1.
GV ALBERT HALL
0.05

2.
LV DITTO
0.10

3.
SV POSTER "JOAN SUTHERLAND"
0.14

4.
CU DITTO
0.19

5.
CU POSTER "ROYAL OPERA HOUSE ORCHESTRA"
0.23

6.
SV PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE
0.28

7.
SV PEOPLE WAITING
0.33

8.
SV JOAN SUTHERLAND ASSISTED OUT OF CAR
0.48

9.
SV PEOPLE OUTSIDE
0.52

10.
GV ALBERT HALL
0.58



Initials TDH/V/JH/ES



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: PUTTING BEHIND HER ALL THOUGHTS OF THE PAIN WHICH FORCED HER TO CANCEL A TOUR OF AUSTRALIA SCHEDULED FOR THIS JUNE, MISS JOAN SUTHERLAND, THE 35-YEAR OLD AUSTRALIAN SOPRANO, WAS GREETED WITH THUNDEROUS ACCLAMATION AFTER HER RECITAL AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL, LONDON, APRIL 1.

SIX THOUSANDS LISTENED IN COMPLETE SILENCE AS SHE SANG ARIAS BY BELLINI, MEYERBEER AND, INEVITABLY, LUCY'S MAD SCENE FROM DONIZETTI'S "LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR", THE OPERA THAT FIRST WON HER INTERNATIONAL FAME THREE YEARS AGO. THEN THE STORM OF APPLAUSE BROKE. SHE ENCORED THE END OF "LUCIA", BY THE AUDIENCE CLAMOURED FOR MORE. MISS SUTHERLAND GAVE THEM VIOLETTA'S LAST ACT ARIA FROM "LA TRAVIATA". STILL THE AUDIENCE WAS NOT SATISFIED. AFTER A HURRIED CONSOLATION WITH CONDUCTOR BRYAN BALKWELL, HE ANNOUNCED THAT MISS SUTHERLAND WOULD SING "SEMPRE LIBERA" FROM THE FIRST ACT OF "TRAVIATA", AND HE WOULD HIMSELF SING THE TENOR PART. AFTERWARDS, MR.BALKWELL LED THE ORCHESTRA OFF THE PLATFORM, LEAVING MISS SUTHERLAND ALONE TO FACE THE OVERWHELMING APPLAUSE.

IT WAS ANNOUNCED IN LONDON MARCH 27 THAT A RECURRENCE OF SPINAL TROUBLE WOULD NECESSITATE A FULL SUMMER'S REST FOR MISS SUTHERLAND. SHE HAS BEEN TROUBLE WITH HER BACK FOR TWO YEARS OR MORE,AND HAS HAD TO WEAR A HEAVY, STEEL-REINFORCED CORSET WHILE ON STAGE. HER SECRETARY SAID A DISC AT THE BASE OF HER SPINE WAS FLATTENED, AND SHE WOULD HAVE TO GO ON WEARING THE SUPPORT FOR SOME TIME YET.