Vale Elke Neidhardt
Pioneering actress and opera director Elke Neidhardt AM died yesterday aged 72. Born in Stuttgart, she worked as a director of opera in Europe before taking up a post as resident director with Opera Australia in 1977, a post she held till 1990.
In Australia she is known particularly for directing the first full modern Australian production of Richard Wagner’s Ring Cycle, in Adelaide in 2004. Ironically she has died during the Melbourne season of the Ring.
Her productions for Opera Australia include Tannhäuser, Werther, La Cenerentola, Fidelio, Lohengrin, Salome, Andrea Chénier, Fidelio, Il trovatore and Don Giovanni.
More at:
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/arts/ring-cycle-pioneer-neidhardt-dies-at-72/story-e6frg8n6-1226768247473
