Joan Sutherland

The bel canto repertory found one of its great 20th-century advocates in Joan Sutherland. The soprano from Australia became famous for vocal range, agility, and large-scale control in opera by Donizetti, Bellini, Handel, Verdi, and Massenet. Roles in Lucia di Lammermoor, Norma, and Alcina made her a central figure in the recording-era revival of ornate vocal style.