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Last Sunday we went into City Hall to see a beautiful concert:
"Joan Sutherland Spectacular: Celebrating 100 years of La Stupenda".
Australian coloratura soprano Dame Joan Sutherland (1926-2010) was trained in London at the Royal College of Music and won world-wide acclaim singing Lucia di Lammermoor in 1959. She sang many roles in the Opera Houses of the World, and from time to time returned to Australia to sing for us. She made her home in Switzerland with her husband, Conductor Richard Bonynge and retired in 1990.
The program included many of her famous and popular arias, from Rigoletto, Tales of Hoffmann, il Travatore, Lakme, The Merry Widow, and of course Lucia di Lammermoor. Brisbane soprano Mirusia and Eva Kong starred along with the Queensland Choir, tenor Rosario La Spina, and others. We loved it all!
I remembered I once had Dame Joan's autograph, and went searching for it the next day:
I found it!
After her retirement in 1991, Dame Joan came back to Australia regularly and our children's High School named their music centre for her. There was a tribute dinner which we attended where the students performed for Dame Joan and guests. And I managed to keep the autographed program, even when we moved!
Almost all my memorabilia was given away with the downsize.
Bur one other thing I also found:
When the Beatles came to Brisbane, I was there, a very young teen.
This is a treasured memento. They never came back here again but I always enjoyed the music.
Two Australian Butcher birds (a smaller relative of a Magpie), perched on an antenna near our house.
Butcher birds (so named because they are carnivorous, with a hook on their beak to enable them to 'butcher' their prey) are considered Australia's best song bird. They sing and practice a little melody covering an octave, but it is hard to catch them at it and record it. And I am trying, whenever they come by. An interesting fact is that the song varies in differing neighborhoods. We only moved 8km but the birds here have a different little melody, a bit shorter than the one from our previous location.
I have joined the local Brisbane West Community Choir and practice once a week, at a nearby hall. I was so happy to find them, about 500 metres from our home.
My voice was a bit rusty as I last sang in a community choir in 2019. Covid put an end to a lot of choral singing.
The music is a little different for this Classical and Opera music lover..
Pop Choral is definitely a new genre for me...
I find the pop rhythms a bit quick and tricky at times, but all singing is good for us. I love 'Sun and Moon', and also enjoy Rod Stewart's 'Sailing'.
A surprise inclusion was a very old 50s song 'Five Pennies', mixed with 'Lullaby in Ragtime'. I knew them both from childhood and was singing merrily while the young ones were working it all out :)
'The Five Pennies' was a 1959 musical starring Danny Kaye as jazz cornet player and bandleader 'Red' Nichols. I remember seeing the film and singing the song. My family was always interested in the musical films back in the day, and we had regular sing-a-longs around the piano.
Well, that is enough of the old days.
Have a great weekend, and enjoy Spring or Autumn, whichever suits your region.
XXXX
PS: Thank you for reading my new blog. I find Blogger much more difficult to use than in the past, and have been unable to edit or delete the 'About Me' gadget. The email address there is no longer functioning as we have retired our business. You can email me on <kellartrish34@gmail.com>
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Sounds like an amazing evening! Good for you! My parents used to have a record by Joan Sutherland (they had an amazing collection of records from around the world) and I know her voice well.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
What a lovely thought that your parents included Joan Sutherland in their international record collection. She put Australia on the world operatic scene. Thanks for dropping by Amalia. xo
DeleteOld music brings back so many wonderful memories. I have not heard of Joan Sutherland, but will look her up on YouTube. You will certainly enjoy singing in the choir once again.
ReplyDeleteIt was very much an afternoon of memories, and we are old enough to enjoy that. I hope you find Dame Joan on YouTube: she was extraordinary in her day. So good to be back in a choir again.
DeleteIt sounds like a very nice concert. I'm glad you found the autographed page. I bet you were so thrilled to see The Beatles when you were a teenager. I love the song "Let It Be." I've never heard the song of the Butcher Bird before, but am familiar with the Magpie. I used to listen to Rod Stewart all the time in my early 20's. ; ) That orange flower is so pretty in your garden. A happy June week ahead, Patricia.
ReplyDelete'Let it Be' is a great song, and I love it too. Some old pop songs last forever (like Rod Stewart and Sailing). Happy June to you too Sheri.
ReplyDeleteHello dear Trish! The concert sounded lovely. And what great memories of Dame Joan..and of the Beatles! How cool is that? I love that you continue to sing just like the song birds around you that you notice and identify so well. Wishing you lovely days and lots of beautiful music all around. 😉💗
ReplyDeleteHello Carrie, I am glad I kept those two old programs - just a touch of memories in our new house. My voice has gone very rough, and I am working with a therapist to get it back into good order, speaking and singing. Thank you for good wishes and friendship. xxx
DeleteHello Trish, what a lovely post full of music! I am very envious you got to see the Beatles. That's amazing, and it's so nice that you are singing some 'tricky' pop songs too. It just goes to show all music has challenges, whether it's pop or classical!
ReplyDeleteYes indeed Val, the pop challenges are an eye-opener! Seeing the Beatles was a lucky thing for me, when just out of school. I had started work and a roommate had access to good tickets so off we went. It was the only time I screamed with the rest of them, lol.
DeleteIt is always so lovely to catch up with your lovely life in Brisbane! I am always taken by your many interests and investments in your community life! Sending you big hugs from Southern California! XOX
ReplyDeleteThank you for dropping by on my new blog, dear Tamera. I do try to keep active in the community, and this area is great fun in which to live. Big hugs across the ocean to you also.xox
DeleteYou continue to introduce me to artists I know little about, Trish. Singing in a choir takes a lot of work, as I recall, and I hope you meet some lovely folks in your new neighborhood through your commitment. Beautiful flowers as always!
ReplyDeleteHie Debra, you might be interested that Dame Joan sang many times at the Metropolitan Opera in NYC, including Lucia de Lammermoor in the 60s, and many other roles. She also sang at Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center. I am meeting lots of lovely new friends and had coffee today with four ladies from the new choir which was great fun. This garden had NO flowers when we came! I am determined that will never happen again lol.
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful that you found her signature and your Beatles program! Truly they are treasures! I just did a post and have a link to you at the end!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should frame those old programs! Found your post, and enjoy the discussion very much.
DeleteWish I could sing "Sailing" with you in that choir! Hope you can record that Butcher bird song for us, that would be great.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great thought, singing 'Sailing' together :)) I'll catch that dang Butcher bird song one day, despite his fleeting appearances. It is like it is taunting me: I hear it, I grab my phone and go outside to stalk it, and whoosh! it is gone lol.
DeleteHi Patricia. Thanks for visiting my blog.
ReplyDeleteThe Portuguese are spread all over the world.
I love the songs of the Beatles too, what great memories you must have from their visit to Australia.
Hi Sami, So interesting where the Portuguese went, long ago. It was a fun time in the Swinging 60s!!
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