The evening before we went to the 1981 production in London we spoke to June Bronhill in a restaurant opposite the theatre. She told us to come to her dressing-room after the matinee performance. She had even told the stage doorkeeper she was expecting some Australians. She was absolutely delightful and I still have a photo of her with my then 10 and 6 year old daughters.
I saw June in "The Merry Widow" in London many years ago (1967!) and have never forgotten it,it haunts my musical memory still. She was loved as a singer,but she was loved even more as a person.
How marvellous to see and hear the great June Bronhill at the peak of her powers. Hers must rank as the sweetest voice of any Australian soprano, combined with power, dexterity and innate musicality.
I had the good fortune of seeing June Bronhill in the Petula Clark production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC in 1981. I will never forget the thrill of listening to her sing this immortal Rodgers & Hammerstein anthem. We are very lucky to have this film of her singing the song live!
June was a family friend of my parents when we lived in Barnes, London not long after she arrived from Australia (Broken Hill, from where she took her stage name) and we were able to see her back stage after her performance in Orpheus of the Underworld. We had always followed her career. She used to perform at Sadler's Wells with Rowland Jones the tenor, who was our singing teacher.
I had the honour and pleasure of seeing June many times and meeting here - in so many roles - in London and around and in Melbourne!!! Such a pure voice and a lovely lady. Sadly missed.
What wonderful memories I have of sharing a gin and tonic with this huge star in the early 1980s in Sydney with Rex her manager and tony monopoly! Oh happy days.
No soy un experto y por eso tuve que escuchar varias veces a June Bronhill para encontrar la melodía. Una vez encontrada pude apreciar que maravilla de voz y ese final al cielo un milagro de voz. Impresionante.!!!
thanks for a great post, june really does nail this great song and apart from not being able to sing like her ,many of todays performers try while they're garging with a tooth brush in their mouth...thanks again nerdynanna
may I add that Climb was given it's consummate rendition by the original vocalist, Patricia Neway, soprano. She had the uncanny ability to present the piece in warm chest tones, that conveyed the compassion yet authority of the Mother Abbess - all 6 feet of her. It is no discredit to Bronhill's lyric treatment to prefer Neway.
No, Mary Martin was the first Maria on stage, ever hear of her? She was Larry Hagman's (JR Ewing) mother in real life and a great star of the broadway stage. Also, Maria does not sing Climb Every Mountain, the Mother Abbess (first played by Patricia Neway) sings it at the end of the first act.
thanks for your very definitive judgement, I see I am in conversation with a self-designated authority. I was simply referring to a certain similarity in tone, phrasing, vocal expression.
June Bronhill had the BEST diction. Many famous opera singers don’t have this ability so when they sing especially in a foreign language, what they sing is garbled.
The evening before we went to the 1981 production in London we spoke to June Bronhill in a restaurant opposite the theatre. She told us to come to her dressing-room after the matinee performance. She had even told the stage doorkeeper she was expecting some Australians. She was absolutely delightful and I still have a photo of her with my then 10 and 6 year old daughters.
This is my absolute favorite rendition of this song! Her voice is beautiful!!!! She is one of my favorite sopranos!
I saw June in "The Merry Widow" in London many years ago (1967!) and have never forgotten it,it haunts my musical memory still.
She was loved as a singer,but she was loved even more as a person.
How marvellous to see and hear the great June Bronhill at the peak of her powers. Hers must rank as the sweetest voice of any Australian soprano, combined with power, dexterity and innate musicality.
The best version of this song that I have ever heard!
June was a phenomenal talent!
I had the good fortune of seeing June Bronhill in the Petula Clark production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC in 1981. I will never forget the thrill of listening to her sing this immortal Rodgers & Hammerstein anthem. We are very lucky to have this film of her singing the song live!
Maria von Trapp said it was the best production of Sound of Music she ever saw.
June was a family friend of my parents when we lived in Barnes, London not long after she arrived from Australia (Broken Hill, from where she took her stage name) and we were able to see her back stage after her performance in Orpheus of the Underworld. We had always followed her career. She used to perform at Sadler's Wells with Rowland Jones the tenor, who was our singing teacher.
I had the honour and pleasure of seeing June many times and meeting here - in so many roles - in London and around and in Melbourne!!! Such a pure voice and a lovely lady. Sadly missed.
Perfect singing and diction and beautifull timbre. 10!!!
her voice is so pure why don't MANY people sing like this anymore!!!!! i want to know how cause im pretty sure im not doing it right....
Fantastic!!! 👍👍👍
Me and my ears are crying. This is so beautiful!
What wonderful memories I have of sharing a gin and tonic with this huge star in the early 1980s in Sydney with Rex her manager and tony monopoly! Oh happy days.
No soy un experto y por eso tuve que escuchar varias veces a June Bronhill para encontrar la melodía. Una vez encontrada pude apreciar que maravilla de voz y ese final al cielo un milagro de voz. Impresionante.!!!
The greatest!
That melody is hauntingly beautiful. As is the cinescope.
I miss my Auntie June very very much. X
thanks for a great post, june really does nail this great song and apart from not being able to sing like her ,many of todays performers try while they're garging with a tooth brush in their mouth...thanks again nerdynanna
stunning
God bless her.
the stairs are hysterical!
A little too litteral
Rather overstated!
How can three people not like this? Change your hearing aid batteries!
Grant Smallacombe lol amen 😂😂
love it!
Robert and Elizabeth iconic musical
I am not familiar with her, but her soaring coloratura soprano is beautiful!
excellent
Me too ,
may I add that Climb was given it's consummate rendition by the original vocalist, Patricia Neway, soprano. She had the uncanny ability to present the piece in warm chest tones, that conveyed the compassion yet authority of the Mother Abbess - all 6 feet of her. It is no discredit to Bronhill's lyric treatment to prefer Neway.
MAGNIFICA FROM BRAZIL
No, Mary Martin was the first Maria on stage, ever hear of her? She was Larry Hagman's (JR Ewing) mother in real life and a great star of the broadway stage. Also, Maria does not sing Climb Every Mountain, the Mother Abbess (first played by Patricia Neway) sings it at the end of the first act.
thanks for your very definitive judgement, I see I am in conversation with a self-designated authority. I was simply referring to a certain similarity in tone, phrasing, vocal expression.
June Bronhill had the BEST diction. Many famous opera singers don’t have this ability so when they sing especially in a foreign language, what they sing is garbled.
So right, you can hear every word.
Wow! Was she the first person to play Maria on stage?
I wonder if she was scared of falling while climbing those stairs in high heels with no hand rail!
She was your aunt? Wow
I think this was in the 60's
Moist eyes after that. Super!.
Australian
Was this in the 80s?
Mach68 no in the 1960s
Not to depreciate Ms. Bronhill but this strikes me as homage to Julie Andrews
+james sullivan
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/June_Bronhill
Had nothing to do with Julie Andrews. Two very different performers but both brilliant.
how was this homage to Julie Andrews? Julie Andrews never sang this song in her entire film, audio or concert career.
If you are correct, thank God she never sang it. I guess I was referring to a similarity in phrasing and tone, who knows.