Christmas Eve 1974 was a nightmare for the inhabitants of Darwin (in Australia’s Northern Territory) when it was destroyed by a violent cyclone. A Darwin Appeal Fund was launched and a month later, on 25 January 1975, Richard Bonynge conducted a fund-raising concert at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. The idea was that of Joan Sutherland’s – who participated together with a cast of Australian, New Zealand and British operatic luminaries – and the LP receives its complete CD release for the first time. A newly-written introduction by Richard Bonynge is included.
PETER McCORMICK
Advance Australia Fair (orchestral version)
JACQUES OFFENBACH
Duo des Gendarmes (Geneviève de Brabant: Act II)
GIUSEPPE VERDI
Cortigiani, vil razza dannata (Rigoletto: Act II)
Qui posa il fianco (I Lombardi: Act III)
Un dì, se ben rammentomi … Bella figlia dell’amore (Rigoletto: Act III)
VINCENZO BELLINI
Dormono entrambi … Me chiami, o Norma? … Deh! con te, con te li prendi … Mira, o Norma … Sì, fino all’ore estreme (Norma)
ANONYMOUS
God save the Queen (orchestral version)
Joan Sutherland, soprano
Heather Begg, contralto
Margreta Elkins, mezzo-soprano
Graham Clark, tenor
Louis Quilico, baritone
Tom McDonnell, bass
Clifford Grant, bass
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra
Richard Bonynge
Recording Producer: Ray Minshull
Balance Engineers: Kenneth Wilkinson, James Lock
Recording Location: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London, UK, January 1975