SUTHERLAND CONCERT

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31247, 20 December 1966, Page 23

SUTHERLAND CONCERT

Acclaim, Mild

Criticism

(N.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) WASHINGTON, Dec. 18.

Joan Sutherland today won acclaim—and some mild criticism—for her gala concert in Washington’s Constitution Hall last night. The Australian opera star, with her husband, Richard Bonynge conducting, completely captivated and thrilled the packed audience of 2800 at the benefit affair in aid of the English Speaking Union.

The Washington “Star’s” Irving Lowens gave Miss Sutherland an accolade by comparing her performance with that of Maria Callas at a “superficially similar” concert in the same auditorium several years ago. “For one thing,” he said, “Miss Sutherland simply refused to act the role of the temperamental prima donna. “She just made her entrance, regally gowned in white, and sang beautifully.

Paul Hume, of the “Washington Post,” wrote: “Her vocal mechanism is one of the most amazing in the world today.” But the critics were in disagreement on one point— Miss Sutherland’s diction. Hume said her “enunciation is much clearer than it used to be, and she gives phrases a deeper meaning than in the past.” Lowens, after some high praise, put it this way: “It strikes me, however, that there are two small worms in the rosy red Sutherland apple. “The first,” the critic claimed, “is utter indifference to diction—a serious flaw. Now that she has just about conquered every technical problem in singing, perhaps she could turn her att mtion to the technical problems of enunciation. . . . “For once, I do wish Miss Sutherland would take the hot potato out of her mouth and let us in on what all the excitement is about.” The second “worm,” Lowens added, was “the rather indifferent quality of the repertory in which she excels.” He said that since Miss Sutherland was a genuinely fine artist and not just a vocal acrobat, he regretted that her offerings were not more substantial.

“To judge from the enthusiasm of the audience, the repeated bravos and standing ovations,” he conceded, “my regret was not shared by too many others, however.”