“...generously endowed when God was handing out the gifts.”  Richard Bonynge

Sydney Morning Herald, 10 October 1994

 

“Her coloratura is simply spectacular.”

As Norina in Don Pasquale - Opera 1997

 

“…her physical charms are matched by a voice that was made in heaven.”

As Adina in L’elisir d’amore – Herald Sun 2001

“Amelia Farrugia as Eurydice confirms her status as one of Australia’s finest artists. There is an intensity of colour in her voice that is quite outstanding…”

As Eurydice in Orphee aux enfers – Herald Sun 2003

Amelia Farrugia established a reputation as one of the young stars of Opera Australia.  With her great versatility, brilliant coloratura singing and magnetic stage presence, she shines in opera, operetta, musical theatre and in concert.

In 2003, Amelia performend Eurydice in Orpheus in the Underworld and Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Opera Australia and will perform in recital with Sharolyn Kimmorley at the Art Gallery of NSW.

In 2001, Ms Farrugia made a significant international debut in an opera of the Spoleto Festival, directed by the composer himself, Gian Carlo Menotti; The Saint of Bleecker Street, in the role of Maria Corona. (Released on CD by Chandos). As part of the Umbria Segreta series of the Spoleto Festival, she performed Schubert’s Shepherd on a Rock in recital. In the same year, Ms Farrugia became a freelance artist and was invited by OA to revisit the role of Despina in Cosi fan tutte (Sydney) and make her role debut as Adina in L’elisir d’amore (Melbourne).

Ms Farrugia made her debut with The Australian Opera (OA) as Casilda in The Gondoliers in 1994. For Opera Australia, she has since performed the roles of Second Niece in Peter Grimes, Second Novice in Suor Angelica, Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, Papagena in The Magic Flute, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, Emmie in Albert Herring, Nannetta in Falstaff (conducted by Simone Young), Adele in Fledermaus (released on ABC video), Despina in Così fan tutte, Barbarina in The Marriage of Figaro, Clorinda in La Cenerentola, (under the baton of Maestro Richard Bonynge), Damigella in L’incoronazione di Poppea, Musetta in La bohème (conducted by Maestro Carlo Felice Cillario), Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro, Tytania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Zerlina in Don Giovanni. In 1997, Amelia made her debut as Norina in Don Pasquale for State Opera of South Australia and Opera Queensland.

In 2000, Amelia made her USA concert debut in recital at the Australian Consulate in New York. In 1998, she made her European concert debut in a Christmas recital at Teatru Manoel, Malta (the oldest functioning European theatre).

Amelia Farrugia is in demand as a concert artist, having appeared with the ABC Symphony Orchestras, Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Queensland Philharmonic Orchestra, and Australian Philharmonic Orchestra.

Appearances have included: Australian Brandenburg Orchestra, Haydn Scottish Songs and Mozart Vorrei Spiegarvi, O Dio (2002); MSO, Carmina Burana, All-Strauss program (1997, 1999 & 2001) and guest soloist in Valentine’s Day concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl (1998); SSO, Christmas concert (Handel Rejoice Greatly) and Chamber Music Series (Schubert Shepherd on a Rock); QPO, Mozart Vespers (1998); TSO, Mozart Gala (1998); Recital with virtuoso harpist Ieuan Jones; Mozart by Moonlight  (1995); Twilight at Taronga (1996, 1998, 1999 & 2001); Opera in the Vineyards (1997); Centenary of Federation concert in Canberra; The Castlemaine Festival (Victoria); Australian Philharmonic Orchestra, Deep in my Heart (2003), national tour Best of British (2001), New Year’s Eve concert, Springtime in Paris (2002),  From Gershwin to Lloyd Weber; Opera Australia, Fanfare for the New Millennium, Opera in the Park  as Musetta in La Bohème, New Years Eve Gala and Olympic Gala; Carols in the Domain (2000, 2001, 2003).

Amelia graduated in 1992 with High Distinction in Voice from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. Other studies included LMus voice, piano, musicianship and 10 years of classical ballet.

In 1990, Amelia began her performing career in musical theatre, performing in The Buddy Holly Story and between 1992-1994 in the Melbourne and Sydney seasons of The Phantom of the Opera as the alternate Christine. Her theatre experience also includes Maria in West Side Story and Josephine in HMS Pinafore.

Ms Farrugia has won many major singing competitions in Australia. In the 1992 City of Sydney Eisteddfod, she won the Open Operatic Aria, Mozart Soprano Aria and Lyric Soprano Awards. In 1993, she won the Australian Singing Competition Marianne Mathy Scholarship, Commonwealth Bank Award and EMI recording prize. In 1994, Amelia won the McDonald’s Aria in the City of Sydney Eisteddfod, the Herald Sun Aria in Melbourne and the Metropolitan Opera Auditions Competition. This last award enabled Amelia to travel to New York in 1995 to compete in the finals, where she was a US national winner. In 1996 she won the Opera Award in the Australian Singing Competition and became the NSW Young Achiever of the Year.  In 1999 she was the recipient of the Marten Bequest Travelling Scholarship. In 2001 Amelia represented her country and competed in the nationally televised finals of the International Singing Contest “New Voices” in Gϋtersloh, Germany. Amelia has also been nominated three times for a Green Room Award for her leading roles as Adina in The Elixir of Love, Susanna in The Marriage of Figaro and for her supporting role as Papagena in The Magic Flute.

Amelia’s numerous television appearances include Mornings with Kerri-Anne, Carols in the Domain, Good Morning Australia, Compass, Nightline, The Midday Show, Who Dares Wins, Ernie & Denise and the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Her corporate clients include McDonald’s Australia, Orlando Wyndham, Veuve Clicquot, Citibank, Commonwealth Bank, The AIDS Trust of Australia, Honda, Queensland Rail, Children’s Cancer Institute Australia, SAAB and Dom Perignon. 

Acknowledgement by Amelia of the Australian Singing Competition:

"I think it is wonderful for young singers to have the opportunity of singing with a full opera-sized orchestra.

I would like to thank the Australian Singing Competition for the tireless work they do to help young aspiring opera singers in Australia. Awards such as these make it possible for our best young talents to seek professional expertise overseas, where the best opera performances can be heard in the major opera houses. Thank you for the greatest inspiration!

Winning the Marianne Mathy Scholarship and Opera Awards of the Australian Singing Competition opened up a whole new world to me, a world of international opera performance of the highest calibre. It gave me a yard stick by which I still measure myself and helped me to understand the pressure and standard of performance required to achieve the highest results in this most exacting art form."

To see further testimonial from Amelia, click here.

Amelia's debut CD Joie de vivre! has recently been released Details

You can visit her website at www.ameliafarrugia.com

Please direct enquiries about Amelia Farrugia to:

4-D International

Paul Chesher or Peter Howard

Level 1, 213 Palmer Street

East Sydney, 2010

Ph: 61 2 9331 6433

Fax: 61 2 9331 7986

Email: pjc@4-d.com.au