).I enjoy music, and have very personal views, not musically/theoritically founded, but a simple inborn (Welsh)love of "the melody", and this recording fulfills my criteria, namely, memorising, and then whistling or humming the "tune". And this recording is full of "hummers and whistlers". With the added bonus of a Welsh tenor. A bargain at the proce. A four star, it has too much stage sound..."
Track Listings (22) - Disc #1