07/10/2026
Vale Geoffrey Chard (1930-2026)
Vale Geoffrey Chard
The baritone, Geoffrey Chard, was one of the most significant singers in the history of opera in Australia. He was born 9 August 1930 in Sydney and was a foundation member of the National Opera of New South Wales. Throughout his almost half century career, he performed over one 140 principal operatic roles and created 13 roles in contemporary operas – an enormous achievement.
Along with the standard leading roles in the Italian, French, German repertoire generally assigned to a Principal Baritone, Geoffrey Chard appeared in World Premieres by Lennox Berkeley, Harrison Birtwistle (the ground-breaking Punch and Judy), Malcolm Williamson, Iain Hamilton, David Blake, Alun Hoddinott (The Rajah’s Diamond, an opera for television), Phyllis Tate (The Ballad of Reading Gaol, which was commissioned for Chard by Hoddinott), Gillian Whitehead, Richard Meale, Larry Sitsky and Alan John. He sang in the British Premieres of Penderecki’s The Devils of Loudun, Hans Werner Henze’s Triple Bill, Ligeti’s Le Grand Macabre, Ginastera’s Bomarzo, Janáček’s Mr. Broucek’s Excursions, Szymonowsky’s King Roger and Schostakovich’s The Nose.
In 1956, Geoffrey Chard appeared in The Marriage of Figaro, in the inaugural production of the Australian Elizabethan Trust Opera Company (now Opera Australia). He went to England in 1961 and performed with many British opera companies, including the Welsh National Opera, Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera Company at Covent Garden, and at the Aldeburgh Festival and Edinburgh Festival. He was a principal baritone with the English National Opera for fifteen years, from 1969 to 1985, performing many major roles. Returning briefly to Australia in 1982, Chard appeared with the Lyric Opera of Queensland, and, since his permanent return to Australia, in 1985, he has performed many major roles with the Opera Australia including principal baritone roles in Dialogues of the Carmelites, The Consul, Così fan tutte, Voss, Lohengrin, Boris Godunov, La Traviata, Il Trittico, The Rake’s Progress, Otello, Ariadne auf Naxos, Carmen, The Magic Flute, Die Fledermaus, The Golem, Simon Boccanegra, Peter Grimes, Fidelio, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Pagliacci.
Along with his opera, concert and recital work, Geoffrey thrived performing music theatre roles – appearing as the lead in seasons of Man of la Mancha and Kismet. He married soprano Marjorie Conley (1931 –1959) on 5 May 1956 and later married his second wife, Margaret. In 1988 he was appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for service to opera.
News of Geoffrey’s passing yesterday has saddened his many admirers and colleagues. He was always an artist of vocal refinement and artistry. His technique was absolutely solid (and he told me many times that he never had a vocal lesson!) and you could hear and understand every word he sang. He was always interested in what singers of the ‘younger generation’ were achieving and generously gave experienced advice to those who asked. He lived to a good age and we are thankful that he was on our stages, in our ears and in our hearts – where he will remain.
Brian Castles-Onion AM ©
