HONOURING a LEGEND MASTERS at WORK RAISING an OPERA SINGER Contents Note from the General Manager
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Edition 19 Spring 2018 HONOURING A LEGEND MASTERS AT WORK RAISING AN OPERA SINGER Contents Note from the General Manager Page 2 Several years ago, we reaffirmed our approach that focuses on artistic In the meantime, I would like to take Note from the General Manager mission with the concise statement: development alongside personal this opportunity to sincerely thank ‘Inspiring excellence, realising development and the gaining of our loyal and generous supporters A Place to Call Home potential, forging careers’. For the professional skills. We recognise who help make our program Page 3 team at Melba HQ, these are the that developing potential takes time, possible. The 2018 scholars have Honouring a Treasure intentions that drive our program and our repeat scholars continue to benefited from more than 70 Reflections: The 2018 Scholars and we remain firmly focused demonstrate what can be achieved mentor sessions in addition to Paull-Anthony Keightley on preparing Australia’s most given sufficient time, expert their tailored vocal, language and exceptional young operatic talents guidance and nurturing support. stagecraft development, and we Page 4 presented 35 performances to a for professional careers on the world Our success in forging careers is variety of audiences. We rely entirely Letter from Abroad stage. probably best demonstrated on on private giving and each offer of Reflections: The 2018 Scholars page 10 of this magazine. Here We believe the key to inspiring support is enormously valuable to Cleo Lee-McGowan you will find details for our alumni excellence rests with the Mentors the organisation. Should you wish performing professionally all around Page 5 involved in our program. Working to find out more about our private the globe. It has been particularly Amy Black and learning from experts who giving or bequest program, Peter Introducing the Cast rewarding this year that several are at the absolute pinnacle of the Garnick and I would welcome the Reflections: The 2018 Scholars of our European-based alumni opera world –Thomas Hampson, opportunity to speak with you and Samuel Piper have returned for performances in As the end of the 2018 scholarship Stuart Skelton and Simon O’Neill to can be contacted through the Melba Australia: Samuel Sakker in Hamlet Page 6 year approaches, I am proud to bring name but a few – establishes the office 03 9944 2100. for the Adelaide Festival, Alexandra Masters at Work you this latest edition of The Melba. bar to which our scholars strive. Flood in William Tell for Victorian Please enjoy our Spring edition of Thomas Hampson In its pages you will read highlights Our program is proudly national: our scholars are selected from Opera, Siobhán Stagg in Pelleas The Melba. Reflections: The 2018 Scholars from the second half of our year along around Australia and our training and Melisande for Victorian Opera Jessica Harper with some impressive achievements from scholars and alumni. takes place within Australia. Our and Emily Edmonds in Artaserse for Page 7 focus, however, is on developing Pinchgut Opera. The image to the right captures one Masters at Work exceptional artists who will perform Next year marks 10 years since our of our great moments from the year, to an international standard. Stuart Skelton our Meet the Scholars concert at first Melba Opera Trust scholarships Reflections: The 2018 Scholars Deakin Edge. It was a rare opportunity Realising potential – this begins to Siobhán Stagg (2009-2012) and Stephen Marsh to hear our young artists perform with our selection process, where Stephanie Gibson (2009-2010). potential is first recognised. We We’re enormously proud of how Page 8 together and a great showcase of the talent within the 2018 ensemble. are currently preparing for 2019 far the program has evolved, the Touchdown in Wiesbaden Since then, we have farewelled two auditions, and once again our successes of the alumni and the Reflections: The 2018 Scholars of the group, with Paull-Anthony incomparable Artistic Advisor, milestones of our fundraising Adam McMillan Keightley relocating to Berlin to Sharolyn Kimmorley AM, will journey to build a capital endowment that will sustain this world-class Page 9 work with Deutsche Oper Berlin chair the panel. Sharolyn will be and Fleuranne Brockway moving to joined by internationally acclaimed program for the future. We are A Spotlight on Sydney London to commence her Masters director, Moffatt Oxenbould OAM looking forward to celebrating our Reflections: The 2018 Scholars with the Royal College of Music. and renowned Finnish tenor, Topi anniversary throughout 2019 and I Fleuranne Brockway Back here in Australia, their fellow Lehtipuu. Selection is only the look forward to sharing more details in due course. Page 10 scholars continue to go from strength beginning. The raison d’etre of to strength and you can read of their the Melba program is to realise Alumni update progress in the pages that follow. that potential through a tailored The 2018 scholars performing at