It was a bit of serendipitous timing to find myself in the right city at the right time for the service of thanksgiving held at Westminster Abbey on Tuesday in honour of Dame Joan Sutherland.  I had the privilege of writing a profile of Dame Joan for Limelight‘s extensive tribute, and it was wonderful to have this chance to further celebrate not just a great Australian singer, but one of the greatest singers anywhere, ever – and a great lady to boot.

We arrived at 10:15 for a midday start and already there was a crowd milling at the entrance, where a large white security tent had been set up – HRH Prince Charles would be there, representing the Queen and Prince Philip, so security was tight, with most attendees required to undergo a bag and identity check. We went on a search for fortifying hot beverages and returned at 10:40 to see this…

And there was still another 90 minutes’ worth of people to arrive, so I don’t know how much longer that queue got – but nevertheless, we were all inside and in our places by noon, with suitably glorious music to welcome us. A selection of organ works was followed by opera excerpts from none other than the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, with Antonio Pappano there to conduct them. The overture from Alcina and the Act I prelude from La traviata were particularly poignant to hear, so beautifully played and so very tied to Dame Joan.

The official processions followed – the Lord Mayor of Westminster, Richard Bonynge, Ruth Sutherland, Dame Norma Major and, of course, Prince Charles. There was a hymn from the Choir of Westminster Abbey (quite extraordinary to hear them in situ) and one from the congregation, an initial welcome from the Dean of Westminster, and then one of the ceremony’s touching moments. We heard Dame Joan herself, singing Handel’s “Let the bright seraphim” and, as her voice filled the Abbey, her grandson, Vanya Bonynge, bore to the altar the insignia which has been Joan’s – the Order of Merit, the Companion Order of Australia, and the Dame Commander, Order of the British Empire.

What followed was a simple, reverent and worthy tribute to Dame Joan. Bible readings and personal remembrance were interspersed, of course, with music – from the congregation in hymns, from the great lady herself, and from one of the countless young Australian singers whom she’s inspired, the lovely Valda Wilson, who shone in the “Pie jesu” from Fauré’s Requiem and the “Alleluia” from Mozart’s Exsultate jubilate. Sir John Tooley (general director of the Royal Opera House from 1970 to 1988) spoke of Joan’s career, and we heard a series of thanksgiving prayers from friends, family and colleagues, highlighting just how many lives she touched, both personally and professionally.

It really was a wonderful event, and testament to the enormous legacy Dame Joan has left behind her. Among the 2,000-odd attendees were opera singers (I spotted Yvonne Kenny, Felicity Lott and Elizabeth Connell among them), administrators past and present from several opera companies, including Opera Australia’s CEO Adrian Collette, and even the redoubtable Lord Harewood, former director of both the Royal Opera and ENO and author of Kobbé’s Complete Opera Book. But above all, this was a gathering of opera lovers, giving thanks for a life (and a voice) which enriched so many others. A fitting tribute to an extraordinary singer.

Read Limelight‘s article about the memorial service here.