Vic: Classical music foundation launched
MELBOURNE, Aug 4 AAP - Comedian and satirist Barry Humphries recalled a rarely-acknowledgedfacet of his varied life today as he launched a foundation to promote Australian classicalmusic performers.
Humphries, in Melbourne for his live show Back To My Roots and Other Suckers, saidhe had been a great supporter of classical music from a young age.
He said his appreciation of locally grown classics was so great he was one of the fewAustralians in the 1950s who owned a recording of the work of Percy Grainger.
Humphries said he met Grainger, who was far better known abroad than at home, in the 1950s.
Grainger was shocked to be told by Humphries that he owned a recording of his workand offered to take him on a personal guided tour of his museum in Melbourne.
"He (Mr Grainger) said 'You're Australian and you have a recording of my music'," MrHumphries recalled.
Humphries was speaking at the launch of the Melba Foundation which will be devotedto the promotion of Australian performers at home and overseas.
"The Melba Foundation is going to do a lot of things," Mr Humphries said.
"It's going to make some great artists much more accessible in Australia and part ofthe growth and maturity of this country."
The Melba Foundation, named after opera icon Nellie Melba, seeks out Australia's besttalent and provides the production resources for their performances and recordings.
The foundation, which aims to raise $2 million, has the backing of some high-profile Australians.
The country's second-richest man Richard Pratt and his wife Jeanne hosted the launchat their Melbourne home, Raheen.
Other supporters at the launch include actress Kerry Armstrong, Victorian Arts MinisterMary Delahunty, ABC radio presenter Terry Lane and former federal MP Barry Jones.
Melba Foundation founder Maria Vandamme said it would create a "permanent and pricelesslegacy" of their work.
"Our mission is based on our belief that Australia has an almost indecent amount ofmusical talent," Ms Vandamme said.
"But it is not recorded, promoted and celebrated internationally as it should."
The launch also featured entertainment from Melba Foundation artists including pianistDavid Tong and soprano Ros Illing.
AAP mf/mh/jnb/bwl
KEYWORD: MELBA (PIX AVAILABLE)
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