Donizetti: Lucrezia Borgia Vancouver 1972 Sutherland Alexander Quilico Bonynge BETTER SOUND

Thank you to Martin for sharing this better quality version with me! This here is Joan's very first performance as Lucrezia Borgia in Vancouver as this was opening night. Date is October 26th 1972. This performance was almost 3 weeks after her San Francisco Norma in the same year. I feel as if Bonynge rushed a few of the tempos here as I prefer the tempos from 1977 Sydney and 1980 London Lucrezia Borgia performances. Everyone here is in wonderful voice, especially Joan in Era Desso il figlio mio. I personally like John Alexander in the role of Gennaro (criticize me if you want). He has all the high notes that most tenors don't sing in this opera. I just wish we had a bit more of him as Gennaro. Louis Quilico is a wonderful Alfonso. Tourangeau is okay... This production of Lucrezia Borgia had been a huge Triumph for the VOA as Joan says in her biography. Photo 4 may be from the 1975 Houston Lucrezia Borgia... oops... 😳 The best in sound quality doesn't mean the most without imperfections... I'd like to also thank MrQwerty88 for posting his Lucrezia Borgia 1972. I've spliced a few bits from there as some portions of this recording were either distorted, missing, or missing the left channel. The person recording this in 1972 played around with the recording knob a few times during this performance, thus the beginning is a bit distorted and some portions are louder than others. I've improved the sound greatly and it sounds much clearer. I've also repitched this recording as it was too high/fast before. Enjoy! Cast: Lucrezia: Joan Sutherland Gennaro: John Alexander Alfonso: Louis Quilico Orsini: Huguette Tourangeau Liverotto: Marcel Larochelle Astolfo: Pierre Charbonneau Gazella: David Myrvold Petrucci: Jose Le Matt Vitellozzo: Larry Benson Gubetta: William Fleck Rustighello: Joseph Pinedo Servant: Robert Warrington Offstage Voice: Ron Bermingham Conductor: Richard Bonynge Chorus and Orchestra of the Vancouver Opera Association