Just finished a weekend of recording with Maestro Bonynge - what a lovely man and great conductor. He showed such patience and stamina, standing and conducting us under recording conditions for hours at a time. At his age, I don't think I'll be able to do that!
We have many things to thank Richard Bonynge for~~ For realising just what a tremendous and wide ranging voice was contained in the depths of Joan's strong natural voice. For finding many "lost" Bel Canto Operas. For being one of the first conductors to insist that all "cuts" in operas were re~instated. For giving us a greater appreciation of ALL operas,and making them available to all people. Thank You Richard.
If only there were more people like him around and working today....The Met sure could benefit from having someone like him at the helm, as well as many other houses.
A very fascinating interview. Bonynge does represent maybe the last of the great artistic operatic music directors, firmly based upon a career in the opera house. He had the good fortune of course to meet and marry one of the greatest voices of all time, but he guided Sutherland and many other singers into the correct repertoire. Thanks so much for airing this.
Wonderful george prentice. I agree with everything Bonynge said..."you have to fill the seats" and "people stay away in droves" -- the public will ultimately decide what sells and this modern rubbish -- Doctor Atomic, Anna Nicole, etc., will never be a part of the standard repertoire! I love his philosophy about producers too. People don't attend opera to see great acting, they attend to hear great singing. Let the singers sing and let the operas speak for themselves -- if it's a period piece, play it like one. Bonynge is a great man in my book!
There's definitely been a dip in quality. I hardly ever go now, as it is a lot of money for what usually amounts to a night of frustration. I saw Tosca last year and was appalled by the production. You could see why Cheryl Barker wanted nothing to do with it. The night I attended, the State Theatre in Melbourne was only about a third full. People stayed away in droves once they heard what the production was like. Tosca should guarantee full houses every time, when it's done properly.
I'm afraid opera has been ruined by weird productions and the loss of good singing technique. I stick to concert performances if I go at all these days.
"If you want to be an opera conductor make the singers the stars. They are the stars of opera, they should be; not the producers and not the conductors." That right there sums up a lot about the issues of opera these days IMO. Companies appear to have forgotten it, indulging x conductor or y producer as though genuine opera lovers go to live performances for anything ahead of the singing.
Steeltrap Many a producer/conductor should listen to Mr.Bonyge's remark: today it's the "producers" (?) who want to be stars and that's why they put up those horrible and ludicrous opera "productions" (?) just to make headlines and attract everyone's attention. A typical example of their enormous ego and narcissistic personality!
I wish Bonynge had recorded an absolutely complete recording of the great ballet 'La Péri' by Friedrich Burgmuller...... his record of it seems to be selections only or something.
@amigomatt That's great to hear. It amazes me that so many people seem to want to hate Bonynge. His contribution to opera and ballet has been enormous. Even if you were to take into account only what he had achieved up to 1986, when this interview was recorded, it would be impressive enough. But just think of what he has done since then! By the way, what were you recording?
@emma41093 Yes, John Cargher was always rather blunt and direct in his comments, though he was very well-informed in relation to the arts, especially opera. He could have phrased this much more gently, I think.
Isobel was PHENOMENAL! Absolutely among the finest singers of the century ~ WOW, I never knew of the English version filming of Fra Diavilo!?? - does the entire performance exist!? Exceptional
Talk about a career going up in smoke! She filled in for Kiri as Micaela in the Kleiber/Zeffirelli Carmen in Vienna in 1983 and already then she had become very mediocre
Most of what the narrator says about him is just a bunch of crappy PR type blurbs. With the exception of opera in Australia he completely disappeared from opera houses upon Sutherland's retirement.
Richard and Joan gave me much musical pleasure.
Just finished a weekend of recording with Maestro Bonynge - what a lovely man and great conductor. He showed such patience and stamina, standing and conducting us under recording conditions for hours at a time. At his age, I don't think I'll be able to do that!
We have many things to thank Richard Bonynge for~~
For realising just what a tremendous and wide ranging voice was contained in the depths of Joan's strong natural voice.
For finding many "lost" Bel Canto Operas.
For being one of the first conductors to insist that all "cuts" in operas were re~instated.
For giving us a greater appreciation of ALL operas,and making them available to all people.
Thank You Richard.
If only there were more people like him around and working today....The Met sure could benefit from having someone like him at the helm, as well as many other houses.
