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Home , Cheryl Barker, Joan Hammond, Richard Bonynge

The tributes with piano accompaniment provide a contrast to the preceding drama, encore pieces beloved of , the biggest selling recording artist during the war. Accompanying is pianist Timothy Young. Hammond’s recording of The Green Hills of Somerset became a best seller and Cheryl includes it as a homage here. The delightful rarity – Shadows – is a song written for Hammond by the Australian composer Ronald Settle. Conductor Guillaume Tourniaire directs the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, drawing performances that bring the emotional landscape vividly to life.

lluminating CD Notes are by Peter Burch of Musica Viva and the late vocal commentator John Steane, who was an insightful Iwitness to Dame Joan Hammond and all the great singers of her era and those that followed. Hammond made best selling recordings of popular arias such as Love and Music (Vissi d’arte) from , One Fine Day (Un bel dì) from , and They Call Me Mimì (Mi chiamano Mimì) from La bohème. Lauretta’s then unknown aria from Puccini’s , O My Beloved Daddy, () was first released as the B-side to Tosca’s Love and Music on a 78rpm disc. The coupling ’s tribute to became the first operatic recording to sell more than one million copies and went on to win a gold record in 1969. It has never been out of the Joan Hammond catalogue since. Queensland Symphony Orchestra, conductor Guillaume Tourniaire and Cheryl Barker’s relationship with Melba Recordings stretches back almost to the label’s beginning with Puccini=Passion, pianist Timothy Young her acclaimed 2003 collection of arias with Arias by Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Korngold, Offenbach, Purcell and, a conducting . Joan Hammond favourite encore, Home Sweet Home. WHAT’S NEW AND WHAT’S COMING FROM he ravishing Australian soprano Cheryl Barker has an MELBA page 4 important career in all major houses and concert Thalls. She is widely celebrated for her riveting performances. Pure Diva is her personal tribute to her teacher, Dame Joan Hammond, a disc, Barker says, “that feels as if it’s been a long time coming”. The orchestral scenes are high drama from the first note to the last reverberation. Cheryl’s glorious lyric soprano rides the wave of Guillaume Tourniaire’s orchestral texture in grand operatic scenes, arias and songs made famous by Hammond. Cheryl’s visceral portrayals of operatic heroines convey the full emotional depth of these multi- dimensional characters in extremis.

