Joan Sutherland was born in Sydney, Australia in 1926 and although her mother was a recognised singer of the time she was not involved in the training of Joan. Her move into Opera was prompted by listening to the great Dame Nellie Melba, also an Australian and was attracted by the glamour of the music eventhough it was not until she was 19 when she first received singing lessons that her potential was recognised. In 1951 Joan Sutherland finally had saved enough money to sail to London where she was employed at Covent Garden with the Covent Garden�s Opera Company for 10 pound per week. After marrying in 1954 and receiving further training she set about a new International career where in Italy she was referred to as �La Stupenda.�

Her success continued to grow when in 1975 Joan Sutherland was named a Dame in the Queen�s Honour�s List. Her World wide recognition now complete, her career of almost 40 years ended by her own choice in 1990.