Opera is a spectacle for all the senses, but it takes an army of people to produce a single performance.
The Queen’s Birthday Honours list singled out a few respected Australian arts professionals for service to the arts and to opera in particular.
Opera Australia would like to offer congratulations to the following:
Distinguished soprano Merlyn Quaife received an honour for significant service to music. Ms Quaife has enjoyed a long career with highlights including the role of Betty in Opera Australia’s Bliss in 2010, regular performances with state opera companies and symphonies and star turns as Lucia in Lucia di Lammermoor and Chian Ch’ing in Nixon in China. Ms Quaife will sing the role of Orlinde in Opera Australia’s Melbourne Ring Cycle this year.
Renowned soprano Nance Grant MBE was honoured for significant service to the performing arts, particularly opera. After a successful career singing everything from Britten’s Lady Billows to Verdi’s Mistress Ford, Ms Grant retired vocally in the early 1990s. She was a principal soprano with Opera Australia for a decade from 1971, singing roles including The Countess in The Marriage of Figaroand Elizabeth in Tannhauser. She now gives her time to support emerging artists, speaking at workshops and giving master classes.
Movement coach and opera director Anna Sweeny was recognised for significant service to opera as a teacher of movement and stagecraft. Ms Sweeny specialises in teaching opera singers how to move to best protect and project their voices on stage. A mentor in Opera Australia’s Young Artist Program, Ms Sweeny has become something of a legend in her field.
Language coach Marie-Claire Szekely was honoured for service to the performing arts, particularly opera. The respected French-speaker is a gifted performer in her own right, and has coached singers in French for Opera Australia since the 1970s. Marie-Claire has been honoured around the world for her work coaching singers in French, and is oft seen at rehearsals, perched behind the conductor, sharpened pencil in hand.