Richard Bonynge Australian conductor and pianist Date of Birth: 29.09.1930 Country: Australia

1. Richard Bonynge: Australian Conductor and Pianist
2. Early Life and Career
3. Marriage and Collaboration with Joan Sutherland
4. The Revival of "Esclarmonde"
5. Later Career and Legacy

Richard Bonynge: Australian Conductor and Pianist

Richard Bonynge is an Australian conductor and pianist. He is a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC), a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), and a Commander of the French Order of Merit (Ordre national du Mérite).

Early Life and Career

Born on September 29, 1930, in Sydney, Australia, Richard Bonynge attended Sydney Boys High School and studied piano at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He was awarded a scholarship to study at the Royal College of Music in London, but he declined the offer and continued his private piano lessons while working with singers. One of his notable collaborations was with the world-renowned Australian dramatic coloratura soprano, Joan Sutherland. Bonynge accompanied her on almost all of her opera performances from 1962 until her retirement in the 1990s.

Marriage and Collaboration with Joan Sutherland

Richard Bonynge married Joan Sutherland on October 16, 1954, and their son, Adam Bonynge, was born in 1956. Together, Bonynge and Sutherland formed a duo, performing concerts with operatic arias until 1962. When the original conductor of one of Sutherland's concerts fell ill and the replacement conductor was involved in a car accident, Bonynge took on the responsibility of conducting the orchestra. From then on, he conducted the orchestra in almost all of Sutherland's performances.

The Revival of "Esclarmonde"

Richard Bonynge's interest in the opera "Esclarmonde" was sparked by a statement made by the composer Massenet, who considered it his greatest achievement. The opera had fallen into obscurity after its successful premieres, mainly because the role of the protagonist, Esclarmonde, was incredibly challenging and required a virtuosic singer. Bonynge located the vocal score of "Esclarmonde" in Paris and purchased the complete orchestral score at an auction in New York City. After convincing Sutherland that she was capable of performing the role, Bonynge successfully revived the opera with premieres at the San Francisco Opera in 1974 and the Metropolitan Opera in 1976.

Later Career and Legacy

In 1977, Richard Bonynge founded the Vancouver Opera Orchestra and served as its musical director. He made his debut at the Metropolitan Opera on December 12, 1966, and continued to conduct there until April 6, 1991. Most of his performances at the Metropolitan Opera were alongside Joan Sutherland, who performed there from the 1960s to the 1980s. Bonynge specialized in 18th and early 19th-century music, primarily focusing on the bel canto repertoire of Rossini, Bellini, and Donizetti. He also conducted numerous ballet performances and recorded various ballet repertoire. In recent years, Bonynge has been associated with Opera Australia and has conducted performances in opera houses across the United States. He currently resides in Les Avants, Switzerland, and maintains a home in Sydney.