A very fascinating interview. Bonynge does represent maybe the last of the great artistic operatic music directors, firmly based upon a career in the opera house. He had the good fortune of course to meet and marry one of the greatest voices of all time, but he guided Sutherland and many other singers into the correct repertoire. Thanks so much for airing this.
By the way, both dates for his Met debut are wrong. December 1966. One would think one would get it right correcting others!!
Make the singers the stars. Indeed.
Great Richard Bonynge.
I couldn't have enjoyed that more! Thank you!
Wonderful george prentice. I agree with everything Bonynge said..."you have to fill the seats" and "people stay away in droves" -- the public will ultimately decide what sells and this modern rubbish -- Doctor Atomic, Anna Nicole, etc., will never be a part of the standard repertoire! I love his philosophy about producers too. People don't attend opera to see great acting, they attend to hear great singing. Let the singers sing and let the operas speak for themselves -- if it's a period piece, play it like one. Bonynge is a great man in my book!
He adds magnificence to all scores he conducts.
There's definitely been a dip in quality. I hardly ever go now, as it is a lot of money for what usually amounts to a night of frustration. I saw Tosca last year and was appalled by the production. You could see why Cheryl Barker wanted nothing to do with it. The night I attended, the State Theatre in Melbourne was only about a third full. People stayed away in droves once they heard what the production was like. Tosca should guarantee full houses every time, when it's done properly.
I'm afraid opera has been ruined by weird productions and the loss of good singing technique. I stick to concert performances if I go at all these days.
"If you want to be an opera conductor make the singers the stars.
They are the stars of opera, they should be; not the producers and not the conductors."
That right there sums up a lot about the issues of opera these days IMO. Companies appear to have forgotten it, indulging x conductor or y producer as though genuine opera lovers go to live performances for anything ahead of the singing.
Steeltrap Many a producer/conductor should listen to Mr.Bonyge's remark: today it's the "producers" (?) who want to be stars and that's why they put up those horrible and ludicrous opera "productions" (?) just to make headlines and attract everyone's attention. A typical example of their enormous ego and narcissistic personality!
I wish Bonynge had recorded an absolutely complete recording of
the great ballet 'La Péri' by Friedrich Burgmuller......
his record of it seems to be selections only or something.
@jennimarkham Exactly. Luckily I'm seeing him conduct Don Pasquale in June so I'm VERY happy!!
Holy shit, that's John Cargher...... Anyone who listened to Singers of Renown on Radio National will know him and love him.
@amigomatt I have just posted another brief Bonynge interview from 1982: Search "Richard Bonynge interview by Brian Adams".
@amigomatt That's great to hear. It amazes me that so many people seem to want to hate Bonynge. His contribution to opera and ballet has been enormous. Even if you were to take into account only what he had achieved up to 1986, when this interview was recorded, it would be impressive enough. But just think of what he has done since then! By the way, what were you recording?
vocalissimo1 Did conductor Stuart Challender pass away?
@emma41093 Yes, John Cargher was always rather blunt and direct in his comments, though he was very well-informed in relation to the arts, especially opera. He could have phrased this much more gently, I think.
Is there a complete recording of the 1981 production of "Les Huguenots"?
"Used him as a coach and finally married him" - that sounded a bit harsh!
Again, thank you! I don't want to know how long it took you to upload/publish this!
@BenazirRokira1993 lots of people have commented about that in this photo - it worries me slightly to be honest!
Whatever happened to Isobel Buchanan?
Isobel was PHENOMENAL! Absolutely among the finest singers of the century ~ WOW, I never knew of the English version filming of Fra Diavilo!?? - does the entire performance exist!? Exceptional
Talk about a career going up in smoke! She filled in for Kiri as Micaela in the Kleiber/Zeffirelli Carmen in Vienna in 1983 and already then she had become very mediocre
@vocalissimo1 I agree with your sentiments lol never mind.
@expatmartin Yes, there's certainly some truth in what you say.
Most of what the narrator says about him is just a bunch of crappy PR type blurbs. With the exception of opera in Australia he completely disappeared from opera houses upon Sutherland's retirement.
What's with Mrs Bonynge Sutherland!! This is very disparaging for Richard. Especially considering she referred to herself as Mrs Bonynge!!!!