Four days of events, seminars, concerts, films and exhibitions, all inspired by Patrick White's iconic novel VOSS (1956).
Thursday 14 to Sunday 17 May 2009
Artist Biographies
Moffatt Oxenbould AM
National Library of Australia Seminar 3, Friday 15 May
Voss, Sunday 17 May
[prev.] In 1963/4 he worked with the Company on a number of major capital city and country tours and in 1965 was appointed stage manager for the now historic Sutherland/Williamson Grand Opera Company Australian tour.
At the conclusion of the Sutherland/Williamson tour he took up a stage management position with Sadlers’ Wells Opera in London and returned to Australia in 1967 to rejoin the Elizabethan Trust Opera Company. In 1969 he was appointed Co-ordinator of Planning and worked closely with the two Musical Directors of the Company at that time, Carlo Felice Cillario and Sir Edward Downes.
In 1973 he worked as Personal Assistant to the then General Manager, John Winther and was appointed Artistic Administrator of The Australian Opera in 1974, working with Musical Director Richard Bonynge.
In July 1984 Moffatt Oxenbould was appointed Artistic Director of The Australian Opera, later Opera Australia, a position he held until the end of 1999.
Moffatt has also directed a number of works for the Company, including Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia (1971), Puccini’s Trittico (1973), Rossini’s Semiramide (1983), Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito and a new production of Idomeneo (1994). He has several times rehearsed Goran Jarvefelt’s production of The Magic Flute and devised the 1997 OzOpera version of this production which was presented in non –proscenium arch venues in several states, and also with students of the NSW Conservatorium Opera School, as part of the Encounters program which he initiated involving Opera School students with artists and activity of the Company.
His production of Madama Butterfly was first seen in 1997 and has been performed by the Company in successive years. The production was also seen nationally in an ABC simulcast and released on video and DVD in several countries In 1999 he directed a new production of La Bohème for the Company and directed Madama Butterfly for the State Opera of South Australia.In 2000 he directed a new production of Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra during the Sydney 2000 Olympic Arts Festival.
In 1989 he was curator of the exhibition, Joan Sutherland, A Tribute, which was seen at the Art Gallery of NSW and travelled to Brisbane and Adelaide.
In 1985 Moffatt Oxenbould was awarded an AM for his services to opera. In 1986 he was awarded the inaugural Dame Joan Hammond Award in recognition of his important contribution to opera. His production of Madama Butterfly won several Melbourne Green Room Awards in 1988 including best production and direction.
He was given a Special award for his contribution to opera in the 1999 Green Room Awards and was awarded the Opera Australia Trophy at a Gala Celebration of his work with Opera Australia held in the Sydney Opera House in March 2000.
During Opera Australia’s 2001 seasons Moffatt Oxenbould directed revivals of his productions of Simon Boccanegra, Il Trittico and La Bohème and in 2002 his production of La Bohème was seen in Sydney and Perth. In 2003 his production of Madama Butterfly was successfully revived in Melbourne and Sydney. In 2005 he successfully directed Idomeneo for Houston Grand Opera and La Bohème for the State Opera of South Australia. In 2006 he revived his productions of Madama Butterfly and La Clemenza di Tito for Opera Australia’s 50th Anniversary Season. In the same year his Madama Butterfly was again seen in Adelaide with the State Opera of South Australia, then in 2007 in Brisbane for Opera Queensland and in Pittsburgh for Pittsburgh Opera. Opera Australia revived his production of Il Trittico in Sydney in 2007. In 2008 his production of Madama Butterfly travelled to Montreal and Melbourne and in 2009 is being presented in Opera Australia’s Sydney Summer Season.
Between 2004 and 2007 he presented a popular weekly opera program on ABC Classic FM, and in November 2005 his memoir Timing Is Everything was published by ABC Books.
Between 2001 and 2005 he was Chairman of the NIDA Board of Studies - having served as a member of that Board for fourteen years - and was also a member of the Australia Council’s Major Performing Arts Board for six years.
THURSDAY 14 MAY |
