The Melba – Spring 2017
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Edition 17 Spring 2017 BEING MELBA WITH EMMA MATTHEWS A MEZZO ASCENDING - EMILY EDMONDS WINS DAME HEATHER BEGG AWARD A FOREIGN CONCEPT - LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND ETIQUETTE Cleo Lee-McGowan - Joseph Sambrook Opera Scholarship In this edition of The Melba, you continued with him winning the Stacey Alleaume will reprise her role CONTENTS NOTE FROM will read how each of our scholars German-Australian Opera Grant: of Micaëla (Carmen) and Violetta has been working to prepare for a twelve-month contract with (La traviata) with Opera Australia PAGE 2 THE GENERAL these important ‘next steps’ and Wiesbaden Opera from the middle next year, Samuel Piper will make • Note from the General how Melba Opera Trust continues of next year. Last month, Bronwyn his debut with Opera Queensland as Manager MANAGER to support their development Douglas received the prestigious Masetto (Don Giovanni) and you can • About Melba Opera Trust with our three-tier program. One Dame Joan Sutherland & Richard hear Nicholas Tolputt perform both • Sterling Leadership and Vision of our challenges is to ensure Bonynge Bel Canto Award along with Messiah and Bernstein Classics with that the suite of Melba programs a suite of other awards including Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. PAGE 3 remain responsive to the ever- the Audience Choice. Melba proudly At Melba headquarters, planning changing world of opera. Recent congratulates Fiona, Damian, Daniel • Since We Last Wrote is underway for our own 2018 enhancements to the Mentor and Bronwyn on their achievements program as we prepare to hear the PAGE 4-5 Program are highlighted in the pages and we are looking forward to next generation of promising young that follow. cheering for Bronwyn in the final • The Complete Performer singers at November auditions. Our of the Lady Fairfax New York • The Taste of Language One of the clearest tests of our esteemed Artistic Advisor, Sharolyn Competition later this month and adaptability is the post-Melba Kimmorley AM will lead our selection • A Foreign Concept – Culture, alum Michael Petrucelli in this year’s experiences of our alumni. Some panel and is joined by internationally Etiquette and Visas Herald Sun Aria. recent success particularly worth renowned conductor Johannes PAGE 6 noting include alumna Fiona Our scholars and alumni continue Fritzsch and Artistic Director of New • An Honour for Sharolyn Amy Black Jopson receiving the Vienna State to take great strides nationally Zealand Opera, Stuart Maunder AM. Opera Award which will see Fiona and internationally and with great • A Ruskin Fundraiser I would like to express our heartfelt Spring is upon us and with it comes relocating to Vienna later this year to excitement we look forward to gratitude to the Melba community SINCE WE LAST WROTE PAGE 7 audition circuits, the commencement commence work with Vienna State hearing Siobhan Stagg, Alexandra for once again helping us to deliver AN UPDATE FROM OUR 2017 MELBA SCHOLARS of young artist programs in the UK, Opera. Daniel Carison and Damian Flood, Jeremy Kleeman, Brenton • Learning by Doing – Melba an exceptional year for our scholars. Europe and America and some of Arnold both received significant Spiteri, Timothy Newton, Nathan Lay Artists Performance Program I hope you enjoy reading about Australia’s most prestigious singing prizes in the Australian Singing and Cleo Lee-McGowan appearing the fruits of your support in the PAGE 8 competitions. Competition and Daniel’s success in Victorian Opera’s 2018 season. following pages of The Melba. goal to move to Germany and this 2017 has been an incredible year. I Program. When my fellow scholars collaborate with Opera Queensland • A Mezzo Ascending – the opportunity has provided just that. understudied the lead role of Giroflé/ and I were afforded this opportunity and Expressions Dance Company Dame Heather Begg Memorial As well as opera, this year I have Girofla in Two Weddings, One Bride in July, her masterclass and private on their recent production Mozart Award 2017 also spent a great deal of time with Opera Australia. Attending sessions were invaluable and the Airborne. Alongside performing, I PAGE 9 carving a career as a concert singer. rehearsals and learning the demands experience was something I’ll never have been working with my voice ABOUT MELBA OPERA TRUST In September I completed the last of a cover was really wonderful. forget! teacher, Dr. Margaret Schindler, • Into the Sacred Space chapter of my Schubert triology with Perhaps the most thrilling was that on developing and building my Melba Opera Trust is Australia’s premier scholarship program for promising young opera singers. Driven by Dame Nellie • A Sense of Community Damian Arnold (Tenor) a performance of Die Schöne Müllerin I was able to put my studies to the instrument. These sessions are Melba’s conviction “a beautiful voice is not enough”, the program nurtures artistic development alongside business with artistic partner, Geoff Urquhart. test and go on for three shows with complemented by my ongoing work PAGE 10 training, mentoring and performance experience. We are the next step for singers preparing to become professionals on Eleanor Blakemore Opera Society only a few hours notice each time. with Brisbane-based coaches and the world stage. Scholarship • Being Melba language teachers. 