MUSICAL MIRACLES

ed and overcome so much suffering.

While Maria Callas is regarded as the greater operatic actress, Joan Sutherland was the Voice ­ the greatest of all coloratura singers. She took bel canto to new heights.

Joan Sutherland, a kind and modest person, was already, in her mid­20s, performing at Covent Garden, despite suffering severe sinus and dental problems. In addition she had to battle against acute back pain. She then had to take the risk of sinus surgery to clear the nasal passages. She was not a natural beauty but, despite her back, became strikingly elegant. Apparently, when Fellini was touring Rome seeking attractive female extras for a film, he singled her out in the street.

Despite the setbacks, she wanted to succeed and she worked on her voice. At Covent Garden in February 1959, she took the music world by storm with her performance of ‘Lucia’ and a global superstar emerged. The rest is history.

completely deaf by the time he was 46.

He became lonely and his love affairs were unhappy; he never married nor had children. But, despite this, he could transmit love and joy through music. In his last 10 years, totally deaf, he produced much of the greatest music ever conceived. At the premiere of the monumental Ninth symphony,

Beethoven, in the front row, was unable to hear the thunderous applause behind him. He was motioned to turn round to face the rapturous audience.

His only opera, Fidelio, with the emotional depth of its own story of triumph over adversity could only have been conceived and expressed by somebody who has confront­ more from our columnists please scan this QR Code

Many celebrities have moved upward from difficult beginnings. So have even more who are only known within their immediate circle.