WINTER

Da Capo Magazine WINTER 2012 Da Capo Magazine WINTER 2012The RuskinOpera Award“The Ruskin OperaAward reflects ourcommitment to therecognition of thebrilliant youngartists whom myfather and mother,Alfred and PamelaRuskin, so greatlyadmired overthe years.”(Jeremy Ruskin QC)A Family Legacy ContinuesAlfred Ruskin AM (1914-1996)was a great achiever for the Artsin Australia. He was a young Jewishmedical student in 1938 when hecame to Australia, because it wasthe farthest place on earth from NaziGermany and “man’s inhumanity toman”—his First World War hero fatherhad been executed because he wasJewish.Germany’s loss was Australia’s gain,as Alfred and his wife Pamela weretireless supporters of opera, balletand the theatre for many years.Alfred was part of the life blood ofthe Australian Ballet as a memberof the Australian Ballet FoundationBoard, and was founding Chairmanof the Victorian State Opera and a lifemember and Director until 1993.But he had a particular fondness forthe Melba Conservatorium, where heserved as Chairman of Council from1972-1996. As a teenager, Alfredhad himself appeared as an extrain Aida and Fidelio for the BerlinStaatsoper. Later in Melbourne,he became known as ‘the greatencourager’, believing that theexperience of music studies enrichedlives, and appreciating the nurturingatmosphere and care given to Melbastudents.Following his death, the Ruskinfamily gave permission for the York Strecital hall to be named Ruskin Hall,and a memorial appeal was launchedin 1998 to refurbish the facilities,which were officially opened inOctober 2001. In June 2004, Alfred’sson Jeremy and his wife Roz Zalewski,both lawyers, made a substantialdonation to the Conservatorium,instituting the Alfred Ruskin MemorialAward. This generosity continuedfollowing the closure of the Melbaas a teaching conservatorium at theend of 2008, and from 2012 takesthe form of the Ruskin Family OperaAward. And now the third generation,Olivia and Ben Ruskin, are takingan interest as well, regularlyattending performances.Both Jeremy and Roz are passionateabout opera, though Jeremy sayshe came to opera separately fromhis parents:“My love of opera was a naturaldevelopment of my love of beautifulmusic. The first opera I attendedwasn’t until after I finished myuniversity degree. I was luckyenough to see The Barber of Sevillewith Victoria de los Angeles at theRome Opera House. It was a soaringand unforgettable experience. NextI fell in love with the Mozart operas,and in particular The Magic Flute.The rest is history!”Jeremy credits Roz, now DeputyChair of the Melba Board, with beingparticularly keen to ensure thatthe wonderful work of his parentsis perpetuated. It was only afterAlfred died that Roz learned aboutthe significant contribution he madeto the arts in general, and morespecifically to opera:“Alfred was a very cultured man,whose involvement with the Melbaspanned more than 30 years. I hadbecome hooked on opera, and itwas not difficult for me to see thathis legacy was an important one. Ifeel that I am continuing the journeyAlfred Ruskin commenced, and I’mvery lucky to be doing so, especiallywhen I see the wonderful progressmade by the talented young artiststhe Melba Trust is nurturing. I heardsomeone say recently that giving toa worthy cause is like giving tooneself, and it’s true. It has been anabsolute joy for me to be involvedwith the Melba Trust.”Naturally the Trust and itsbeneficiaries are exceptionallygrateful to people like Jeremy andRoz who provide such tremendoussupport to talented young artists.Stacey Alleaume is the fortunaterecipient of the Ruskin Family OperaAward in 2012.Currently this fund contains $68,000and Roz and Jeremy are hoping that,with the help of friends and family,it can grow to $500,000. This wouldmean that it can be endowed as ascholarship in perpetuity. With thisspecific purpose in mind, Roz hasplans in mind to host some wonderfulfundraising occasions.To make a tax-deductible donationto this fund, please refer to thegift card included with Da Capo.Alternatively you can makea donation via our websitewww.melbaoperatrust.com.auSemper Ad MajoraDe Bortoli and The Melba Opera Trust“Our family motto is‘Semper Ad Majora’—‘Always Strivingfor Better’—and that prettymuch underlineseverything we do.”Leanne De BortoliLeanne De Bortoli& Steve WebberThis could equally be the slogan forthe Dame Nellie Melba Opera Trust,applying both to our programs andour scholars. The Trust is alwaysstriving to provide high-qualityprograms for our young singers,and they in turn are accessingthe programs and applying theirscholarship funding in strivingto refine and polish their art.It seems that the more the Trust’srelationship with major event sponsorDe Bortoli develops, the more theaffinities between thetwo organisations emerge.We are all familiar with De Bortoli’sMelba Range of wines – ‘naughtygirls’ Melba Lucia and Melba Mimi,La Bohème in three acts, and