AUSTRALIAN EPHEMERA COLLECTION FINDING AID

FLORENCE AUSTRAL ( 1892 – 1968)

PERFORMING ARTS PROGRAMS AND EPHEMERA (PROMPT)

PRINTED AUSTRALIANA

OCTOBER 2019

Florence Mary Austral (26 April 1892[1] – 15 May 1968) was an Australian operatic soprano renowned for her interpretation of the most demanding Wagnerian female roles. She was born Florence Mary Wilson, but adopted the professional surname Austral in 1921 in honour of her homeland of Australia.

CONTENT Printed materials in the PROMPT collection include programs and printed ephemera such as brochures, leaflets, tickets, etc. Theatre programs are taken as the prime documentary evidence of a performance. The list is based on imperfect holdings and is updated as gaps in the Library’s holdings are filled. Unless otherwise stated, all entries are based on published programs in the PROMPT collection.

ACCESS The Forence Austral PROMPT file may be accessed through the Library’s Special Collections Reading Room by eCallslip request: http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn3526200

ARRANGEMENT Programs in the National Library’ PROMPT collection are arranged chronologically by

• Australian performances • Overseas performances Where the information is available on the program performances are listed as follows:

Date (day and month); Venue, City Name of production Performer’s role.

An index to staged productions is provided at the end of the document. This document is also keyword searchable].

OTHER RESOURCES The National Library’s collection also includes: • Biographical cuttings

• Pictures • Published works • Newspaper articles

• Music and sound recordings • Journal articles

Florence Austral (1892-1968) 2

Australian Stage career

1930 28 May; Sydney Town Hall (Sydney, New South Wales) Cities and country tour, 1930 With

1930 31 May; Sydney Town Hall (Sydney, New South Wales) Cities and country tour, 1930 With John Amadio

1930 9 June; Sydney Town Hall (Sydney, New South Wales) Cities and country tour, 1930 Sixth recital With John Amadio

1930 21 June; Town Hall (Melbourne, Victoria) Cities and country tour, 1930 First Melbourne concert With John Amadio

1930 5 July; Melbourne Town Hall (Melbourne, Victoria) Cities and country tour, 1930 Seventh concert [of tour] With John Amadio

1930 3 July, Town Hall (Melbourne, Victoria) Florence Austral Sixth Recital (matinee) with John Amadio.

1930 8-10 July; Geelong, Ballarat and Bendigo (Victoria) Cities and country tour, 1930 With John Amadio

1930 1 August; Melbourne Town Hall (Melbourne, Victoria) Cities and country tour, 1930

1930 14 August; His Majesty’s Theatre (Perth, Western Australia) Cities and country tour, 1930 With John Amadio

1934 22 May; Adelaide Town Hall (Adelaide, South Australia) Adelaide concert With Amadio & Lambert

Florence Austral (1892-1968) 3

1934 29 May?; Adelaide Town Hall (Adelaide, South Australia) Adelaide concert With Amadio & Lambert

1934 31 May; Adelaide Town Hall (Adelaide, South Australia) Adelaide concert With Amadio & Lambert

1934 1 June; Adelaide Town Hall (Adelaide, South Australia) Adelaide concert With Amadio & Lambert

1934 June; Melbourne Town Hall (Melbourne, Victoria) Melbourne concert series With Amadio & Lambert

1934 12 June; Melbourne Town Hall (Melbourne, Victoria) Melbourne concert series Second Melbourne concert With Amadio & Lambert 2 programs.

1934 14 June; Melbourne Town Hall (Melbourne, Victoria) Melbourne concert series Third Melbourne concert With Amadio & Lambert.

1934 23 June; Melbourne Town Hall (Melbourne, Victoria) Melbourne concert series Final Melbourne concert With Amadio & Lambert 2 programs.

1934 15 August; Sydney Town Hall (Sydney, New South Wales) Florence Austral Concert Tour Second Great Concert With Amadio & Lambert

1934 25 November; Regent Theatre (Melbourne, Victoria) Concert arranged by the Well-wishers League of St Vincent’s Hospital; Other performers included Gladys Moncrieff, Cyril Ritchard and Madge Elliott. (Photocopy of concert program). 1934 October-November; Apollo Theatre Sydney, New South Wales) Sir Benjamin Fuller Grand Opera Season

Florence Austral (1892-1968) 4

The Valkyrie / FA as Brunehilde

1935 March; New Tivoli Theatre (Sydney, New South Wales) Sir Benjamin Fuller Grand Opera Season The Valkyrie / Richard Wagner FA as Brunehilde

OVERSEAS STAGE CAREER

1922 16 May; Covent Garden (, ) The Valkyrie / Richard Wagner Florence Austral as Brunnhilde. 1922 26 December; Covent Garden (London, England) / Florence Austral as Aida. (Photocopy)

1923 1 April; Queen’s Hall (London, England) Florence Austral as Brunnhilde

1923 14 September; Prince of Wales Theatre (, England) Siegfried Florence Austral as Brunnhilde

1923 4 November; Queen’s Hall (London, England) Sunday Concerts Vocalist: Florence Austral; Solo Pianoforte: Ernest Schelling Conducted by Sir Henry J. Wood.

