Suzanne Steele, Gaye MacFarlane & David Gray - Finale - ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD (Offenbach) 1978

For two decades, the Victoria State Opera presented productions of opera to audiences in Melbourne, Australia. It gave work to many singers who were not performing with the national company - Opera Australia - and enjoyed a handful of memorable nights. One of its earliest successes was Offenbach's ORPHEUS IN THE UNDERWORLD featuring the South African-born soprano, Suzanne Steele, as Eurydice, David Gray in the Title role, Gaye MacFarlane as Diana, the splendid tenor Ronald Dowd as John Styx, Robert Gard as Pluto and a host of 'locals'. The conductor was Richard Divall with Betty Pounder as Director. The production played at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne in October 1978. This rare recording captures the final minutes of the opera along with some directions from Stage Management!