Deakin Edge. Dame Heather Begg Memorial Award Page 11 Raising an Opera Singer Page 12 Objects of Fame A place to call home Cover image Fleuranne Brockway performing at Deakin Edge. In latest news, the Nellie than 30 villages throughout New Scholarship to one of Australia’s “There is still a lot that looks like Zealand since 1984, Ryman has most promising young opera singers. a construction site. It is a big Melba Opera Trust Board Melba Retirement Village now expanded into Australia with its endeavour to get people settled, but Roz Zalewski-Ruskin, Chair in Brandon Park made its In the meantime, Ryman’s Facebook Kate Shelmerdine, Deputy Chair first village, Weary Dunlop Village in those who are there are loving it,” page has several inspiring video- Dmitry Danilovich,Treasurer debut in August, welcoming Wheelers Hill and the second, Nellie Chris Arnold the spokesman says. its earliest residents. The Melba Retirement Village in Brandon portraits of new residents sharing Kristine Neill their delight at being the first Dame Nellie’s great-great- Peter Reilly official grand opening remains Park. Five more villages are planned Peter Garnick, Managing Director & to open throughout Melbourne in the inhabitants. Early next year, the village granddaughter and Melba Opera Company Secretary expected for early next year. coming years. centre will open, as well as the care Trust’s Honorary Patron, the Melba Opera Trust New Zealand retirement village centre with 200 beds. Ryman offers Hon. Saffron Foster, said the family ABN 96 424 419 725 Ryman Healthcare and Melba Opera provider Ryman Healthcare named a “continuum of care”, with services were delighted to hear of the L8, 440 Collins Street, Melbourne VIC 3000 Trust shared a strong association T: (03) 9944 2100 F: (03) 9867 3364 the village after Dame Nellie as ranging across the spectrum of needs, progress and are looking forward to www.melbaoperatrust.com.au throughout the naming process; from completely independent living attending the official opening next part of its long-standing tradition an association that will proudly Design by Kerry Aker to serviced apartments and much year. The family will continue to be of honouring exceptional people, continue through an endowment Copy and editing by Andrew Stephens including Sir Edmund Hillary, Dame higher-level care. involved with the village along with and Amy Black pledged by Ryman Healthcare. Coombe – The Melba Estate. Kiri Te Kanawa and Dame Malvina 2019 will see the awarding of the By the time it is finished, the Melba Images by Stephen Fitzgerald, James Glossop, Major. Building and operating more David Ng, Les O’Rourke, Keith Saunders, Ben inaugural Ryman Healthcare Opera village will have 420 apartments. Symons, Brandon Voight, Robert Workman If you would prefer not to receive this publication, please contact Melba Opera Trust. About Melba Opera Trust Melba Opera Trust is Australia’s premier scholarship program for promising young opera singers and repetiteurs. Driven by Dame Nellie Melba’s conviction ‘a beautiful voice is not enough’, the program nurtures artistic development alongside business training, mentoring and performance experience. This newsletter is printed on Sovereign Offset derived from well-managed forests We are the next step for artists preparing to become professionals on the world stage. and other controlled sources certified against Forest Stewardship Council ® standards, a non-profit organisation devoted to Inspiring Excellence – Realising Potential – Forging Careers encouraging the responsible management of the world’s forests. Page 2 The Melba – Magazine of Melba Opera Trust Above, the performers, special guest and audience. Below, Mary-Jane Joscelyne is honoured by Siobhán Stagg at South Melbourne Honouring a Treasure Town Hall. When Siobhán Stagg made Siobhán, an Amelia Joscelyne Siobhán has long had a close legacy of Amelia’s scholarship. stories of her daughter as a five- a diversion mid-aria at a Memorial Scholar from 2009- relationship with Mary-Jane, and Along with Joscelyne alumna Fiona year-old, going to Lauriston Girls’ 12, was singing the Contessa di she wanted to somehow integrate Jopson (2010) and current scholars School with her red hair in bunches; special concert in honour of Folleville’s aria from Rossini’s opera this much-loved woman into her Paull-Anthony Keightley and Adam her participation in “everything and Mary-Jane Joscelyne OAM on Il viaggio a Reims to the crowd at performance. Having just finished McMillan, Siobhán helped to honour more”, including musicals; and of 23 July, the crowd – and South Melbourne Town Hall when a full production of this Rossini this extraordinary woman, whose the many families and friends she Mary-Jane – were at first she decided – even keeping the opera at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, daughter treasured her time at made connections with through surprise from the pianist – to go it was fresh in her mind, and so she the Melba when it was the Melba school, university, work and the surprised, then amused, and “looking” for Mary-Jane amid the adapted the comedic scene in which Memorial Conservatorium of Music.