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| Dame Joan Sutherland as Lucrezia Borgia from Opera Australia's 1977 production. |
The Opera Theatre at the Sydney Opera House has been officially renamed the Joan Sutherland Theatre as a lasting tribute to one of Australia’s and the world’s greatest singers.
Premier Barry O’Farrell attended the October 16 renaming ceremony along with Dame Joan’s husband, the legendary conductor Richard Bonynge AC CBE, their son Adam Bonynge and other members of the Bonynge and Sutherland families.
"I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to Dame Joan - her contribution to the Sydney Opera House and the Opera Theatre was immeasurable," Mr O’Farrell said. “Dame Joan put the Sydney Opera House on the world’s performing arts map.
"I cannot think of a more fitting tribute to Dame Joan - her contribution to the Sydney Opera House and the Opera Theatre was immeasurable," Mr O’Farrell said. “Dame Joan put the Sydney Opera House on the world’s performing arts map.
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| The newly renamed Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House. |
“It was the newly opened Sydney Opera House where Dame Joan returned to perform with Opera Australia after conquering the international stage and being crowned ‘La Stupenda’.It meant two extraordinary gifts for Sydney – the stunning new Sydney Opera House and the return of Dame Joan.
“The renaming of the Opera Theatre in Dame Joan’s honour ensures her name and legacy will remain with us for generations and we’ll all be reminded of her glorious talent. Since its opening in 1973, just one other individual has been honoured by the renaming of an Opera House venue – the architect of the World Heritage-listed building, Jørn Utzon. It is appropriate that from today, the two people most associated with Sydney Opera House, the man who created it, Jørn Utzon, and the woman who made it sing, Joan Sutherland, should be remembered in this way."
“The renaming of the Opera Theatre in Dame Joan’s honour ensures her name and legacy will remain with us for generations and we’ll all be reminded of her glorious talent. Since its opening in 1973, just one other individual has been honoured by the renaming of an Opera House venue – the architect of the World Heritage-listed building, Jørn Utzon. It is appropriate that from today, the two people most associated with Sydney Opera House, the man who created it, Jørn Utzon, and the woman who made it sing, Joan Sutherland, should be remembered in this way."
Mr Bonynge said the renaming of the Opera Theatre after his late wife was a great honour.
“I am more than delighted the Opera Theatre will be renamed as a tribute to my late wife Dame Joan Sutherland and so is the whole Bonynge family. They are actually very thrilled and feel very honoured," Mr Bonynge said.
“I am more than delighted the Opera Theatre will be renamed as a tribute to my late wife Dame Joan Sutherland and so is the whole Bonynge family. They are actually very thrilled and feel very honoured," Mr Bonynge said.
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| Dame Joan Sutherland as Norma from Opera Australia's 1985 production. |
Dame Joan has a long history with Opera Australia. In 1965, the Company was involved in the the Sutherland-Williamson Grand Opera Company tour of Australia, starring Dame Joan and Richard Bonynge, and she performed with the Company throughout the 70s and 80s. In 1990 she gave her final Australian performance in Opera Australia’s production of Les Huguenots.
Dame Joan was a much loved part of the Company, and after her retirement, a frequent visitor. “Simply put, she was Australia’s greatest opera singer,” says Lyndon Terracini, Opera Australia’s Artistic Director. “Dame Joan, hailed around the world as La Stupenda, was a fine ambassador for Australia and made an extraordinary contribution to opera both here in Australia and internationally.”