MelbaReserve. These wines are éliteperformers displaying opulence andelegance – and with a distinctiveedge. The same could be said for ourscholars. But the resonances don’tend here.As the Trust continues to build on thelegacy of Dame Nellie, so the currentgeneration running De Bortoli iscarrying on the legacy of grandfatherVittorio De Bortoli, who started thebusiness in the late 1920s in Bilbulnear Griffith in the Riverina area ofNew South Wales.Vittorio arrived in Melbourne fromItaly in 1924 aged 24, having escapedthe ravages of World War I. He hadonly his clothes and a few shillings,so on hearing about the availabilityof farm work near Griffith, caught atrain there to try his luck. Times werehard, and after working for no moneyon a farm, he found employment atJones’ Winery which later becameMcWilliam’s. His living quartersconsisted of a makeshift abodeunderneath a water tank, and a wellcultivatedvegetable garden providedhis nourishment.By 1927, he had saved enough moneyto purchase a small fruit farm inBilbul, where a grape surplus in 1928led to him starting to make wine toenjoy in the European tradition. In1929 he married Giuseppina, whodid the books for the now-growingbusiness, becoming affectionatelyknown as the ‘Bossa’. She had workedin France to save money to joinVittorio, and put her French languageskills to good use in translating winemakingtexts for her husband.In 1952, Vittorio’s and Giuseppina’sson Deen joined the business. Deen’spassion for new technology, hisvisionary sense of the potential ofwine as a popular beverage andhis awareness of the evolution oftaste saw the business expandsignificantly. His sister Florrie and herhusband Silvio became managersof the wine distribution company inSydney, which younger sister Eola andhusband Ian later ran.Deen De Bortoli died in 2003, andis survived by his wife Emeri, whois now custodian of the business,along with the couple’s four children– all born in the 1960s. The fiveare actively involved in runningit, and sit on the family Board ofDirectors. Oldest son Darren isManaging Director, Kevin looks afterthe vineyards in the Riverina andVictor is Export Director. DaughterLeanne manages the winery on theMelba Highway in the Yarra Valley,where her husband, Steve Webber, iswinemaker.According to De Bortoli MarketingManager, Toni Carlino, the idea ofsustainability is very important tothe De Bortolis – environmentalsustainability, along withsustainability of the brand andbusiness for future generations.Leanne sums up this family vision:“Our grandfather worked hard, butalso believed in time to share goodfood and wine with family, workersand friends. This is the spirit thatcontinues today, three generationsalong. His dream was to make winepart of everyday life, affordableand enjoyable to everyone. It isour role to continue this legacy andalso to pass on a healthy and viablecompany for the next generation.”Leanne stresses that this sense ofnurturing for the future extendsbeyond the immediate family. As it isat the Melba Trust, the responsibilityat De Bortoli to mentor and developyoung talent is paramount:“We believe it is important tonurture up-and-coming talent. Itgives us great pleasure to observethe development of young staffthat we’ve given the opportunityto shine in their chosen areas. Theymay not stay with us for long, but wehope their time with us leads themto making a greater contribution intheir chosen fields. That is reward initself.”There’s no doubt that fine singing andfine wine harmonise with each otherbeautifully. This is manifest in theresonances between De Bortoli andthe Melba Trust. We greatly value theconnection, and look forward to anever more fruitful relationship withthis remarkable family dynasty.To learn more about De Bortoli,please visit their website at http://www.debortoli.com.au. You can alsoread about them in Michael Harden’sbook Celebrazione: 75 Years of Eatingand Drinking with the De BortoliFamily. Be warned, the recipes aretempting!Alfred Ruskin AMStacey AlleaumeSiobhan StaggAmelia JoscelyneReserve ScholarshipRuskin Opera Award2011 was a year ofstepping stonesand achievementsfor sopranoStacey Alleaume.Highlights included singing the titlerole of Gretel in Oz Opera’s VictorianSchools Company production ofHansel and Gretel by EngelbertHumperdinck. In addition, she wasawarded Runner-Up in the HeraldSun Aria competition, and wasnamed international winner of theprestigious Waiariki Institute ofTechnology Aria in New Zealand.With activities for 2012 wellunderway, Stacey is focussing,among other things, on buildingher repertoire and learning Italian:“I want to learn the role of Susannain Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro,and to expand my ensemble andsolo repertoire. I’m also striving toimprove my Italian language skills,so I’m studying at the Italian Instituteof Culture, with the aim of attaininggood conversational skills. The Trustscholarship funding is allowing