Melba Recordings Pty Ltd & Melba Foundation Limited PO Box 415 Elwood Victoria 3184 AUSTRALIA Phone: +613 9534 5004 Fax: +613 9593 8533 Email: [email protected] www.melbarecordings.com.au | www.melbafoundation.org Happy Birthday Nellie Beneath Napier Waller’s frescoes Of legend and of myth Gala Dinner was held in June to We would watch June Dally-Watkins Acelebrate Nellie Melba’s 150th And if we were lucky Bambi Shmith Birthday. What better way to honour Box Hill is now an inner suburb the greatest Australian of her time, Which once lay on the fringe than with the help of Australia’s And in those days we had Prime Ministers greatest entertainer of all time, Barry That didn’t make us cringe Humphries AO CBE. This was a night to Who could have dreamt the Club remember! Would have McDonalds as a neighbour Soprano Rosamund Illing and emerging Or that the Australian Labor Party Diva, Kiandra Howarth together with Could possibly misspell Labour pianist A lot of people ask me Timothy Young [pictured] performed some If I’m going to retire of Nellie’s favourite songs and arias. The set- Just because I well remember Myer’s ting was the historic and recently restored Before we learnt to call it Myer Myer Mural Hall with its superb murals by renowned artist Napier Waller. But did Dame Nellie Melba The funds raised from the Dinner will sup- ODE TO MYER MURAL HALL Ever tire of giving voice port a recording with the Australian Brass by Mr Barry Humphries AO CBE So long as there’s a possum listening Quintet and Timothy Young. I don’t have any choice onight as we forgather For I love my life upon the stage TIn the Myer Mural Hall And I love being on the telly I take you to a far-off time And I only hope I’m going to have Almost beyond recall More farewells than Nellie When the Paris end of Collins Street Was elegant and pretty Before Melbourne struggled to The Guests Resemble parts of Kansas City 1 , Heidi Victoria, When Pioneer buses roamed Barry Humphries And Ansett flew the skies And ladies wore hats and gloves 2 Maree Sharkey, John Sharkey And gentlemen wore ties 3 Barry Humphries, Jeanne Pratt When records were played with needles 4 Barry Humphries, Michelle Roberts, MR MALCOLM LONG’S Before grown men gelled their hair Peter Farnbach, Maria Vandamme, TRIBUTE TO MELBA RECORDINGS And before all those kerosene tins Timothy Young Piled in Federation Square 5 Peter Wyllie-Johnston, Maureen Northam, When in the 1980s, as Director of ABC Radio, Before fish was christened seafood Charles Northam I approved a working visit to the Salzburg Before organic free-range chooks Festival by music producer and friend Maria When Toorak matrons would have died 6 Dame Elisabeth Murdoch, Barry Humphries Vandamme, I had little inkling that Maria’s For tea with Dallas Brooks experiences there would significantly When Delphine sold those lovely frocks 7 Barry Humphries, Lady Southey, contribute to her embarking on an With the ‘50s frills and flounces Matthew Shelmerdine extraordinary journey. And the sexiest men in Melbourne 8 Igor & Claire Zambelli Working in Salzburg with some of the world’s Were radio announcers greatest musicians; in an environment which 9 Prof Andrew Vizard, Rosey Vizard, celebrates musical excellence from around the world, When the Manchester Unity Malcolm Long Was our solitary skyscraper Maria realised that Australia was all but invisible. 10 Barry Humphries, Lady Potter Her decision to establish Melba Recordings was a And sport was on the back page characteristically direct and energetic response to that And not the whole damn paper 11 Barry Humphries, Philip Corne (CEO Louis Vuitton) problem. And those two words ‘Melba’ and ‘recordings’ When at 6pm the hotels closed reveal the touchstones of her mission. And you couldn’t get a drink 12 Stephen Charles, Joan Clemenger When the trams were a subtle cream and green Maria named her venture in honour of Dame Nellie 13 The Governor, His Excellency And the yellow pages pink Melba…probably the most famous Australian Alex Chernov, Mrs Chernov, Ian Perry woman of all time. And she was one of the first great We used to sit here with our mothers singers to make recordings. Recordings that would Sipping tea and lemonade 14 Malcolm Long, Helen Long both take her Australian voice into homes And watch that very new phenomenon 15 Barry Humphries, Coralie Stow [continued on page 7] A mannequin parade 2 GUESTS AT THE NELLIE MELBA BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION NEW & COMING RELEASES FROM MELBA

eslie Howard plays the two performers to the work’s technical difficulty may have been a factor. When LRakhmaninov piano sonatas in a that (significantly shorter) revision did eventually appear in 1931, the original unique coupling – the mighty first sonata together with version fell out of currency and has only recently been restored to print – much the original version of the second, the last and one of the greatest of preferring the original, Howard characterises it as “the last and one of the the Russian Romantic sonatas. greatest of the Russian Romantic sonatas”. Ever the tireless musicologist, “Leslie Howard must surely be the most prolific pianist active today; his 100 Howard has also thrown in four little-known miniatures, written by CD (and still growing!) anthology of Liszt’s piano music recognised in the Rakhmaninov for his own edification. Guinness Book of Records as the largest recording project undertaken by any “As regards the recording, let me say only this – I own a lot of solo artist. His other great passion has been for Russian piano music, with several piano music, and have long agonised over which is the single finest important premiere performances to his credit, and this is the first recording recording. I agonise no more, because this is! A rare overseas venture for to offer the coupling of Rakhmaninov’s two Piano Sonatas with the original Melba, the recording was made at Potton Hall in the UK, a regular venue for published version of the Second, rather than its later revision. Rachmaninov Hyperion (and others), so its quality can only be explained by the involvement was famously sensitive to criticism, so it was quite common for him to revisit of star engineer Tony Faulkner. Great packaging sets the seal on another works that had not been well-received. In the case of these two Sonatas – compelling release from this consistently innovative label.” the First composed in 1907, the Second six years later – the public response to both appears to have been reasonably positive, so it is unclear why the Andrew Fawcett Audiophilia [UK] composer quickly resolved to revise the Second; the reaction of contemporary

