Diversely Exhilarating
Cheryl Barker pays tribute
to Joan Hammond -
heard by
HOWARD SMITH'... four recital items have the ideal accompanist in Timothy Young ...'
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Conceived in England, born in Christchurch (1912) and raised in Sydney, soprano Joan Hammond was an enthusiastic and accomplished violinist by the time she was twelve. Then her left arm was severely injured in a bicycle accident. Without further ado she turned to singing and studied at Sydney Conservatorium from 1928.
She was to become one of a galaxy of dazzling sopranos from 'Oz', among them: Nellie Melba (1861-1931), Frances Alda (1879-1952), Florence Austral (1892-1968), Gladys Moncrieff (operetta) OBE (1892-1976), Marjorie Lawrence (1907-1979), Elsie Morison (born 1924), Joan Sutherland (1926-2010), Marie Collier (1927-1971), June Bronhill OBE (1929-2005), Yvonne Kenny (born 1950), Lisa Gasteen (born 1957), Deborah Riedel (1958-2009), Cheryl Barker (born 1961).
Paradoxically she made a name for herself as a champion golfer before achieving fame as an opera singer...
Copyright © 20 August 2011
Howard Smith,
Masterton, New Zealand
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