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Austral, Florence Mary (1892 - 1968)

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Opera singer
Born: 16 April 1892  Richmond, Victoria, Australia.  Died: 16 May 1968  Newcastle, New South Wales, Australia.

Born Mary Wilson at Richmond, Victoria, she was also known by her stepfather's name, Fawaz, before adopting the name of her country as a stage name prior to her debut in 1922 at Covent Garden. Known as one of the world's greatest Wagnerian sopranos Florence Austral married the Australian virtuoso flautist John Amadio in 1925 and toured widely with him in America and Australia. After the Second World War she returned to Australia almost completely paralysed with multiple sclerosis. She nevertheless taught until her retirement in 1959. Austral died at a nursing home in Newcastle on 16 May 1968.


Career Highlights
Alternative Names:
  • Amadio, Florence (married name, 15 December 1925 - )
  • Fawaz, Florence (former name, 1903 - 1921)
  • Wilson, Mary (maiden name, 16 April 1892 - 1895)

Chronology
1913

Won first prize in the mezzo-soprano section and second prize in two others at the South Street competitions, Ballarat, Victoria

1917

Won an entrance exhibition to the University Conservatorium

22 September 1919

After a farewell concert she left to study Italian opera in New York

1921

Appeared at Albert Hall during a Sunday concert

1921

Adopted the professional name of Florence Austral

16 May 1922

Debuted as Brunnhilde in Die Walkure at Covent Garden under the auspices of the British National Opera Company

20 January 1923

Appeared with Dame Nellie Melba

1925

Toured North America

15 December 1925

Married John Amadio at Hapstead, London

1930

Joined Berlin State Opera as principal

24 May 1930

Gave a concert in Sydney, Australia

21 June 1930

Gave a concert in Melbourne, Australia

1931

Toured Holland

1931 - 1932

Toured North America

1932 - 1933

Toured North America

1933 - 1934

Toured Holland

April 1934 - April 1935

Austral and Amadio returned to Australia for a season of concerts in capital cities and large country towns

1936

Austral returned to London

1939 - 1945

Appeared for benefit concerts during the Second World War

1946

Austral returned to Australia

1954 - 1959

Teaching with the Newcastle branch of the New South Wales State Conservatorium of Music

 
Sources used to compile this entry: Australian Dictionary of Biography vol. 7 pps124-125, http://www.cantabile-subito.de/Sopranos/Austral__Florence/hauptteil_austral__florence.html accessed 2003-09-22, http://www.scils.rutgers.edu/~jfpena/Wagner/performers/austral.htm accessed 2003-09-22).
 
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Published Resources

Books

  • Elphinstone, Michael and Wayne Hancock, When Austral Sang: the Biography of Florence Austral, Hyde Park Press, Richmond, South Australia, 2005, 655 pp. [ Details... ]
  • Moffat, James, Florence Austral : one of the wonder voices of the world, Currency Press in association with National Library of Australia, Sydney, 1995, 278 pp. [ Details... ]

Book Sections

  • Radic, Maureen Therese, 'Austral, Florence Mary', in Nairn, Bede and Serle, Geoffrey (eds), Australian Dictionary of Biography, vol. 7, Melbourne University Press, Carlton, Vic., pp. 124-125. [ Details... ]

Online Resources

See also

  • Florence Austral : one of the wonder voices of the world., Warren Fahey presents yesterday's Australia, Larrikin, Australia, 1996. [ Details... ]
  • Alexander, Joseph A (ed.), Who's who in Australia 1962, 17 edn, Colorgravure Publications, Melbourne, 1962, 960 pp. [ Details... ]

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Structure based on ISAAR(CPF) - click here for an explanation of the fields.Prepared by: Anne Heywood
Created: 22 September 2003
Modified: 16 June 2005

Published by National Foundation for Australian Women on Australian Women's Archives Project Web Site
Comments, questions, corrections and additions: awap@womenaustralia.info
Prepared by: Acknowledgements
Updated: 19 June 2008
http://womenaustralia.info/biogs/AWE0558b.htm

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