The Mobil Quest was an Australian competition for operatic vocalists which ran from 1949 to 1957, sponsored by the

Vacuum Oil Company Vacuum Oil Company was an American petroleum, oil company. After being taken over by the original Standard Oil Company and then becoming independent again, in 1931 Vacuum Oil merged with the Mobil, Standard Oil Company of New York to form Socony ...

and broadcast by Melbourne radio station 3DB and relayed to affiliates throughout Australia. It is remembered with wry amusement for judging Ronal Jackson the 1949 winner ahead of

Joan Sutherland Dame Joan Alston Sutherland, (7 November 1926 – 10 October 2010) was an Australian dramatic coloratura soprano known for her contribution to the renaissance of the bel canto repertoire from the late 1950s to the 1980s. She possessed a voice ...

History

The quest was founded in 1949 with the stated aim of "bringing to the attention of the public the best vocal talent available in the Commonwealth" The Vacuum Oil Company had an honorable association with classical music in Australia, having supported '' Opera for the People'' concerts and broadcasts since 1946. The contest was run Australia-wide, with contestants first passing an audition conducted by a participating radio station, which then conducted a series of heats to select that station's candidates for the semi-finals. Eighteen winners, three from each State, then competed in Melbourne to select the six who competed for the £1,000 prize at a grand final at the

Melbourne Town Hall Melbourne Town Hall, often referred to as simply Town Hall, is the administrative seat of the local municipality of the City of Melbourne and the primary offices of the Lord Mayor and city councillors of Melbourne. Located on the northeast co ...

. The heats were broadcast in the relevant State capitals, and the finals broadcast through all participating stations. Lesser prizes for finalists were, respectively, £300, £100, £50, £25, and £15, later £300, £150, and £50 each for the other three finalists. Each singer who appeared on air received a broadcasting fee and all semi-finalists received an all-expenses trip to Melbourne. The Mobil Quest radio broadcasts between 1949–1956, and the 1957 semifinals, are held in Australia's

National Film and Sound Archive The National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA), known as ScreenSound Australia from 1999 to 2004, is Australia's audiovisual archive, responsible for developing, preserving, maintaining, promoting, and providing access to a national c ...

Winners

Heats and finals

Musicians (finals and recital tours)

Notes

References