methe opportunity to work solidly andconsistently towards these goals.”There’s a good incentive for Stacey’sItalian studies. Towards the end ofthe year, she will venture to Europefor the first time, having won thePPCA (Phonographic PerformanceCompany of Australia) scholarship.This she intends to use to undertakeintensive language studies at theIstituto Italiano in Florence, Italyduring November and December.Prior to that, though, there are otherexciting things happening this year.She performed in Nellie In Her OwnWrite as part of the Bendigo EasterFestival, which was a memorableexperience:“It started with a bang of brilliantfireworks that lit up the night sky.And we couldn’t have asked fora more perfect setting for the duet‘O soave fanciulla’ from LaBohème—singing surrounded itby the moonlight’s silver glow –perfect!”Also during April, Stacey sang inthe chorus for Opera Australia’sproduction of Puccini’s Turandot.Later she will perform again withOz Opera’s Schools Company, thistime taking on the role of Pamina inMozart’s The Magic Flute. She feelsher association with the Dame NellieMelba Opera Trust is preparing herwell for these performances:“My Melba Trust scholarshipis providing me with manyperformance opportunities, whichmeans I can actually put into practiceall I learn in coaching lessons and thepractice room.”Stacey is particularly honoured to bethe inaugural recipient of the RuskinOpera Award:“I feel really proud to receive thisparticular Award. Alfred Ruskinis such an important figure inMelbourne’s operatic history, andI am honoured to be a beneficiaryof the legacy being continued by hisson, Jeremy Ruskin, and daughter-inlaw,Roz Zalewski. They are obviouslygreat opera-lovers, and their desireto continue to support young singers’development is inspiring.”But not only does Stacey have theforce of the Ruskin legacy behindher. She is fortunate enough totake her place in the long list ofbeneficiaries of the Amelia JoscelyneMemorial Fund, which has been inoperation since 1990. Both the Ruskinand Joscelyne families relish thechance to support and observe theirscholarship recipients’ development,and Stacey can expect to enjoy theirpersonal interest as she builds hersinging career.Amelia JoscelyneMemorial ScholarshipEurope, USA, UK andAustralia – Siobhan’stime has been dividedduring 2011 and2012 as her artistrybecomes justifiablymore widelyrecognised.Last year, her calendar was full,but there were some standoutperformances:“2011 was a year of growth forme in so many ways – a steep andwonderful learning curve. Themost significant achievement waswinning the Meistersinger VocalCompetition in Austria, which is nowspiralling into good things both hereand in Europe. But back on hometurf, I enjoyed performing in somememorable concerts, and in a masterclass with Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.”Siobhan feels that her Melba Trustscholarship continues to makea significant contribution to herdevelopment:“The Melba Trust Amelia JoscelyneMemorial Scholarship has beena critical force for me here inAustralia, and a catalyst for anysubsequent success overseas. Thegroup workshops and intensiveprivate training are invaluablepreparation for all my vocal,stagecraft and vocational needs. Andthe performances arranged throughMelba Artists provide the opportunityto pull these elements together in asupportive setting that readies me toface higher-pressure situations.”2012 began in New York City ona scholarship from the Universityof Melbourne. Among othercommitments, she attendedproductions at the Met, andperformed a tribute recital to DameNellie Melba on Australia Day. Then itwas on to Europe for three weeks ofauditioning, coaching, and witnessingperformances by some of today’sforemost singers:“I still have so much to learn inorder to become the complete artisttoday’s opera industry demands, andI’m happy to be back in Melbournewith renewed motivation anddetermination. I’m inspired to keephoning my skills, consolidating mytechnique and refining my artisticdelivery with the help of the MelbaTrust scholarship.”Siobhan won’t be in Melbourne forlong, however. Soon she’s off toGermany with La Compania to singat the Regensburg Festival in Vienna.Then it’s back to Australia to singrepertoire from Monteverdi’s operaL’Orfeo and Ravel’s Shéhérazadewith the ANAM Orchestra conductedby Paul Daniel. In June she is dueto complete her Masters degree atMelbourne University, and in Octobermoves to Cardiff, where she willtake up studies on the AustralianInternational Opera Award withDennis O’Neill.With hard work, big challenges,laudable achievements, and nowmore exciting opportunities looming,Siobhan is relishing it all:“It’s such a privilege to be pursuinga career in music and I feel blessedto have the Dame Nellie Melba OperaTrust community with me at the startof the journey.Siobhan’s full performanceschedule can be viewed atwww.siobhanstagg.com.au.Page 8 Page 9