Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, OM, AC, DBE (7 November 1926 - 10 October 2010) was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano noted for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s through to the 1980s. One of the most remarkable female opera singers of the 20th century, she was dubbed La Stupenda by a La Fenice audience in 1960 after a performance of the title role in Handel's Alcina. She possessed a voice of beauty and power, combining extraordinary agility, accurate intonation, "supremely" pinpoint staccatos, a splendid trill and a tremendous upper register, although music critics often complained about the imprecision of her diction. Her friend Luciano Pavarotti once called Sutherland the "Voice of the Century"; Montserrat Caballé described the Australian's voice as being like "heaven"... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Sut...


Lyrics & English Translation

Tortures of every kind
may await me;
I scorn torment and pain.
Nothing will shake my resolve;
I would tremble only
If I were untrue to him.
Be moved to pity, spare me!
The heaven's blessing shall reward you!
But you are determined.
Willingly, unflinchingly
I accept every pain and grief.
Then order, command,
bluster, roar and rage!
death will liberate me in the end.


A link to this wonderful artists personal Website: http://www.joansutherlandsociety.com/


Please enjoy!

I send my kind and warm regards,