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AT A VERY EXCITING CEREMONY IN PARIS
on May 4 attended by 900 of the crème de la crème of France’s classical music industry, the Académie du disque lyrique awarded the prestigious Prix Gabriel Fauré for best musical interpretation to Melba for its disc Turbulent Heart. This is the third award given to Melba by the Académie. In 2009 Timothy Mussard won Le Prix Lauritz Melchior for his performance in Götterdämmerung; in 2007 Stuart Skelton won the same prize for his role in Die Walküre.

Le Prix Gabriel Fauré follows on from the ecstatic reception accorded Turbulent Heart by international critics, but perhaps most fervently by those in France. Many of these have remarked how wonderful it is that such rare French music has been revived in exemplary style by an Australian company. Opéra said Turbulent Heart was 'a lesson from the Antipodes' and 'a revelation'. The magazine singled out Turbulent Heart for further especial praise awarding it Le diamant d’Opéra. Meanwhile Opus Haute Définition described it as 'an indispensable disc of French vocal music presented in a faultless SACD recording.'

This accolade for Steve Davislim, Guillaume Tourniaire and the Queensland Symphony Orchestra is added to the Gramophone Editor's Choice, Classic FM [UK] magazine Editor's Choice and many more glowing reviews from the US, UK and Europe. Read them all here... [Buy Turbulent Heart here]

 

 
The Melba Foundation celebrated distinguished Australian Maestro Richard Bonynge’s 80th birthday year with a very special Tribute Dinner on May 4th. This was hosted by ANZ Trustees in the beautiful Melbourne Room at the bank’s Queen Street, Melbourne offices during the Opera Australia Melbourne season of La sonnambula.

Diva Rosamund Illing, and star of Opera Australia and the Metropolitan Opera, baritone Joshua Bloom, performed with exciting pianist Benjamin Martin. Maestro Bonynge occupies a very special place in the hearts of the Melba Recordings family. His imprimatur gave the label its impetus, his passion for recordings and love of unique repertoire have been a major influence in the development of the Melba label. Maestro Bonynge is a Commandeur de l’Ordre National de Mérite for his services to French music. Melba's Richard Bonynge Edition now consists of six recordings and a DVD.

 

Richard Bonynge, Rosamund Illing, Maria Vandamme

Dinner guests

Melba CEO, Maria Vandamme's tribute to Richard Bonynge is here

Melba Foundation chair, Richard Alston's dinner speech is here

 
 
The Steinway piano for the Richard Bonynge Tribute Dinner was supplied by Exclusive Piano Group


 
THE ULTIMATE CHALLENGE

Bellini’s La sonnambula has a fearsome reputation amongst sopranos with its dazzling coloratura, tumbling melodies and exhilarating ensembles. Now, in Opera Australia’s first ever staging of this bel canto classic, Maestro Richard Bonynge conducts Emma Matthews as she makes her debut as the sleeping songbird Amina.

Caught in the wrong bed? Amina is passionately in love with Elvino, but when she is found in Count Rodolfo’s chambers on the night before their wedding, Elvino is understandably dismayed. Can she explain her mistake? Fable meets Freud in this elegant new production. Director Julie Edwardson has used twentieth century psychoanalysis to cast new light and colour on this nineteenth-century tale.

PREPARE TO BE SWEPT AWAY BY SONG! Opera Australia is pleased to offer Melba Recordings enews readers the chance to win one of 10 double passes to Bellini’s La sonnambula on Wednesday 11 May performance at the Arts Centre, Melbourne

To enter be one of the first ten people to ring Melba Recordings (03) 9534 5004 on Monday 10 May.


 

 
AS A SPECIAL OFFER TO ALL eNEWS SUBSCRIBERS, purchase any CD or DVD  from The Richard Bonynge Edition and you’ll receive a copy of Puccini Passion with Cheryl Barker FREE! This offer is available until 31 May 2010 and only to phone sales (03) 9534 5004 or via email sales@melbarecordings.com.au


 

Melba Recordings Pty Ltd & Melba Foundation Ltd
www.melbarecordings.com.au
PO Box 415, Elwood Victoria 3184 Australia
Phone: 613 9534 5004  Fax: 613 9593 8533  Email: info@melbarecordings.com.au

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