Thursday, September 6, 2012

Tribute: Amanda Thane

Amanda Thane as Violetta in
Opera Australia's La traviata 
Opera Australia pays tribute to the outstanding soprano Amanda Thane, who has sadly passed away. 


Amanda performed many roles with Opera Australia, commencing her career with the Company singing a Flower Maiden in Parsifal in 1976. Thereafter, until the mid-nineties, she performed many leading roles including Mimì, Eurydice, Maria Stuarda, Liù, Nedda, Fiordiligi, Gilda, the Countess, Pamina, Donna Elvira, the Governess, Violetta, Leïla, Valentine, Antonia and Stella - to name only a few.

Amanda was greatly admired for her beautiful voice and captivating stage presence and loved for her generous spirit and kindness that she extended to her colleagues in every opera in which she appeared.
Amanda Thane as Fiordiligi and Suzanne Johnston as Dorabella
in Opera Australia's Così fan tutte 

She went on to found the not-for-profit organisation ArtSong in 2009. ArtSong's mission was to provide artists and audiences with opportunities to perform and experience a vast repertoire of the art song genre. 

In 2012, Amanda was awarded an OAM for her services to the performing arts as a singer, performer and teacher.



3 comments:

  1. Justin LeongSeptember 08, 2012

    My thoughts and prayers are with her family at this sad time. I still remember Amanda's heartfelt performance as Liù in "Turandot" in 1991; it was tragic and moving. It is some small consolation that her performance is preserved forever, both in our memories and on disc.

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  2. Rob Miller, SydneySeptember 19, 2012

    What a tragic loss, to the opera world in general & the Australian opera scene specifically. I have seen her portray several operatic roles with that rich voice rising to the roof & filling the theatre, always impressed with her timbre, subtle cadences, & passion, & her obvious joy in singing, a joy she passed to all of us who were privileged to hear her. Her Liu in Turandot is a highlight that will always remain with me. My thoughts & condolences go to her family & friends. Vale Amanda.

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  3. Monika Sawa, London November 2012November 12, 2012

    Deep condolences to all the family&friends of my sweetest teacher Amanda. Her beautiful singing, teaching and kindness will never be forgotten.
    She will always remain in my heart.

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