The Shell Aria, originally Shell Open Aria, contest was an Australian vocal competition for young classical opera singers, held annually in Canberra from 1955[1] to 1986, named for and sponsored by, Shell Australia in conjunction with the Australian National Eisteddfod Society (founded 1938).[2]
The prize was particularly valuable — £1,000 cash, a year's wages for most workers. It was later redefined as a scholarship, which must be used in training overseas — a condition of eligibility.[3] In 1966 the prize was translated to $2,000, an exact conversion, but thanks to inflation and devaluation, a fraction of the prize's original value. In 1970 it was increased to $3,000[4] then $4,000 in 1976.[5] and from 1982 the winner could substitute a six-month contract with the Australian Opera for overseas travel depending on voice type.[6]
Among successful finalists who went on to international careers were Jennifer Eddy, Robert Bickerstaff, Yvonne Minton, Raymond Myers, Richard Greager, Gillian Sullivan, Jonathan Summers, Sandra Hahn and Thomas Edmonds.[7]
At first, all heats and judging were held in Canberra, but from 1983, with the involvement of Australian Opera, Queensland Lyric Opera, Victorian State Opera, State Opera of South Australia, and Western Australian Opera, preliminary heats took place in each State capital, with the finalists being flown to Canberra for the Finals.[8]
There was no 1987 contest. Shell Australia withdrew from sponsorship and distanced itself from the Australian National Eisteddfod Society. Instead, it became a partner with Opera Foundation Australia, as sponsor of The Shell Royal Opera House Covent Garden Scholarship, the first competition to be held in Adelaide on 10 May 1987.[7]
Most of these Canberra Times reviews were written by William Laurence Hoffmann, a Canberra resident from 1946 and music journalist from 1962 to 1995. He was awarded an AOM in January 1985.[41]
^"Letters to the Editor". The Canberra Times. Vol. 44, no. 12, 630. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 May 1970. p. 2. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Aria value raised". The Canberra Times. Vol. 44, no. 12, 535. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 February 1970. p. 11. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Shell Aria award". The Canberra Times. Vol. 50, no. 14, 280. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 21 January 1976. p. 18. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Eisteddfod choice". The Canberra Times. Vol. 56, no. 17, 020. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 4 May 1982. p. 13. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Ivanhoe girl wins aria". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 25 April 1955. p. 5. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia. She returned to Canberra in 1978 as adjudicator.
^"Soprano wins big aria". The Argus (Melbourne). Victoria, Australia. 30 April 1956. p. 7. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia. As Valerie Collins-Varga she returned to Canberra in 1972 as a guest of honour.
^"Shell Aria Won By Bickerstaff At 4th Attempt". The Canberra Times. Vol. 31, no. 9, 465. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 28 April 1958. p. 1. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia. He returned to Canberra in 1979 as adjudicator.
^"Shell Aria Again Won By Man". The Canberra Times. Vol. 33, no. 9, 274. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 27 April 1959. p. 3. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Golden Notes". The Canberra Times. Vol. 35, no. 9, 900. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 1 May 1961. p. 12. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Adjudicator Praises Singing Of Myers". The Canberra Times. Vol. 37, no. 10, 522. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 29 April 1963. p. 8. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia. later misspelled Meyers by Hoffmann
^"Singer "Novice'". The Canberra Times. Vol. 38, no. 10, 844. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 May 1964. p. 11. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Bellini Aria Told". The Canberra Times. Vol. 39, no. 11, 151. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 May 1965. p. 6. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"NSW Girl Wins Aria". The Canberra Times. Vol. 41, no. 11, 688. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 15 May 1967. p. 1. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Two Adelaide singers in triumph". The Canberra Times. Vol. 42, no. 11, 993. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 May 1968. p. 9. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia. A student of Arnold Matters
^"Shell Aria goes to S. Australian". The Canberra Times. Vol. 43, no. 12, 303. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 5 May 1969. p. 8. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia. A student of Arnold Matters
^"Aria to outsider". The Canberra Times. Vol. 44, no. 12, 618. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 11 May 1970. p. 7. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Shell Aria win to NSW singer". The Canberra Times. Vol. 45, no. 12, 806. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 10 May 1971. p. 3. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Singers Below Standard". The Canberra Times. Vol. 46, no. 13, 118. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 8 May 1972. p. 10. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"A True Tenor". The Canberra Times. Vol. 47, no. 13, 434. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 14 May 1973. p. 3. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Impressive Shell Aria winner". The Canberra Times. Vol. 48, no. 13, 738. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 6 May 1974. p. 3. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Oddly Divided Mixture". The Canberra Times. Vol. 50, no. 14, 376. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 12 May 1976. p. 19. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Operatic Potential". The Canberra Times. Vol. 51, no. 14, 771. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 9 May 1977. p. 17. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Singing Standard Falling Away". The Canberra Times. Vol. 52, no. 15, 625. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 3 July 1978. p. 6. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Baritone's performance was best". The Canberra Times. Vol. 58, no. 17, 802. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 25 June 1984. p. 12. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia. W. L. Hoffmann at odds with adjudicator
^"Fine Week for Music of Youth". The Canberra Times. Vol. 59, no. 18, 193. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 22 July 1985. p. 11. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.
^"Shell Aria Very Even Contest". The Canberra Times. Vol. 60, no. 18, 534. Australian Capital Territory, Australia. 30 June 1986. p. 11. Retrieved 23 September 2023 – via National Library of Australia.