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Opera great Joan Sutherland dead at 83

Renowned Australian-born soprano Joan Sutherland died in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, her family said. She was 83. (UPI Photo/Michael Kleinfeld)
Renowned Australian-born soprano Joan Sutherland died in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, her family said. She was 83. (UPI Photo/Michael Kleinfeld) | License Photo

GENEVA, Switzerland, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Renowned Australian-born soprano Joan Sutherland died in Geneva, Switzerland, Monday, her family said. She was 83.

The New York Times reported the opera great's death but did not say what caused it.

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Known as "La Stupenda" or "The Stupendous One," Sutherland was credited with helping revive the "bel canto" or "beautiful singing" repertoire, The Australian said.

She attended the Royal College of Music Opera School in London and began her career performing for Covent Garden in the early 1950s.

She made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York and moved to Switzerland permanently in 1968 so she could easily travel to sing on Europe's stages. She retired from performing in 1989, The Australian said.

Sutherland, who received the titles of companion of the Order of Australia in 1975, Dame of the British Empire in 1979 and the Order of Merit in 1991, is survived by her husband, conductor Richard Bonynge; her son, Adam; and her grandchildren, the newspaper said.

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