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The finals concert of the Opera Foundation of Australia’s Audi German Opera Scholarship were held at Verbruggen Hall at the Sydney Conservatorium on Sunday 8 November 2009. The six finalists were asked to perform two arias, one of their own choice followed by the adjudicator’s choice.

The panel, consisting of Victor Morris, Ghillian Sullivan and Malcolm Batty, selected Kathleen Parker as the recipient of this prestigious prize. Kathleen will begin her contract with the Cologne Opera Studio in July 2010 and remain there for 12 months.

She will also receive airfares, living stipend and German language tuition at the Goethe Institut in Berlin. The total value of this scholarship is $43,000.

Dr. Eddie Street wrote a great review about my cabaret evening at the Peregian Springs Golf Club last month.

Gourmet Operatic Cabaret Extravaganza 

The Peregian Springs Golf Club did well to host an operatic cabaret evening last month. This is the first of many Members’ Special Events planned by the club. The guest singer was (Sunshine Coast bred) Kathleen Parker, who describes herself as a youthful, dramatic soprano – all of which she is. From the very moment of her entry it was clear that she was to hold the audience in the palm of her hand for the next three hours –and so she did.  

Her choice and range of repertoire was faultless, showing a wide diversity, and was presented with sensitivity and passion, ranging from the serene to the robust. This blended beautifully into a four act musical gourmet indulgence of no mean proportion.

Trained at the University of Queensland with an honours degree she undertook further training in Florence and at the Australian Opera Studio in Perth, where she graduated with honours also and won dux of the school.  She has sung on the international stage most recently in Japan and is also the recipient of a number of singing awards. 

Her beautiful interpretation of Vilja from The Merry Widow was truly one of “haunting the woodland enchanting the night” and filtered softy throughout the dining room taking one’s breath away. Carefully dressed for the role, she glided in true flamenco style from table to table with a powerful presentation of Habanera from Carmen. This was like red rag to a bull. As if all this was not enough to savour, her singing of “O My Beloved Father”  O Mio Babbino Caro directed to her unprepared father sitting nearby was an experience hard to describe. 

Kathleen’s serious though fun loving voice blended well with her accompanist Ross Jelf   (himself an accomplished pianist). The evening finished with many a requested encore which included My Dearest Dear and I want to be a Prima Donna. 

There is no doubt she already is. 

Thank you to Peregian Golf Club for introducing us to such wonderful talent, complimented by fine food and wines. 

 

–Eddie Street, April 2009