Conductor, composer and musicologist Professor Richard Divall, AO, OBE has died at the age of 71 after a long battle with cancer.
Divall was the music director of Victoria State Opera from 1972 until the organisation merged with Opera Australia in 1996. He was principal resident conductor of Opera Australia from then until 2001.
![Conductor Richard Divall outside Melbourne University's Newman College dome.](/web/20170119193530im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/1/0/c/a/m/6/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtssvl.png/1484648661190.jpg)
Divall was awarded a member of the order of Australia in 2009 for his service to the performing arts, preservation of Australia's musical heritage, support for young performers and service to the community.
Opera Australia artistic director Lyndon Terracini praised Divall both as a friend and for his contributions to opera in Australia."Richard Divall was a wonderfully enthusiastic, inquisitive and passionate human being whose drive and talent turned the small [company] into the highly acclaimed Victoria State Opera," Mr Terracini said. "The VSO became a company of national importance under Richard's direction."
![Divall in his 'spiritual home', Newman College at the University of Melbourne, in 2009.](/web/20170119193530im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/s/v/m/4/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtssvl.png/1484648661190.jpg)
Victorian Opera (established by the State Government in 2005 to replace Victoria State Opera) artistic director Richard Mills called Divall a "seminal figure in the history of opera in Australia", whose passing marked "the end of an era".
"He was always ready to assist young singers, often helping with financial resources to enable further study and career development," Mr Mills said.
"He was always a friend of our company and even a source of advice, encouragement and support when called upon.
"Richard leaves a prodigious legacy of scholarship, performance, artistic leadership, and personal philanthropy. He was a great Australian and a great son of Melbourne. Vale."
![Divall in 2007, undertaking scholarly work on forgotten Australian music.](/web/20170119193530im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/s/v/m/5/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtssvl.png/1484648661190.jpg)
Divall grew up in the Sydney suburb of Manly, leaving Manly Boys High School at just 15. He worked as a music producer at ABC radio in the 1960s and attended night school at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music and Opera School. He performed as an opera singer before moving into conducting.
When he was 26 years old, Dame Joan Hammond invited Divall to move to Melbourne and become the first music director of Victoria State Opera. He lived in Melbourne ever since.
![Richard Divall in his apartment in 1997.](/web/20170119193530im_/http://www.theage.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/s/v/m/9/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gtssvl.png/1484648661190.jpg)
Divall conducted more than 150 operas throughout his career and attended university later in life. He paid particular attention to reviving early Australian works, and conducted research as a fellow at the State Library of Victoria for two years. He had a personal library spanning two-and-a-half rooms.
VO mourns the loss of #RichardDivall - one of the founding fathers of opera in our great city. We extend our sympathies to his family. #RIP pic.twitter.com/RS8TLdMO3Q
— Victorian Opera (@VictorianOpera) January 15, 2017
In an interview with The Age in 2014, Divall named the State Library of Victoria as one of his favourite places, and called the dome at the University of Melbourne's Newman College, designed by Walter Burley Griffin, his "spiritual home".
Cautious about religion until his late 30s, Divall took vows of poverty, chastity and obedience at age 63 to become a religious knight in the Order of Malta, which helps the poor, the sick and refugees.
Vale Maestro Richard Divall AO OBE, 1945-2017. "We salute you Richard and we honour your enormous contribution," said @LyndonTerracini. pic.twitter.com/oyPDcBYmJe
— Opera Australia (@OperaAustralia) January 15, 2017
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