November 7 was the 86th anniversary of the birth of one opera’s greatest stars – Joan Sutherland. below are four photographs of the late diva taken by Robert Cahen.
Beverly Sills and Sutherland in Die Fledermaus
With Giuseppe Campora in Die Fledermaus
Oh, my gosh!!!!!!! I started at the top. My first opera, 1961, Sutherland in Lucia!!! Before there was an L. A. or San Diego Opera, the SF Opera toured to those cities with S. D. an after thought. So I was incredibily lucky, and still have the program. Those high notes were like huge starbursts in the galaxy. Fantastic. I cried when Renato Cioni sang the “Tu che a dio.” Again I was lucky to see her in Die Fledermaus with Sills in the 80′s with the San Diego Opera. Also in a concert with Tourangeau with hubby at the piano. He got so excited he was hitting wrong notes. I had dragged some ‘none opera’ relatives to it and they liked him best!