Australia Day Ambassador
Amelia Farrugia
Ambassador for Manly Council
With a voice made in heaven, extraordinary versatility and ebullient stage personality, Amelia Farrugia is now regarded as one of Australia’s brightest opera stars.
Since her debut for Opera Australia in 1994, Amelia has performed many leading roles in the Sydney Opera House, including the title role of Manon (2010). She has performed for Glyndebourne Festival Opera in the UK, Spoleto Festival Italy, Hong Kong for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra, Shanghai for Piaget, India for NSW Tourism and recitals in Malta, Florence and New York.
Amelia’s debut solo album Joie de vivre! was released by Universal Music in Australia (2005) and UK (2006). Nominated for a Classical Aria Award, Joie de vivre! features the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Maestro Alexander Briger.
Amelia Farrugia is the first Australian solo recording artist to perform on the DECCA label since Dame Joan Sutherland in 1959.
A graduate of the Sydney Conservatorium of Music (High Distinction), Amelia Farrugia has won almost every major singing competition in Australia. In 1996 she was named NSW Young Achiever of the Year and in 1995 was a USA national winner in the New York Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
The recipient of a Green Room Award for Oscar in A Masked Ball (Opera Australia 2008), Amelia was honoured with an invitation to perform for Pope Benedict XVI in the Final Mass for World Youth Day and HRH Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary of Denmark (2008).
Amelia Farrugia began her career in musical theatre as the alternate lead Christine in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s production The Phantom of the Opera. An artist of great versatility, Amelia is a popular choice for corporate events and concerts such as Twilight at Taronga series (1996-2001), Fanfare for the New Millennium, Opera Australia’s Opera in the Park, New Years Eve Galas, Christmas at the House, Opera in the Vineyards, Mozart by Moonlight and appearances with all the Symphony Orchestras and Australian Pops Orchestras.
Amelia is a television favourite, appearing in internationally televised Carols in the Domain (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2008), with the Hong Kong Philharmonic on New Years Eve (2005), The Today Show (2003 & 2005), Mornings with Kerri-Anne (2003), In-Entertainment (2003), Good Morning Australia (2000 & 2005), Compass, Nightline (1998), The Midday Show with Ray Martin, Who Dares Wins, Ernie & Denise and the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, Musetta in La Boheme, ABC 2 (2008).
Other recordings include Receive The Power, The Album, 2007 Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Australia Pty Ltd) & WYD 2008; Bravo Act 2 (Sony BMG); Encore! (ABC Classics/UMA); Café Vienna (Deutsche Grammophon/ UMA); The Saint of Bleecker Street, Menotti (Chandos UK); “Australia” Soundtrack, David Hirschfelder, Cantero di te, Amelia Farrugia and Sharolyn Kimmorley (piano). Videos: Fledermaus (OA/ ABC Classics).
