EMERGING Victorian baritone Stephen Marsh will be able to have his voice heard a little more thanks to a boost from two Ballarat businessmen, who are both passionate opera fans.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Marsh was the inaugural recipient of the Michael Stubbs and Malcolm Roberts Opera Prize, a $50,000 award presented via Victorian Opera this month.
The philanthropic Ballarat duo were also behind helping to bring a little "Bellagio" style to Lake Wendouree by largely funding restoration to what had been the near-forgotten Centenary Fountain.
The opera award aims to employ and develop a promising singer next year.
Mr Marsh will join the company for a full year from January with intensive coaching and private mentoring under the direction of Victoria Opera's artistic director Richard Mills.
IN OTHER NEWS
He is set to appear in Victorian Opera's The Sleeping Beauty and sing the role of Zurga in Bizet's The Pearl Fishers at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl next year.
Mr Marsh made his Victorian Opera main-stage debut in Respighi's The Sleeping Beauty in 2017. He also received acclaim for his performance in the title role of The Selfish Giant, which was a Victorian Opera Green Room Award-winning work from Simon Bruckard and Emma Muir-Smith.