£100.00
La Stupenda: The Voice of the Century
Wednesday 28th October 2026Doors open 6:00 PM | Event starts at 6:30 PM
Exhibition Hall
Australian High Commission
Strand, London WC2B 4LA
La Stupenda: The Voice of the Century
The Tait Memorial Trust is proud to present a special London celebration marking the centenary of Dame Joan Sutherland’s birth, held in the magnificent Exhibition Hall at Australia House on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
Bringing together a distinguished company of Australian and New Zealand singers and international guest artists, the evening will celebrate Dame Joan’s extraordinary voice, theatrical spirit and enduring influence on generations of performers.
A special new addition to La Stupenda
The Tait Sutherland Chamber Orchestra
We are delighted to announce that the Centenary celebration will now feature the
Tait Sutherland Chamber Orchestra, featuring alumni of Sinfonia Smith Square,
conducted by Natalie Murray Beale.
This has been made possible through the generous support of an anonymous donor and allows us to present this remarkable repertoire with the colour and immediacy of live orchestra while retaining the intimate character of the evening.
Help bring La Stupenda to life
For those who would like to play a special part in this centenary celebration,
we are inviting friends and supporters of the Trust to support particular
elements of the concert.
Supporters will be acknowledged in the concert programme unless they
prefer to remain anonymous.
The programme will draw on repertoire closely associated with Dame Joan’s remarkable career, including music from Lucia di Lammermoor, I puritani, La traviata and Lakmé, alongside operetta, ensemble pieces and lighter music she loved.
Live performance will be combined with personal reflections, archival material and rare film specially curated for this celebration.
The artists
An exceptional company
Internationally established artists appear alongside leading young Australian and New Zealand singers developing careers in the UK and Europe.
Cassandra Wright*°†
2026 Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award winner, Theater Freiburg
Alasdair Kent†
2016 Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Bel Canto Award winner, La Scala, Vienna State Opera and Paris Opera
Karl Huml
Salzburg Festival, former ensemble member of the Vienna Volksoper
Duncan Rock*°
Glyndebourne, Royal Opera House and English National Opera
Valda Wilson*°†
Chosen by Richard Bonynge as featured soloist at Dame Joan Sutherland’s Westminster Abbey memorial, former ensemble member of the Saarländisches Staatstheater
Lyla Levy-Jordan*†
2025 Lady Fairfax La Scala Opera Award winner
Bella Marslen*°†
Royal College of Music Opera School, Samling Scholar 2026
Eden Shifroni*†
2024 Australian Singing Competition winner, Alastair Jackson International Opera Award, Royal College of Music Opera School
Ariana Ricci
2026 International Meistersinger Akademie, Royal College of Music Opera School
Special guest
Ellie Neate
Appearing by kind arrangement with Opera Rara, Lisette in Opera Rara’s recording of Puccini’s final version of La rondine
° Australian Music Foundation Awardee or supported artist
† Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation alumnus
The Tait Memorial Trust is contributing £5,000 towards Eden Shifroni’s support through the Alastair Jackson International Opera Award. The award is funded by Dr Alastair Jackson AM and administered by Melba Opera Trust.
Dress code: Cocktail & Lounge Suit
Drinks and canapés
Presented by The Tait Memorial Trust in association with
The Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation.
With the participation of The Royal Opera House,
Australian Music Foundation,
Opera Rara and
Peter & Leslie Macleod-Miller.
With generous support from Dr Alastair Jackson AM
and an Anonymous Donor.
This promises to be a joyful, glamorous and deeply personal celebration of one of Australia’s greatest cultural figures and of the remarkable musical partnership that helped transform the international opera world.
La Stupenda: Joan Sutherland, A Life in Pictures
To mark Dame Joan Sutherland’s centenary, the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation has produced a magnificent new collector’s edition celebrating her extraordinary life and career.
This substantial hardback volume brings together rare photographs, personal stories and reflections on one of the greatest operatic careers of the twentieth century.
Special Tait pre-sale: £75
Copies may be collected at Australia House on 28 October, or delivered by post within the UK with postage and packing added at checkout.
Supporting the Tait
All private donations are tax-deductible in the UK, and we also have our Australian sister organisation,
The Tait Performing Arts Association
,
which shares our philosophy and is tax-deductible in Australia.
You can donate easily and securely via:
Or you may wish to support our work in another way:
Past Concerts
-
Stars of Covent Garden in Recital – March 9th
Price range: £8.00 through £10.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Leslie Howard and Friends – March 16th
Price range: £8.00 through £10.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
The Golden Age of Musical Theatre – March 23rd
Price range: £8.00 through £10.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Joseph Tawadros AM – The Art of the Oud – March 2nd
Price range: £8.00 through £10.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page -
Ein schöner Abend with Annabelle Traves – April 27th
Price range: £8.00 through £10.00 Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product page