The Mietta Song Competition and the Tait Performing Arts Association have held a joint recital, featuring 2012 MSC runner-up Charlotte Betts-Dean and accompanist Stewart Kelly, at the Savage Club.
The recital program featured Brahms, Liszt, Alma Mahler, Barber, some unrecorded Margaret Sutherland songs, Weill, Han, Debussy, Satie, Donizetti and Thomas. Stewart Kelly played Brahms’ Interlude Variations on an original theme Opus 21.
The Tait Performing Arts Association aims to support young Australian performing artists to further their careers in the UK and Europe through the provision of scholarships and awards. It supports the ideals and work of the Tait Memorial Trust formed in 1992 by Isla Baring OAM in memory of her father Sir Frank Tait and his four brothers who played such an important part in the establishment of theatre and the performing arts in Australia. It also recognizes, with an annual award, the major contribution of Viola, Lady Tait - who died in 2002 - as a founding patron of the Trust.
In a message to the two organisations Isla Baring said: “ I am so sorry to be missing this milestone event and I am thrilled that the Mietta Foundation and the Tait Performing Arts Association are collaborating with a concert.
“The O'Donnell family and the Taits go back a long way. It started with the Vigano Restaurant, Marios, opposite Her Majesty's Theatre in Exhibition Street. It was walking distance from the theatre and the office and a regular haunt for the Tait brothers of J C Williamson's. It also had the best Italian food in Melbourne so it was a popular destination after a performance.
“The Taits and the Vigano family became firm friends and the grand daughters of Mario - Mietta, Patricia, Nanda and Robyn - were our playmates. We often visited them at their beautiful farm in Morang and I have many happy memories of those days.
“Our friendship endured over many years. Mietta and I worked together when she started her singing competition in 1995 where the Tait Memorial Trust provided an award within the competition. I am happy to say that this connection continues to this day. I am thrilled that the TPAA committee are supporting tonight's concert which is an historical reunion of two families that have had such strong ties to the performing arts.
“The tragic loss of Mietta at the height of her career as a restaurateur, founder of the Mietta Salon and the Mietta Song Awards at the peak of her exceptional talent was a great shock to the Australian artistic community. Mietta was a unique individual so I am delighted that her sister, Patricia and the O'Donnell family, created the Mietta Foundation which was formed to honour Mietta’s memory to continue her activities and enabled a renamed Mietta Song Recital Award Committee to revive the competition, very successfully, in April 2003.”
Lotte Betts-Dean and Stewart Kelly
Ambassador, Peter Burch AM; MSC Chair, Noel Turnbull and TPAA Chair, Diana Murray
Peter Burch introduces the performers