With music and scenes evoking a feminine sensibility and some of the great heroines of opera, classic favourites will include arias and duets from La Traviata, Offenbach's Barcarolle, Schubert's Serenade, the main theme from Pride and Prejudice, the Shostakovich Waltz No 2, music from HMS Pinafore and a taste of the National Library's chamber music collections.

The delightful flow through narrative illuminates some of the great feminine voices of history and includes a slide show of photographs evoking the theme, with work from Max Dupain and other treasures from the Library's collection. 

Attend in person

Entry to this event is free but bookings are essential.

Watch online 

The performance will also be available online. Please make a booking and we will send you a direct link to the livestream event via email. Or you can join anytime through the Library's YouTube channel.

About Fleur Millar - Soprano, Director

Fleur is a performer and singing teacher with qualifications from University of Melbourne, Australian National University and University of La Trobe, who completed post graduate vocal training in London with Professor Raymond Connell. 

Fleur facilitates singing cultural events which she writes, directs, and produces with student and professional singers at venues across the ACT and NSW. As a soloist she has worked with directors and musicians including Domenic Mico OAM, Caroline Stacey and Maestro David Kram. Her one-woman shows have featured at the Adelaide and Melbourne Fringe Festivals. Fleur has held Executive Board positions at Manning Clark House and The Australian National Eisteddfod. Fleur believes everyone can learn to sing and is passionate about demystifying the art of singing.

Thompson Quan Wing - Tenor

Thompson began his vocal training in 1994 and was soon recommended to learn with David Parker, at that time Head of Voice at The Canberra School of Music, who quickly recognised and further nurtured his talent. He is currently training as a Tenor with Teresa Block and Fleur Millar. Thompson has performed as Lun Tha in The King and I and Caliph in Kismet for The Queanbeyan Players.

In 2016 Thompson took a break from singing to focus on set design and construction, however, promised himself if he survived his heart operation, he would sing at least one operatic aria and perform in front of an audience again. Since this time Thompson has more than fulfilled this promise and been a soloist in many concerts.

The Manning Clark Singers Chamber Ensemble

This chamber singing group (Kathleen Graham, Thompson Quan Wing, Elizabeth Goodbody, Isabel Sun and Eloise Taylor), led by Fleur Millar, is the smaller classical ensemble born from the original Manning Clark House Community Choir. They sing for cultural and social events in line with the values of Manning Clark House, with themes for the betterment of humanity and reflecting the chamber music philosophy of 'the music of friends'.

Sam Row - Pianist

Sam graduated from the Queensland Conservatorium at Griffith University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Music in classical piano. Growing up in North Queensland, Sam played for many music theatre productions with the Burdekin Singers. 

Sam has continued classical piano studies with Colin Forbes in Canberra. Sam currently teaches piano and accompanies solo instrumentalists and singers for exams and recitals, including The Manning Clark Singers and the Queanbeyan Community Choir. Sam regularly presents lunchtime piano recitals at Wesley Music Centre and is often invited to perform piano solos in Canberra vocal concerts.