Gillian Nikakis

isations that promote peace. Susan Jon Weaving, born in Melbourne in 1931, studied in London with Glyndebourne’s Jani Strasser, and was a rehearsal singer under Sir Thomas Beecham. Mentored by Richard Bonynge, Weaving developed into a tenor able to sing the great Wagnerian roles. His debut role, opposite June Bronhill, was Danilo in The Merry Widow with the Sadler’s Wells Opera. In Sweden, Monique Brynnel began a career that would encompass jazz, musical theatre, operetta and opera. Mentored by soprano Alice Sterner and director Styrbjörn Lindedal, Monique won a scholarship to London. Independently pursuing careers in Europe, the UK, and in Weaving’s case, Australia, where he toured and starred with Suzanne Steele in an ABC series the two became very successful. Weaving was a renowned Heldentenor, and sang in Wagner’s Ring cycle for the English National Opera and in numerous German Ring productions. After five years with the Riksteatern (national theatre company) in Stockholm, Monique’s lead role in The Gypsy Princess in Austria began a stellar career in many European opera houses. It is also a love story, one that began when Monique listened to a glorious tenor voice at Wigmore Hall and finally met the man himself seven years later. Married with a small son, their move to Sweden in 1976 allowed them to maintain guest performer status in many European opera companies. From 1978, resident in Australia, the couple performed in productions for the Victorian, Queensland and Australian Opera companies, a television series for the ABC, and made recordings. Monique also performed in several concerts at the Sydney Opera House, and taught at the Victorian College of the Arts. In 1992 they founded a singing school in Melbourne. Jon fell ill, and died in 2011. Monique recently resumed the writing task, and has told their story until their arrival in Australia in 1978. A description of Monique’s singing technique for students, and a select list of recordings made separately and together, are included.