John Dudley papers and photographs, ca. 1937-1955

MLMSS 8193/Box 1X

fonds

ca. 1937-1955

Textual Records, Graphic Materials, Ephemera, Photographs, Clippings

152277

0.45 metres of textual material and 45 photographs (1 outsize box)

John Dudley was born in Ballarat, the son of Colonel and Mrs J. Dudley of Kew. In July 1937, he married Miss Muriel Scott, a former model, in London. John and Muriel had two children, John Charles Eric and Patricia.

John Dudley was one of Australia's best known operatic tenors. In 1937 he became principal tenor for the O'Oyley Carte Company and toured the British Isles and the USA until 1939. During this time he sang principal roles with the New York Opera Company and at the Metropolitan Opera House, New York. His roles with the New York Opera Company included Camio in 'Pagliacci,' Don Jose in 'Carmen,' and Alfred in 'Traviata.' In 1940 he returned to London to play a short season at the Palladium Theatre with Jack Warner and Billy Cotton. In company with Ray Bolger, Sigmund Romberg and Grace Moore he was made an honorary member of the Third Naval District of the Officers' Mess, New York.

On Dudley's return to Australia he made a celebrity concert tour for the A.B.C. in 1948. During the first National Opera Season in Sydney he produced 'Carmen' and 'Il Seraglio,' playing the tenor lead, Belmont, in the latter. John Dudley was in charge of 'Scenes from Opera,' which toured New South Wales country towns under the auspices of the Arts Council.

John Dudley was the first Director of Productions for the National Opera of Australia in New South Wales. In this role he produced operas including 'Pagliacci', 'A Masked Ball', 'The Barber of Seville', and 'La Boheme.' He resigned from this role in 1954.


Reference
Compiled from the collection
'Mr. John Dudley Married', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 2 Aug 1937, p. 4, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11086680 (accessed January 6, 2012)

'John Dudley at Ballarat', The Argus (Melbourne, Vic.), 28 Apr 1947, p. 3, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22422729 (accessed January 6, 2012)

'Conservatorium Teacher', The Sydney Morning Herald, 20 Jul 1949, p. 6, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article18122976 (accessed January 6, 2012)

Originally donated to the Dennis Wolanski Library of the Performing Arts, Sydney Opera House, by and later transferred to the State Library of New South Wales.

Bound manuscript and typescript volume, 'The Beginning of "National Opera" in New South Wales, 1950-1955' by John Dudley. Includes newspaper clippings, cast lists, details of props and publicity, programs, etc., ca. 1950-1955

Typescript comments on 'The Beginning of "National Opera" in New South Wales' by John Dudley, ca. 1955

National Opera of Australia season and souvenir programs, including biographical details of John Dudley, 1953-1954

45 black and white photographs, primarily performance or publicity shots including John Dudley, from England, America, and Australia, ca. 1937-1955

Copyright status:: In copyright - This collection has multiple rights owners
Approval for reproduction required:
Out of copyright: Photographs created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Information upgraded as part of the Manuscripts Unprocessed eRecords Project 2011-2012