TIMOTHY YOUNG PLAYS GEORGE FREDERIK BOYLE World premiere recordings of Boyle’s piano music

Exciting Australian pianist Timothy Young whose Melba debut on Volupté with Roger Benedict has attracted extravagant praise makes his solo debut with Melba. Timothy introduces to the world the music of George Frederick Boyle, a great Australian performer, teacher and composer whose previously neglected works are exciting revelations. Boyle was born in in 1886. As a 14 year old virtuoso he made concert tours throughout Australia and . Mark Hambourg assisted him to make the journey to Berlin in 1905 in order to undertake studies with Busoni. On Busoni’s recommendation he was appointed to replace Ernest Hutcheson as head of the piano department at Baltimore’s Peabody Conservatory. After 12 years at Peabody, Boyle was appointed to the Curtis Institute and in 1927 to the Juilliard School of Music where he remained until 1940. A stroke forced him to he is unquestionably one of the most interesting of his period; and as a cease teaching and relearn how to play the piano, which he did. Boyle teacher, he has gathered about him a group of students and admirers resumed teaching and playing until his death in 1948. whose enthusiasm recalls the vivid stories of the followers of Liszt. He is The Philadelphia Record said of Boyle: “He occupies an exceptionally the sort of inspiration American students stand most in need of and in brilliant position in American musical life. As a composer of striking this capacity his gifts are priceless. His power of expression amounts to individuality, he has achieved an international reputation; as a pianist, positive genius.”

4 Southern Cross Soloists perform Asher Fisch plays Smoke Encrypted Whispers Liszt Operatic Paraphrases Poetry by our leading indigenous poet Samuel Popular piano music of Liszt with the acclaimed Wagan Watson with interludes composed by 23 Adelaide Ring’s conductor, Asher Fisch, at the key- Brisbane based or born composers: Tom Adeney, board demonstrating his versatility and supreme Damian Barbeler, Will Barton, Betty Beath, Gerard musicianship. Brophy, Lisa Cheney, Stephen Cronin, Robert Davidson, , Paul Dean, Louise Denson, John Gilfedder, Keryn Joyce, Stephen Leek, Liza Lim, Mary Mageau, Kevin Man, Freeman McGrath, , Peter Rankine, John Rodgers, Marianne Scholem, Stephen Stanfield and Toby Wren. The group’s unique combination of instruments allows for the ELAN performance of a wide variety of repertoire. Saint-Saëns’ Ballet Music. Incandescent French conductor Guillaume Tourniaire continues a collaboration with Orchestra Victoria which is propelling it into the international spotlight. What began with the recording in 2008 of the opera Hélène, written for Nellie Melba by Saint-Saëns, is now followed with a recording of the lost bal- let music from his rare Les Barbares, The Art of Nance Grant Henri VIII, Ascanio and Étienne Marcel. An important historic recording which demon- Saint-Saëns at his best and unashamedly strates the artistry of the exceptional Australian providing an opportunity for the orchestra to soprano Nance Grant. We hear her in recital with pianist Geoffrey Parsons, and singing arias with shine. This is Melba Recordings’ seventh col- Arcadia Lost four Australian orchestras. The collection includes laboration with Orchestra Victoria in ten years. Sydney Symphony Orchestra; music by Mozart, Donizetti, Beethoven Wagner Conductor Mark Wigglesworth, These include three recordings conducted by and Strauss. Moffatt Oxenbould pens an affection- Soloists Michael Dauth and Roger Benedict. Richard Bonynge, one with ate tribute. and one with Barry Tuckwell: all important A feast for lovers of British music, Vaughan Williams’ Australians. The Lark Ascending and Flos Campi, and Benjamin Britten’s Sinfonia da Requiem, with Mark Wigglesworth conducting The Sydney Symphony Orchestra and soloists Michael Dauth, violin and Roger Benedict, viola. Tenor , pianist Benjamin Martin and the Hamer Quartet perform Vaughan Williams’ On Wenlock Edge.

