National Opera has announced its 2022 season and revealed that Richard Bonynge AC CBE has come onboard as the Canberra-based company’s newest Patron. Bonynge, the husband of the late Dame Joan Sutherland, is one of Australia’s most respected conductors and an international authority on opera and all things to do with the voice.

“I have the greatest of respect and admiration for Peter Coleman-Wright AO and it is so good to know that someone of his ability, experience and taste has the role of Artistic Director of National Opera,” said Bonynge who joins the company’s other Patrons, Governor-General His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd) and Her Excellency Mrs Linda Hurley.

“We are looking forward to a highly successful future with such illustrious support onboard with us,” added National Opera’s Artistic Director, Peter Coleman-Wright.

Richard Bonynge in his home in Switzerland, as featured in his book Chalet Monet. Photo © Justin Hession

The company’s season opens in March 2022 with Puccini’s delightful, but still relatively rarely staged La Rondine, a production previously announced but until now postponed by the pandemic. Gale Edwards will...