The Shell Aria, originally Shell Open Aria, contest was an Australian vocal competition for young classical opera singers, held annually in
Canberra from 1955 to 1986, named for and sponsored by,
Shell Australia
Shell Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Shell. Shell has operated in Australia since 1901, initially delivering bulk fuel into Australia, then establishing storage and distribution terminals, oil refineries, and a network of service st ...
in conjunction with the Australian National Eisteddfod Society (founded 1938).
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. 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 then $4,000 in 1976. and from 1982 the winner could substitute a six-month contract with the Australian Opera for overseas travel depending on voice type.
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.
[
At first, all heats and judging were held in Canberra, but from 1983, with the involvement of ]Australian Opera
Opera Australia is the principal opera company in Australia. Based in Sydney, its performance season at the Sydney Opera House accompanied by the Opera Australia Orchestra runs for approximately eight months of the year, with the remainder ...
, 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.
Prizewinners
There was no 1987 contest. Shell Australia
Shell Australia is the Australian subsidiary of Shell. Shell has operated in Australia since 1901, initially delivering bulk fuel into Australia, then establishing storage and distribution terminals, oil refineries, and a network of service st ...
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.
See also
* Melbourne Sun Aria, a similar contest
* Mobil Quest
* South Street Society
References
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.