Joan Sutherland, Raymond Nilsson & April Cantelo 'Pietà di me, benigni Dei' Hob XXVb:5 (Haydn) 1956

Two excellent Australian singers, soprano Joan Sutherland and tenor Raymond Nilsson, are joined by the admired English soprano April Cantelo, in this radio broadcast of the trio "Pietà di me, benigni Dei" Hob XXVb:5 by Joseph Haydn. Written in the 1790s, it also features a French Horn obbligato - here played by the legendary British horn player Dennis Brain. This performance with Charles Mackerras conducting the Goldsbrough Orchestra was broadcast on Monday 17th December 1956 in a programme featuring the music of Joseph Haydn.

[ahogbin]

Sutherland in superb form. It shows how the BBC was offering her rare and unusual repertoire in the mid 1950s, long before Covent Garden woke up to what they had on their books. This also demonstrates the excellence of Australian singing generally. A delicious piece of Hayden. Many thanks as always.

[Tenortalker]

A finely balanced trio. Always a pleasure to hear Joan Sutherland and Raymond Nilsson, but especially April Cantelo who reveals her fine technique and sure purity of tone. She sang such a wide range of repertoire and always in distinguished company- Deller Consort, Handel Opera society and pioneering in early music revival, roles composed for her by Britten, Henze, Malcolm Williamson among others. Upon singing retirement she became a very fine coach for young singers at RNCM . She is still with us today and in her nineties.