Joan Sutherland sang Rodelinda shortly after her London Lucias. The last one was on june 9 ! The dress rehearsel of Rodelinda in Scheveningen was already on june 22. So very short preparation time ! The opera was staged in a very nice baroque production, very colourful and tasteful by Tito Capobianco. The opera was given in the Holland Festival, one in Scheveningen, one in Rotterdam and 2 performances in Amsterdam. This recording stems from the third performance. The singers were all outstanding. Huguette Tourangeau sang in Amsterdam for the first time.....the public loved her dark velvety voice as well as her stage presence. After Rodelinda she was asked back to do another series of Rodelinda performances, as well as 2 runs of Glucks Orfeo, Handels Orlando, Norma and Stuarda again with Joan Sutherland.She had lots of cheering after her entrance aria ! Joan of course was the big star as usual ! Tappy was masculine and impressive in his role of Grimoaldo. Elkins, Canne-Meyer and the bass Pieter van den Berg also sang very well. Richard Bonynge made some cuts to make the opera less lengthy, he conducted tastefully , the Dutch chamber orchestra played in fresh style with some vibrato. The opera was a feast for eye and ear. So this recording is a real document. Gala records has issued it, but it was not very well mastered. This recording has been taken direct from the original recording, without filtering . The recording was made in the public in Stereo, only the beginning is in mono, because of a loose mike contact. Joan Sutherland recorded the opera for Decca later on in her career. On that occasion she was partnered by Alicia Nafé as Bertarido.

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