1924 20 May; Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (London, England) Siegfried (Wagner’s Opera) Florence Austral as Brunnhilde

1924 11 November, (London, England) International Celebrity Subscription Concerts with Backhause & Hislop 2 programs, and 2 flyers

1924 30 November; Queen’s Hall (London, England) Sunday Concerts Vocalist: Florence Austral; Conducted by Sir Henry J. Wood.

Florence Austral (1892-1968) 5

1924 30 November; Queen’s Hall (London, England) Siegfried Florence Austral as Brunnhilde

1926 23 October; (London, England) Elijah (Mendelssohn) FA and Royal Choral Society

1926 1 November; Queen’s Hall (London, England) London Symphony Orchestra: Second Symphony Concert Vocalists: Florence Austral and Conducted by Albert Coates.

1927 23 October; Royal Albert Hall (London, England) Advertisement for concert on 23 October in Gerhardt and Cortot October 23rd, 1927

1927 27 October; Norfolk & Norwich Triennial Musical Festival. Illustrated souvenir. Containing photographs of artists and composers, with notes and biographies by MR. J.E.H Barwell. 132 p.

1928 11 November; Royal Albert Hall (London, England) Special Sunday Concerts, 1928 – 29 season. Armistice Day Concert

1928 9 October – 23 December; (London, England) International Celebrity Subscription Concerts Tour (Jubilee Series, 1928 – 1929)

1930 10 February; Royal Albert Hall (London, England) Special Sunday Concerts

1931 7 August; Concert Hall, The Pavilion, Bournemouth (Dorset, England) Special Engagement of Florence Austral the Renowned Dramatic Soprano With John Amadio, solo flute, and The Municipal Orchestra conducted by Sir Dan Godfrey.

1931 14 October; Queen’s Hall (London, England) BBC Symphony Concerts.

1932 26 May; Royal Albert Hall (London, England) World Celebrity Concert

Florence Austral (1892-1968) 6

1932 19 September; Queen’s Hall (London, England) Promenade Concert

1933 25 January; Madison Square Garden (New York) Five Festival Concerts Arranged by Walter Damrosch. Fourth Festival Concert Florence Austral soloist

1933 24, 25, &27 April; Queen’s Hall (London, England) Courtauld-Sargent Concerts (4th series) with London Philharmonic Orchestra; Soloist: Florence Austral; Conductor: .

1933 15 September; Streatham Hill Theatre (London, England) Wagner Festival FA as Brunnhilde

1933 18 September; Queen’s Hall (London, England) Promenade Concert

1933 28 September; Golders Green Hippodrome (London, England) Wagner Festival FA as Brunnhilde

1933 2 October; Queen’s Hall (London, England) Promenade Concert Wagner Concert The Twighlight of the Gods (Götterdämmerung) FA as Brunhilde

1938 2 April; The Dome (Brighton, England) Wagner Concert

1938 29 April; Queen’s Hall (London, England) British Women’s Symphony Orchestra FA sings Wagner

1939 14 August; Queens’ Hall (London, England) Promenade Concert FA sings Wagner

Florence Austral (1892-1968) 7

Index to performances

Adelaide concert ...... 3, 4 London Symphony Orchestra Aida ...... 5 Second Symphony Concert ...... 6 Armistice Day Concert ...... 6 Melbourne concert series ...... 4 BBC Symphony Concerts ...... 7 Promenade Concert ...... 7, 8 British Women’s Symphony Orchestra ...... 7 Siegfried ...... 5, 6 Cities and country tour, 1930 ...... 3 Sir Benjamin Fuller Grand Opera Season...... 4, 5 Concert arranged by the Well-wishers League of Special Engagement of Florence Austral the St Vincent’s Hospital ...... 4 Renowned Dramatic Soprano ...... 6 Courtauld-Sargent Concerts (4th series) ...... 7 Special Sunday Concerts ...... 6 Elijah...... 6 Sunday Concerts ...... 5, 6 Florence Austral Concert Tour ...... 4 The Twighlight of the Gods (Götterdämmerung).7 Fourth Festival Concert ...... 7 The Valkyrie ...... 5 Illustrated souvenir ...... 6 Wagner Concert...... 7 International Celebrity Subscription Concerts ...... 5 Wagner Festival ...... 7 International Celebrity Subscription Concerts World Celebrity Concert ...... 7 Tour ...... 6

Florence Austral (1892-1968) 8