Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge
Posted on 28 February 2011
Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge, Bel Canto Award, Prizes valued at over $50,000
Adjudicated by Maestro Richard Bonynge AO CBE
Four of the greatest names in opera are united to present this new award in honour of Dame Joan Sutherland and Maestro Richard Bonynge in 2011 - Dame Joan Sutherland, Maestro Richard Bonynge, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa and Sir Georg Solti.
The Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award has been established in memory of the late Dame Joan Sutherland and to honour both she and her husband, Maestro Richard Bonynge’s extraordinary legacy to the operatic world. With an emphasis on Bel Canto singing, a style of singing made famous by Dame Joan, this Award is open to ALL professional and non-professional opera singers aged 20 - 30 years from Australia and New Zealand.
In addition to cash prizes valued at over $40,000, for the first time offered in Australia, the winner will not only receive a $30,000 scholarship but also be accepted into the Solti Te Kanawa Accademia di Bel Canto in Italy for 2012 (valued at over $10,000). This prestigious summer school, under the expert guidance of Jonathan Papp (Royal Academy of Music, London), Lady Solti and Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, specialises in the art of Bel Canto singing.
Each year, only twelve singers from around the world are accepted into this world renowned course. The singers work with such celebrated artists as: Richard Bonynge, Frederica von Stade, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Sir Thomas Allen and John Copley, including world class language coaches and directors, all specialising in the lyric tradition and preservation of the Bel Canto technique and repertoire. The guest teachers for 2012 will be the internationally acclaimed Romanian soprano Angela Gheorghiu and renowned Welsh tenor, Dennis O’Neill CBE.
Since 2004, over 95 singers have benefited from the Solti Te Kanawa Accademia's summer course and showcases in London and Italy. The course is an intense experience providing participants with the opportunity of a lifetime. “For many it is the gateway to a successful professional singing career.” http://www.soltitekanawaaccademia.org
“This programme is about teaching the singers how to own their voices. This is a philosophy close to Solti’s heart and it is the intention of the Accademia to foster this self-discovery in support of the next generation’s top talent.” Dame Kiri Te Kanawa
Twelve Semi Finalists will be chosen from the Heats and six Finalists from the Semi Finals.
Entry forms will be available from the JSS website: www.joansutherlandsociety.com or atfoundation@joansutherlandsociety.com
Semi Final: 1st August, 2011 @ 6.30pm | Final: 23 September 2011 @ 7.00pm
Verbrugghan Hall, Sydney Conservatorium of Music
Accompanied by: Sharolyn Kimmorley AM
JOAN SUTHERLAND & RICHARD BONYNGE
The Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Opera Foundation
With the formation of the Joan Sutherland and Richard Bonynge Opera Foundation at the end of last year, the Joan Sutherland Society and its Foundation are proud to announce the Patrons, Board of Directors and Artistic Advisory Council for this newly formed Foundation.
Sixty years ago, a young Joan Sutherland dreamt of singing at Covent Garden. For hundreds of young singers every year they share that very same dream. The initial aim of the Foundation will be to endeavour to help some of our most talented singers fulfil that dream by providing them with the necessary tools so they can develop their craft, fulfil their potential and accomplish their goals and ambitions. The Inaugural Bel Canto Award is just one way of support.
The Foundation will also aim to honour and perpetuate Dame Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge’s legacy - two of the world’s greatest operatic and recording artists. The Foundation is extremely grateful to all our esteemed Patrons, Directors and Advisors for their commitment to enhancing our operatic culture and honouring the extraordinary contribution made by Dame Joan Sutherland & Maestro Richard Bonynge to the world of opera.
Patron - Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, Governor of New South Wales
Life Patron - Maestro Richard Bonynge AO CBE
Honorary Patrons - The Rt Hon Sir John Major KG CH - Dame Norma Major DBE - Lady Solti - Ms Marilyn Horne - Mr Adam Bonynge
Board of Directors - Maestro Richard Bonynge AO CBE - Lady Potter AC - Mr Donald McDonald AC - Mr Alan Jones AO
Mr Cyrus Meher-Homji - Ms Elizabeth Connell - Mr Duncan Kinnon
Artistic Advisory Council - Mr Dennis O’Neill CBE - Mr Malcolm Donnelly AM - Ms Yvonne Kenny AM - Ms Sharolyn Kimmorley AM
Mr John Pringle AM - Mr Keith Lewis CNZM - Ms Bernadette Cullen - Ms Fiona Janes