Australian Piano Trios The Benaud Trio

At the forefront of Melbourne’s explosion of cham- A Lotus Blossoming ber music development is the vibrant Benaud Zemlinsky and Messiaen Trio. They combine the greatest commitment to Distinguished Melbourne-based Ensemble performing excellence with a sparkling Austral- Liaison‘s debut recording on Melba of music by ian lack of reverence to po-faced classical music. Messiaen (Quartet for the End of Time) and Zem- These three young instrumentalists bring great linsky (Trio for Clarinet Cello and Piano), with MSO life and verve to their performances of important concertmaster Wilma Smith joining Ensemble Australian repertoire showing that contemporary Brahms & Schumann Sonatas, Liaison. music can be exciting, attractive and capture Paul Dean and Stephen Emmerson. Ensemble Liaison is a chamber music partner- the imagination. In this ensemble there is more Australia’s most poetic instrumental soloist ship formed in 2006 between David Griffiths, going on than just an earnest dedication. There is clarinettist Paul Dean teams up with distinguished clarinet, Svetlana Bogosavljevic, cello, and a real excitement for the music. They capture the long-time collaborator pianist Stephen Emm- Timothy Young, piano. essence of youth, talent and joie de vivre together erson, to provide winning performances of two with a steely determination to achieve greatness. masterpieces of the Romantic clarinet repertoire. 5 6 even givingita touch ofgentle irony. Stravinsky quite Russiantheme, transformed thisvery russefromChanson Mavra readily demonstrates, tunes were originally Russian folksongs. Yet, asthe talent for melodyby showing how many ofhisballet programme, disparaged thecomposer ashaving no Rubinstein, who once,made in1921for Arthur ina TV partnership. Itisbasedonaneven earlier transcription hererhythmically inthehandsofthisillustrious spicy course, comes from Petrushka andsoundscatchily, the earlierballet, Pulcinella. The russe,of Danse the piquantafter Pergolesi Suite derives from “after Tchaikovsky”, drawn from The Fairy’s Kiss, and The music anewinthespiritofnewinstrumentation”. was to return to theoriginalworks andrecreate the Instead, told asDushkin us, “Stravinsky’s objective were farfrom straightforward rearrangements. transcription of transcriptions. thenewversions But programmes oftheDushkin/Stravinsky recitals –are ingly cool beauty. the slow closing “Dithyrambe” isgiven ahaunt - expressive violinand, after aninfectious “Gigue” that thelyricismcomes to thefore onRay Chen’s it isinthethird movement, Epilogue”“Second pungentgood dealofcharacteristic interplay and versification”.musical Yet themusicincludesa attempted primarilyto “create work alyrical of “sonata” inwhichStravinsky stated that hehad a masterly andhighlyoriginalfive-movement the USA. tours inEngland, concert Franceperforming and at thetime,They madeasymbioticpartnership and musicianshipthecomposer greatly admired. whoseplaying Dushkin, with violinistSamuel was written intheearly1930scollaboration ofStravinsky’scollection musicfor violinandpiano ments for violinandpiano...enticing This irresistible ofStravinsky’s recital An arrange The other works –especiallyarranged to filloutthe The key work, here Concertante istheDuo offers asix-movementDivertimento suite WHAT THE CRITICS SAY... - BBC Music Magazine [UK] BBC MusicMagazine Recording ***** Performance ***** exciting