2017 has been full of many exciting Once Two Weddings, One Bride was PAGE 11 Inspiring Excellence – Realising Potential – Forging Careers opportunities. I recently performed over, I was involved in the entirety I am looking forward to performing • Third Time’s a Charm in Opera Australia’s production of of the Opera Australia chorus winter my firstMoralès in Carmen with Cleo Lee-McGowan (Soprano) Parsifal. The opportunity to hear season. A definite highlight through QSO, conducted by Alondra de la PAGE 12 this season was performing in Parra and am very excited to have Jonas Kaufmann sing in his native Joseph Sambrook Opera Parsifal with Jonas Kaufmann just been cast as Masetto in Opera • Letter from Abroad – tongue was inspirational. − Scholarship Jade Moffat STERLING LEADERSHIP AND VISION Bronwyn Douglass (Mezzo-soprano) magical! Queensland’s 2018 production of I had the honour of performing in the It has been such a privilege to Don Giovanni. • Supporters of Melba Amelia Joscelyne Memorial My next chapter has now begun: finals of the IFAC Australian Singing work with Melba mentors such as Opera Trust Rob joins the following list of luminaries, all of whom have Scholarship I have moved to London to begin Competition in July, with the Opera Yvonne Kenny AM, Emma Matthews helped shape Melba Opera Trust into the world class program study at the Guildhall School of Australia orchestra, under the baton I have been performing as well as and Stuart Skelton. It is always Music and Drama, learning from that it is today: of Nicholas Milton AM. This was competing in many eisteddfods invaluable to hear their opinions Melba mentor and Australian opera an incredible experience and I am and competitions. I am thrilled to and advice, and note the difference Melba Medal Recipients icon, Yvonne Kenny AM. thrilled to have won prizes to study have been a finalist in the Sydney in sound between the start and end with David Harper in London and to Eisteddfod Opera Scholarship and of our session. In July, we learnt 1993 JOAN ARNOLD OBE study Italian in Italy. placed second in the Opera and Arts all about the power of stage make Jonathan Wilson (Repetiteur) Support Group Vocal Scholarship. I up; I loved seeing my appearance I really enjoyed working with have also been named as a finalist transform from glamorous girl to old Margaret Schofield Opera PETER BRERETON legendary soprano Yvonne Kenny 1994 in the Opera Foundation for Young witch! It has been a great learning Scholarship AM in the July Mentor Program Australians Lady Fairfax New experience to work with opera block in Sydney, especially as this There have been many exciting Sue Logie-Smith, Robert G Logie-Smith AM and Nance Grant AM; MBE York Scholarship and the Joan directors. The time we spent with 1997 BILL RASHLEIGH will provide an excellent contact developments taking place in my Melba Opera Trust Board Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Georgia Hall (Soprano) Patrick Nolan was so beneficial for in London where I have recently professional life recently. I have Roz Zalewski-Ruskin, Chair Bel Canto Award. It was very me as he helped us strike the right relocated to begin my study at Harold Blair Opera Scholarship been awarded the Geoffrey Parsons Kate Shelmerdine, Deputy Chair LYNETTE CASEY-BRERETON exciting to be singing in the Opera balance of acting in an audition Dmitry Danilovich,Treasurer 1998 Guildhall School of Music and Mel & Nina Waters Award Award in Adelaide, the only national Chris Arnold Australia Chorus for the first time setting. It is vital for singers to Drama. competition for collaborative Peter Reilly in August in the Verdi Requiem and Life is busy! Between the Mentor possess foreign language skills, Peter Garnick, Managing Director & pianists in Australia. I have also Company Secretary 2009 THE LATE PAMELA, LADY VESTEY Parsifal. Parsifal in particular was blocks I have been studying voice so I was thrilled to begin German taken part in many exciting an amazing experience, with so at the University of Newcastle recently, in addition to continuing Melba Opera Trust concert opportunities including the ABN 96 424 419 725 many phenomenal artists involved. Conservatorium of Music where with Italian and French. These last ALFRED RUSKIN AM (POSTHUMOUS) Melbourne Recital Centre ‘Nights L8, 440 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 2009 I am looking forward to starting I have recently been awarded few months have been an incredible T: (03) 9944 2100 F: (03) 9867 3364 at the Opera’ concert presented www.melbaoperatrust.com.au rehearsals for the Tudor Portraits The Doris Smith Scholarship.