Neville Amadio
Encyclopedia
Neville Francis Amadio AM MBE (15 February 191329 May 2006) was an Australia
n flautist
who played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
and its predecessors for over 50 years. The conductor Sir Charles Mackerras
once said that Amadio was "without doubt, the greatest flautist the world produced in the 20th century".
. He was taught the flute by his uncle, the notable flautist John Amadio (1893-1964), whose second wife was the soprano Florence Austral
.
Broadcasting Orchestra, which had only eight members. Amadio said of his early days "We were expected to play virtually everything, from salon music to reduced versions of the 1812 Overture
". By the time the 2FC Broadcasting Orchestra had become the ABC
Symphony Orchestra in 1934, Amadio was principal flautist (at age 21), and he retained this position when the orchestra later became the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
, until his retirement in 1978. He served 50 years with the orchestra in its various forms.
He also worked as a soloist in many concerts both in Australia and internationally including at the Royal Festival Hall
in London. He was also a popular chamber music
ian, being a founding member of Musica Viva Australia
and the Sydney Wind Quintet. He made numerous recordings both as a member of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and with his chamber music groups. He was the first classical musician to play with a jazz band in Sydney. He was also the professor of flute at the NSW Conservatorium of Music for a number of years.
For his services to music, in 1969 he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
, and in 1981 a Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
.
All of his brothers became professional musicians. Clive Amadio was a clarinettist who founded the Clive Amadio Quintet; Harry Amadio was a French horn player; and Leon Amadio was a trumpeter.
Neville Amadio died aged 93 on 29 May 2006, after a series of heart attacks
.
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n flautist
Flute
The flute is a musical instrument of the woodwind family. Unlike woodwind instruments with reeds, a flute is an aerophone or reedless wind instrument that produces its sound from the flow of air across an opening...
who played with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra , commonly known as the Sydney Symphony, is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney...
and its predecessors for over 50 years. The conductor Sir Charles Mackerras
Charles Mackerras
Sir Alan Charles Maclaurin Mackerras, AC, CH, CBE was an Australian conductor. He was an authority on the operas of Janáček and Mozart, and the comic operas of Gilbert and Sullivan...
once said that Amadio was "without doubt, the greatest flautist the world produced in the 20th century".
Early life and career
Amadio was born into a musical family in 1913. He studied at the Fort Street Boys High School and the Sydney Conservatorium of MusicSydney Conservatorium of Music
The Sydney Conservatorium of Music is one of the oldest and most prestigious music schools in Australia...
. He was taught the flute by his uncle, the notable flautist John Amadio (1893-1964), whose second wife was the soprano Florence Austral
Florence Austral
Florence Austral was an Australian operatic soprano renowned for her interpretation of the most demanding Wagnerian female roles, although she never gained the opportunity to appear at the Bayreuth Festival or the New York Metropolitan Opera.She was born Florence Mary Wilson, but adopted the...
.
Musical career
In 1928, when he was only 14 years old, he started playing with the 2FCRadio National
ABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
Broadcasting Orchestra, which had only eight members. Amadio said of his early days "We were expected to play virtually everything, from salon music to reduced versions of the 1812 Overture
1812 Overture
The Year 1812, Festival Overture in E flat major, Op. 49, popularly known as the 1812 Overture or the Overture of 1812 is an overture written by Russian composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky in 1880 to commemorate Russia's defense of Moscow against Napoleon's advancing Grande Armée at the Battle of...
". By the time the 2FC Broadcasting Orchestra had become the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
Symphony Orchestra in 1934, Amadio was principal flautist (at age 21), and he retained this position when the orchestra later became the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
Sydney Symphony Orchestra
The Sydney Symphony Orchestra , commonly known as the Sydney Symphony, is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney...
, until his retirement in 1978. He served 50 years with the orchestra in its various forms.
He also worked as a soloist in many concerts both in Australia and internationally including at the Royal Festival Hall
Royal Festival Hall
The Royal Festival Hall is a 2,900-seat concert, dance and talks venue within Southbank Centre in London. It is situated on the South Bank of the River Thames, not far from Hungerford Bridge. It is a Grade I listed building - the first post-war building to become so protected...
in London. He was also a popular chamber music
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
ian, being a founding member of Musica Viva Australia
Musica Viva Australia
Musica Viva Australia is the oldest independent performing arts organisation in Australia and the world's largest entrepreneur of chamber music. It was formed in 1945 in Sydney by violist Richard Goldner...
and the Sydney Wind Quintet. He made numerous recordings both as a member of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and with his chamber music groups. He was the first classical musician to play with a jazz band in Sydney. He was also the professor of flute at the NSW Conservatorium of Music for a number of years.
For his services to music, in 1969 he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, and in 1981 a Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
.
All of his brothers became professional musicians. Clive Amadio was a clarinettist who founded the Clive Amadio Quintet; Harry Amadio was a French horn player; and Leon Amadio was a trumpeter.
Neville Amadio died aged 93 on 29 May 2006, after a series of heart attacks
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
.