Geoffrey Parsons AO (1930-1999) was a concert accompanist. He studied at the New South Wales Conservatorium of Music, settled in London in 1950 and was invited to accompany the lieder singer Gerhard Hüsch in 1955. He soon became known internationally as the accompanist par excellence. Singers with whom he worked include Peter Dawson, Victoria de los Angeles, Elisabeth Schwarzkopf, Ruggiero Ricci and Jessye Norman. Parsons made a great number of recordings, and numerous concert tours of Australia for the ABC.
Michael Shannon tended to produce works in series. A collection of his early portrait drawings was amongst the first acquisitions of the National Portrait Gallery.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of Les Rowe 1998
Donated through the Australian Government's Cultural Gifts Program
© Estate of Michael Shannon
Les Rowe (2 portraits)
On one level The Companion talks about the most famous and frontline Australians, but on another it tells us about ourselves: who we read, who we watch, who we listen to, who we cheer for, who we aspire to be, and who we'll never forget. The Companion is available to buy online and in the Portrait Gallery Store.
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