debut album. passionate butnotoverblown. and thetwo ‘Eclogues’ andthefinal ‘Dithyrambe’ are the ‘Gigue’ to dance, rather thanjustbeascramble, tante, where theirsenseofpoiseandtimingallows music, through andthiscarries toconcer theDuo - sound. he& Both Timothy Young are right insidethe Fairy’s Kiss, Chen rightly adoptsamore Romantic arranged from the Tchaikovsky-based ballet, The music to unfold, even at speed. IntheDivermento, music that issostriking: there’s always timefor the superb technique, buthissenseofpacinginthe ing ofthehighestorder. It’s notjustRay Chen’s for theviolinist. It’s realised here inviolinplay- it’sfrom Pulcinella, display more ofavirtuoso thesame movements itusesAlthough virtually the composer wrote for Paul Kochanski in1925. isn’t thefamiliar, butanearlierversion which discOn theStravinsky theSuite Pergolesi after Ivan March—Gramophone[UK] makepackaging thisdiscirresistible. recording balance, goodnotes andhandsome An excellent,moments of razzle-dazzle. truthful Paul Kochanski, andhow vividlytheycherishits by thecomposer in1925for thePolish violinist earlier, transcription, made brilliantly virtuoso Pergolesi suite theyhave once more chosenan nearly seven ago. decades Incidentally, inthe Stravinsky musthave andDushkin soundedlike partnership, suggestingto thelistener what upper range catches theearagain,make asuperb and Timothy Young, whoseglittering pianistic timbre)Ray (withjusttheright Chen characterful The soundisgenerous andrealistic. Ahugely Throughout thishighlystimulating programme, I I M A Lady Southey AC Southey Lady its endeavours. Patron oftheMelbaFoundation andsupport fying andwell deserved.Iamproud to bea recordings have beenaccorded ismostgrati- ensemble internationally. The these respect Jeanne Pratt AC urge you allto support. magazine. Itisareal whichI success story Australian label” intheUK Gramophone and isnow describedas “the distinguished a voice for Australia allaround theworld, Dame Elisabeth MurdochDame AC DBE work it’s doing. wouldn’t bepossiblereally to dothesplendid withoutit, because it financialsupport tract that MelbaRecordings important atis very - won unprecedented international success. It of Wagner’srecording of ourculture. I’m proud ofthe particularly part aged to beperhapsthemostimportant andencourculture- andmustbesupported ofour halls…music isanenormouspart tofortunate have access to thegreat concert Australians wherever theylive, notjustthose audiences andtheytake great musicto all andreach internationalments ofourartists beautiful music…they promote theachieve would notbeableto hearsuch otherwise our musicto awiderange ofpeoplewho Lady PotterLady AC in whichMelba’s recordings are distributed. cians into livingrooms countries inthesixteen will live forever, andtake thesetalented musi- The captured brilliantondisc performances Ng brothers andthe Tinalley String Quartet. Kristian Romaniuk, Winther, David Tong, the cordings LinJiang, withyoung Anthony artists tion, Iwas aseriesofre delighted to support launched at in2000 hasbecome Raheen am proud that MelbaRecordings whichwas Recordings are ableto present somuchof believe it’s that Melba important very and aformer Chair oftheMelbaFounda- s Life Governor ofthePotter Foundation Orchestra Victoria haspromoted this elba’s excellent seriesofrecordings with friends say... What our Ring CycleRing whichhas - - FROM THE DESK OF THE MELBA CEO Melba’s legacy

