As a young director with a deep desire to work in opera, there weren’t many places to turn to in Australia. There was no specialist training available in any university or conservatoire (to my knowledge, there still isn’t), and when I met with the formidably-qualified opera director Elke Neidhardt to ask if I should attend NIDA in order to take her classes, she said that I would be much better advised to go overseas since Australia was not yet ready to embrace my chosen specialisation. The name she gave me to get in contact with would turn out to be a huge influence on my life and career choices, as he was with many others.
Andrew Sinclair, who passed away in September, was more than just a director with a deep practical understanding of the art of operatic performance; he represented the first inkling I had that people from a humble background in a small corner of a former colony could make their way to the hallowed halls of theatres like London’s Covent Garden.
Andrew Sinclair
Born in Melbourne, Andrew was a wonderful raconteur, with stories gleaned from...
I am very sad to hear the news of the death of Andrew Sinclair. I first met Andrew when we were both young stage managers (a long time ago) and our paths crossed many times in the world of opera over the years. He was kind and funny (and told very wicked stories) and a true professional who was totally dedicated to opera and especially to the singers. Vale!
The important roles of Assistant Director and Revival Director are usually under-valued, so I thank you for your appreciation of them.