Australian tribute to Dame Joan Sutherland

A national memorial service for Dame Joan Sutherland has taken place in Australia today, attended by over 2000 people.

The service, at the Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, featured recorded highlights of Dame Joan’s career and the Opera Australia Chorus performed live.

Prime Minister Julia Gillard; Dame Joan’s son, Adam Bonynge; and the former director of Opera Australia, Moffatt Oxenbould, were among those who spoke at the service.

The event was organised by Opera Australia’s Chief Executive Adrian Collette, who described it as an honour to arrange the programme: "Her stellar talent plus the time she and her husband Richard Bonynge invested in Australia inspired both a great audience for opera and the development of so many fine Australian artists. We would not have a modern company of such depth and significance without her example.”