VENUE - St Paul's Church, 207 Burwood Road, Burwood

In recent months, original metal masters of Dame Nellie Melba’s 1904 London recordings were discovered at the old Gramophone Company’s manufacturing plant in Hanover, Germany. These recordings were made at her London home (she refused to go to the studio) when Melba was 43 and many specialists consider them to be the best she ever made.

The sound from these newly-found masters is amazing, far better than any previous releases which were necessarily based on old shellac records, or on masters from the company’s archive at Hayes which had been re-used and polished too often.

Historic Masters specialises in releasing brand new 78 records (in silent vinyl) and made from original metal masters. Recent issues include a box of Adelina Patti and one of Verdi’s first Otello, Francesco Tamagno. The planned Melba re-release is a limited edition & will include the new records, a full CD transfer and an illustrated booklet written by Roger Neill.

Last year Roger delighted a small group of Sydney music-lovers with his talk on the life of MARGHERITA GRANDI and we expect this illustrated Lecture, (which will include the story of the discovery of the masters, exploring the recordings and their relevance to contemporary performance practice) to attract a much larger audience – hence the move to St Paul’s Church.

Tickets $25 including Afternoon Tea

BOOKINGS - C/cards – Visa & M/Card accepted by phone - 02 9817 4919

VENUE - St Paul's Church, 207 Burwood Road, Burwood

On 17 February 1959, JOAN SUTHERLAND sang her first dazzling performance of Gaetano Donizetti’s tragic character, Lucia di Lammermoor at Covent Garden. It wasn’t an “overnight sensation” as many reporters claimed, but the result of seven years hard work in London, including countless hours of vocal coaching from Richard Bonynge.

The news of this triumph circled the globe and guaranteed the new Diva a frenzied welcome when she made the first visit to her homeland six years later.

With enormous good luck we have managed to plan this Tribute Concert to within 48 hours of the actual anniversary & will be presenting a programme to fit the occasion. This event will be arranged and accompanied by Sharolyn Kimmorley.

UPDATE 23-NOV The Concert party is still being assembled; confirmed singers include Jose Carbo, Andrew Goodwin, Nicole Youl, John Wegner, Teresa la Rocca, Stephen Smith, & Daniel Sumegi.

Tickets $40 including Afternoon Tea

BOOKINGS - C/cards – Visa & M/Card accepted by phone - 02 9817 4919

VENUE - St Paul's Church, 207 Burwood Road, Burwood

At the first SYDNEY EISTEDDFOD (75 years ago) in 1933, Megan won the “Under 14 years Piano Section” and went on to accompany Opera Greats, Rosina Raisbeck & Joan Sutherland, among others, when they won the SUN ARIA Competition, before sailing to England for further study. When television came to Australia, Megan was one of the first to appear on the ABC channel and remembers being told “not to wear white!” These days she coaches young students while still accompanying professional singers.

Tickets $40 including Afternoon Tea

BOOKINGS - C/cards – Visa & M/Card accepted by phone - 02 9817 4919

VENUE - St Paul's Church, 207 Burwood Road, Burwood

This event is held in conjunction with Sydney Eisteddfod as part of THE McDONALD’S PERFORMING ARTS CHALLENGE

Information will be added as it becomes available.

Tickets $30 including Afternoon Tea

VENUE - St Paul's Church, 207 Burwood Road, Burwood

Just the date for your calendars so far. Information will be added as it becomes available.

Tickets $40 including Afternoon Tea