Guide to the Papers of Arnold Matters, 1917-1980

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Summary

Collection number:
MS 6883
Creator:
Matters, Arnold
Extent:
1.65 metres and (7 ms boxes + 1 folio box)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Arnold Matters, National Library of Australia, MS 6883, [series and/or file number]'.
Availability:
Available
Access conditions:
Available for research. Not for loan.

Background

Content Summary:

The collection mainly documents Matters' singing career. It consists of correspondence, diplomas and certificates, texts of speeches, public relations material, performance contracts, opera scripts, coronation programs, souvenir programmes, press clippings and photographs. Items are arranged chronologically within series.

The material pertains to Matters' career as an operatic singer, producer and instructor. Most of the material covers the period from 1929 to 1966 during the course of his career until his retirement. Later items pertain mainly to performances and achievements by his students. Speeches and articles deal with the history of opera in England.

The collection documents the career of Arnold Matters through his souvenir programmes and performance contracts, and through press reviews. Correspondence is limited to congratulatory notes by opera patrons. There is very little information of a personal nature.

Biographical Note:

Arnold Matters was born in South Australia on April 11, 1904. He received his preliminary training at the Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide. In 1927 he won "The Sun" aria competition in Ballarat, thus bringing himself to the attention of Dame Nellie Melba who invited him to sing with her in Melbourne. In 1929 he went to London where he continued his training at the Weber-Douglas School of Opera and Drama. He was a bass soloist in the choir of Westminster Abbey and performed on BBC radio and television. He joined the Sadlers Wells Opera Company in 1932, making his first appearance as Valentine in "Faust", and remained with them for over 20 years. He also sang small roles during international seasons at Covent Garden.

During the Second World War he returned to Australia where he performed on the ABC until returning to London in 1944.

Arnold Matters played a wide variety of roles including Figaro, Don Juan, Hans Sacho, Wotan in "The Valkyrie" and Verdi's Falstaff. He sang the title role in the first performance in England of "Simon Boccanegra" in 1944. In 1951 he created the principal part in Vaughn Williams' "Pilgrims Progress" at Covent Garden. He created Cecil in Britten's "Gloriana" in 1953.

In addition to performing he became involved in operatic production for Sadlers Wells Opera and was Senior Lecturer in Voice Training and Operatic Studies at the Royal College of Music in London.

In 1954 he returned to Adelaide where he undertook a lecturing posigion at the Elder Conservatorium of Music until his retirement in 1966. He then established his own studio and directed the Pro Opera Consort, a group of leading South Australian singers performing famous scenes from Grand Opera.

Sources: Groves Dictionary of Music and Musicians; The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Opera; Materials from the Collection.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

The papers were presented to the National Library of Australia by Arnold Matters in 1983.

Indexed terms

Names:
Matters, Arnold

Access and use

Conditions Governing Access:
Access conditions may apply to this collection, please refer to the collection's catalogue record for further information (http://nla.gov.au/nla.cat-vn1069909).
Conditions Governing Use:
Copying and publishing of unpublished manuscript material is subject to copyright restrictions. For such material, written permission to publish must be obtained from the copyright holder(s). Copying of unpublished material for research purposes is permissible 50 years after the death of the creator of the material.
Preferred citation:
Items from this collection should be cited as '[Title or description of manuscript item], Papers of Arnold Matters, National Library of Australia, MS 6883, [series and/or file number]'.
Location of this collection:
Parkes Place
Canberra ACT 2600, Australia
Contact:
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