1955, African Tour, Joan Hammond, Program, Photo, Ivor Newton, 2x Signed

Original Program

Joan Hammond

African Tour

June – July 1955

Included is an original Photograph of Julia Hammond

Signed and dedicated by Joan Hammond (on the photo)

and Ivor Newton (on the program)

Personal Direction: E. Poulopoulos

Pages 8

Original Paper Wraps

23 cm x 18 cm

Photo: 21.5 cm x 15 cm

Dame Joan Hilda Hood Hammond (1912 – 1996) was an Australian operatic soprano, singing coach and champion golfer. She appeared in the major opera houses of the world – the Royal Opera House, La Scala, the Vienna State Opera and the Bolshoi. Her fame in Britain came not just from her stage appearances but from her recordings. She made famous the aria “O mio babbino caro” from Puccini’s opera Gianni Schicchi. Recorded in English under the title “O My Beloved Father”, it earned Hammond a Gold Record award for 1 million sold copies on 27 August 1969. Her recording of “O, Silver Moon” from Dvořák’s Rusalka was also a huge seller. A prolific artist, Hammond’s repertoire also encompassed Verdi, Handel, Tchaikovsky, Massenet, Beethoven, as well as folk song, art song, and lieder.