15 February 2011
Tribute to Dame Joan Sutherland
Please visit the following links for additional information:
www.westminster-abbey.org -- photos and transcipts of the event
www.abc.net.au -- ABC News Radio broadcast
An Australian Icon....
A Service of Thanksgiving for Dame Joan Sutherland, OM AC DBE (7 November 1926 - 10 October 2010) will be held at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday 15 February 2011 at 12 noon.
The Australian opera singer made her public debut in Sydney in 1946 and sang her first leading role at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 1952. She went on to appear in productions both there and around the world, as well as making numerous recordings.
Luciano Pavarotti, who toured with her in Australia during the 1960's, described her as having "the voice of the century". Dame Joan was dubbed 'La Stupenda' for her vocal range and stage presence after a 1960 performance at Venice's La Fenice opera house.
She sang at the Sydney opera house when it opened in 1973 and bowed out with her final series of performances there in 1990. Her final appearance at Covent Garden on New Year's Eve 1990 was in a gala performance of 'Die Fledermaus' as a special guest, together with Luciano Pavarotti and Marilyn Horne.
In her retirement she continued to support and nurture young singers as a competition adjudicator and patron of music charities.
We hope that you are able to attend this service to give thanks for Dame Joan's extraordinary life and work.
Information is available at www.damejoanremembrance.co.uk and interested persons are able to apply for tickets (limited to two per application).
