La Stupenda

The Voice, as far as she knew, was a gift of God or nature. It had always been there as she grew up in New South Wales, floating out heedlessly as she washed up or wandered round the house. She sang anything: operatic arias, to be sure, but also Uncle Tom's favourite ode to ginger ale, “My Old Woman's an Awful Boozer”:

"She was so approachable, a normal person, She would get up and sing these wonderful arias, and then sit down and pick up her tapestry."

I honestly believe she had no idea how great she was," Bonynge says. "And people would keep on telling her, but it just washed over her. It didn't really affect her in any way. She didn't need applause, she was a very down-to-earth, practical lady. It's quite true she had no idea of the importance of what she'd done in the world. You could tell her, but I don't think she really listened. She loved to sing and that was it."

 "She just was a modest person. And she never changed. She never assumed the airs of a diva offstage . . . When she worked in all the opera houses, all the backstage people loved her, the dressers, the makeup people, they adored her. It was very lovely to see."

bel canto
bellissima
the voice of the century
our down to earth joan
with her coloratura notes
tinkling bells
splintering the air

sadly
she has been largely forgotten
in her homeland
of
sport
sunshine
sport
sweet pineapples
sport
white sand beaches
sport
wide open spaces
more sport
sport celebrities
did i mention sport?

Sorry Sweet Diva
La Stupenda
a few of us
will never forget you
thank you
for a window
into perfection






Midweek Motif - Poets United