of anticipation and excitement. From the moment an artist enters a room there is a sense of expectation in the mind of the audience for the performance to follow . No one knew this better than the canny Nellie. Her whole life was tailored to creating this grand expectation. With Caruso she was the megastar of the fledgling recording industry. For the first time, great artists could be heard in everyone’s parlour. One hundred years after Melba’s recordings were made, her priceless legacy offers us a glimpse of the singing of this legendary Australian.

ne of the most pertinent questions facing us in society is ecordings have proved to be the most effective generators of whether to lead or to follow. But this was never a consideration excitement for a musician’s career since their beginnings more Ofor Nellie Melba. Her ethos was to shoot for the stars. No person with Rthan a century ago. Great recordings create legends! How much reasonable expectations would have even considered to attempt the things of our reverence for Karajan comes from our growing up with his great Nellie achieved. But Nellie, a little Australian girl from Richmond, came recordings? He was groomed as a Super Star in the golden era of the to rule the world of opera and become the most famous Australian of her classical music industry in the 50s and 60s. There were many great time. conductors around, but he was the lucky one whom the famous Walter Her example lead the way and lifted the scales from everyone’s eyes. Legge decided to champion via recordings. Suddenly a whole generation could see what was possible. At every Australia’s finest musicians deserve the vital vehicle a recording turning, Nellie strove to achieve the pinnacle of artistic standards. What represents as well. Recordings are a proclamation of a musician’s artistic she achieved made her a colossus on the vocal stage and an international achievement. Great recordings take them to the world. They make mega star. There are many stories of her being a huge character, a monster, musicians immortal. and a self promoter without peer. But she had the goods to promote, and Maria Vandamme everyone fell under the spell of her music making. She was the greatest Malcolm Long: continued from page 2 performer on the world stage for 40 years. Nellie strove to leave a legacy. Her Scottish Presbyterian roots gave her around the world and capture her voice for future generations to enjoy and a sense of obligation to give back to society. This she did working tirelessly admire. for endless charities and silent gift giving, using her fame positively for In the same tradition, today, Melba Recordings is dedicated to capturing what she considered the most important social causes. Nellie was hugely the talent of contemporary Australian musicians – around 600 so far – and conflicted in her need to find and anoint a New Melba. She could never quite making their artistry known internationally, using the most advanced bring herself to nominate a successor who could actually replace her in the recording techniques available. public’s affections – that was asking too much of Nellie, stretching noblesse Maria and her collaborators imbued with the spirit of Melba have crafted oblige too far. But the seeds of her teaching and her example of the highest such a label with great success; attracting extraordinary international excellence resonate down to us today. Whether they know it or not, there recognition and acclaim. Melba Recordings is putting Australian music on the is a tradition of great Australian singing that flows directly from her class of world map. It has become Australia’s global classical music recording label. students. Although she never found the new Melba, her followers did create This is an important achievement for our nation. an important tradition in Australian singing. And ... I can tell you tonight that Melba Recordings is now embarking on a project which will further strengthen its mission, through a ellie did not want to dutifully fit in – she wanted to change the communications medium which itself has very powerful international ‘cut- world and she did. She believed in herself and her ability to achieve through’. Melba Recordings is planning to produce a film – a film based on Ngreatness. And this she did through talent, determination, hard some fascinating episodes in Nellie Melba’s tumultuous life. work, force of will, and the very fortunate association with sympathetic It is early days. The film is still in its script stage. But the production will teachers here and abroad. Nellie Melba showed Australians that one of us focus on Nellie’s epic collaboration with Oscar Hammerstein to break the could make it to the top of the world. The Melba Foundation is giving our monopoly of the New York Met in opera in New York and, simultaneously, musicians that same opportunity today. back in Europe her scandalous affair with the Pretender to the French The Melba Foundation believes Australian musicians deserve to be Throne, Louis Philippe, the Duke of Orleans; an affair which, for a time, even better known abroad – we want to make the world as excited about threatened Anglo-French diplomatic relations. The film will, of course, also them as we are. Recordings are the perfect vehicle for creating a sense be a wonderful showcase for Nellie’s music. ML 7 Melba Recordings are distributed internationally by Fuse (Australia), Gramola (Austria), AMG Records (Benelux), Euromusica (Czech Republic), Fuga Oy (Finland), Intégral (France), Klassik Center Kassel (Germany), Shun Cheong (Hong Kong/China), King International (Japan), Ode (New Zealand), A-Ram (Russia), LR Music (Spain), Euroton (Sweden), Guild (Switzerland), Proper Music (UK) and Albany (USA)