Prince Charles among thousands paying tribute to opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland

Prince Charles among thousands paying tribute to opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland

2011-02-16 01:24:49 GMT+7 (ICT)

LONDON (BNO NEWS) -- The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles, was among some 2,000 guests to pay tribute to opera singer Dame Joan Sutherland during a Service of Thanksgiving to celebrate her life and work at Westminster Abbey in London on Tuesday.

"La Stupenda", as Dame Joan became known, was one of the towering figures of 20th Century opera and a stalwart of the Royal Opera House. She died as a result of a long illness at her home in Switzerland in October last year, aged 83.

Sutherland's stage career began in 1951 in her native Sidney, Australia, in a production of Judith by Eugene Gossens. One year later she was awarded a contract with Covenant Garden and since released 40 recordings of 33 different operas, operatic highlights, anthologies and collections.

The acclaimed soprano was best known for her performance of Lucia in Donizzetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, a role that rocketed her into international stardom. During her whole career, Sutherland played the role of Lucia a total of 233 times.

In 1960, Joan Sutherland recorded what can only be described as one of the most famous vocal recitals in the history of the gramophone, The Art of The Prima Donna. One year later, in 1961, the opera legend won the Grammy for the best classical performer of the year.

The Australian-born soprano made her name in Britain after travelling to London to study at the Royal College of Music and then joining the Royal Opera House. The service, incorporating music, prayers and readings, was conducted by the Very Rev Dr John Hall, Dean of Westminster.

He told the congregation: "La Stupenda, with the voice of the century, a voice like heaven, Joan Sutherland was a prima donna, a star for over 50 years."

Two recordings made by Dame Joan were played in the Abbey - Let The Bright Seraphim from Samson and Casta Diva from Norma. Giving the address, Sir John Tooley, general director of the Royal Opera House from 1970-88, said: "The impact Joan made on her audiences, whether in the theater, concert hall or on disc, was profound, never to be forgotten. And all of this from an engaging and supremely modest human being."

Sutherland got married with the conductor Richard Bonynge and together procreated a son, Adam. Her last-ever performance was alongside Marilyn Horne and Luciano Pavarotti at The Royal Opera House in London on December 31, 1989.

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