Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Castaway
1 appearance
An Australian soprano who won two large vocal competitions and joined Covent Garden in 1952.
On the island
Eight records
The eight records for this collection haven’t been catalogued yet.
The keepsakes
The book
Not recorded.
The luxury
In conversation
Presenter asks
0:09What was the first music you heard? Was there a lot in your home?
The first music I heard would be the singing of my mother. She was a mezzo soprano and although she never made a career in Australia at all… she nevertheless had a very fine voice… she used to practice around the house and I used to imitate her. And I imitated her even to the extent of thinking that I was a mezzo soprano up until the time I went to have lessons.
Presenter asks
1:56What was the first important thing that happened to you after you had taken the plunge [into full-time singing]?
I managed to win two very large vocal competitions… one sponsored by a big oil company and another by one of the big newspapers in Australia. And was able with that money to make up my mind to come abroad and try my luck in London or elsewhere.
Presenter asks
2:25You arrived in London. Had you many friends here?
No, I hadn't. I think the only real one I had was Richard Bonynge, who later became my husband.
Presenter asks
What was the first role you sang at Covent Garden?
The first role I sang was the first lady in the Magic Flute. And very soon after I sang the [tiny] part of the nursemaid in Norma with Maria Callas and Ebe Stignani when they came to do the opera there first. And I was a very terrified beginner standing backstage listening to the wonderful ovation that they received. And I was wondering whether that could happen to me ever, but I didn't really think it could.
Presenter asks
3:56You sang with the Covent Garden Company for seven seasons, and now you've made this tremendous success in Lucia di Lammermoor. Is there any one person that you feel inspired you or helped you in your work more than anyone else?
Yes, I do. I think my husband. We always work together on my roles and he had this great love of the early nineteenth century operas. And convinced me that they were the roles that I should sing.
“The first music I heard would be the singing of my mother. She was a mezzo soprano… she used to practice around the house and I used to imitate her. And I imitated her even to the extent of thinking that I was a mezzo soprano up until the time I went to have lessons.”
“I decided that I might as well try the singing first and could always go back to secretarial work if necessary.”
“And I was a very terrified beginner standing backstage listening to the wonderful ovation that they received. And I was wondering whether that could happen to me ever, but I didn't really think it could.”
“I think my husband. We always work together on my roles and he had this great love of the early nineteenth century operas. And convinced me that they were the roles that I should sing.”