Sutherland, Dame Joan

Sutherland married her long-time accompanist, fellow Australian Richard Bonynge in 1954. Bonynge developed and coached her in the Italian bel canto style, which emphasises floridity (a musical line decorated with many ornaments), beauty of tone throughout the full range of the voice, and ease and clarity in the high register. It was after her performance in the title role in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor at Covent Garden in 1959 that she received acclaim as a dramatic coloratura soprano...