John Cargher
Encyclopedia
Pinchas Cargher AM
, known professionally as John Cargher (24 January 1919 – 30 April 2008), was a British
-born Australia
n music and ballet journalist and radio broadcaster.
He was born in the Cockney
area of London
to a Jewish rabbinical family, but was raised mainly in Germany
and Spain
, returning to England in 1931, which resulted in his trademark hard-to-pin-down accent. He came to Australia with his wife and daughter in 1951. In Melbourne
, he managed Thomas's Records, and became Managing Director of the National Theatre in St. Kilda
from 1969 to 1989.
His many occupations included: aircraftman, art dealer, art exhibition organiser, assistant cameraman (films), author, ballet administrator, broadcaster, building designer, comedy writer, compere, concert promoter and manager, critic, diamond merchant, impresario, intimate revue pioneer, journalist, lecturer, mechanical engineer, opera producer, photographer, radio programmer, record producer, record retailer, recorded books reader, schools administrator, television presenter, theatre manager, theatrical agent, toolmaker and turner-fitter.
", a weekly celebration of the great classical
voices from the earliest days of recording through to the present day. The program was broadcast on ABC Radio
. It started on 17 April 1966 on 774 ABC Melbourne
(then known as 3LO) for what was meant to be a 13-week run. Such was its popularity that after 10 weeks it was transferred to the Australia-wide ABC Radio National network. "Singers of Renown" remained on Radio National after all the other classical music programs were transferred to ABC Classic FM
in 1976. It became the longest continuously running Australian radio program presented and produced by the same person, and Cargher himself became the longest continuous program presenter in the ABC's history. Every recording John Cargher played throughout the program's 42-year run was from his own private collection, which he built on the couple of hundred 78s he brought to Australia. In Cargher's opinion the best modern musicals could become classical if they were presented by the best voices. Cargher never just introduced passages from various performances. He would inject fascinating little details. His retirement from broadcasting due to ill health was announced on 15 April 2008. His final "Singers of Renown" program went to air on 27 April. He died three days later.
Cargher also broadcast a general classical music program "Music for Pleasure" on ABC Radio between 1967 and 1996. He also served as Opera News
s Australia correspondent from 1972 up until his death.
On Australia Day
1987, he was awarded membership of the Order of Australia
for his services to the performing arts in Australia.
After his death, the ABC released a 3-CD tribute to Cargher, with 2 complete episodes of "Singers of Renown", and some excerpts from his "Music for Pleasure" programs.
His books include:
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"...
, known professionally as John Cargher (24 January 1919 – 30 April 2008), was a British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
-born Australia
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 music and ballet journalist and radio broadcaster.
He was born in the Cockney
Cockney
The term Cockney has both geographical and linguistic associations. Geographically and culturally, it often refers to working class Londoners, particularly those in the East End...
area of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
to a Jewish rabbinical family, but was raised mainly in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, returning to England in 1931, which resulted in his trademark hard-to-pin-down accent. He came to Australia with his wife and daughter in 1951. In Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, he managed Thomas's Records, and became Managing Director of the National Theatre in St. Kilda
St Kilda, Victoria
St Kilda is an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 6 km south from Melbourne's central business district. Its Local Government Area is the City of Port Phillip...
from 1969 to 1989.
His many occupations included: aircraftman, art dealer, art exhibition organiser, assistant cameraman (films), author, ballet administrator, broadcaster, building designer, comedy writer, compere, concert promoter and manager, critic, diamond merchant, impresario, intimate revue pioneer, journalist, lecturer, mechanical engineer, opera producer, photographer, radio programmer, record producer, record retailer, recorded books reader, schools administrator, television presenter, theatre manager, theatrical agent, toolmaker and turner-fitter.
Singers of Renown
Cargher is most famous for single-handedly compiling and broadcasting "Singers of RenownSingers of Renown
Singers of Renown was an Australian radio program broadcast on ABC Radio National for 42 years, and presented for every episode by John Cargher...
", a weekly celebration of the great classical
Classical music
Classical music is the art music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times...
voices from the earliest days of recording through to the present day. The program was broadcast on ABC Radio
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
. It started on 17 April 1966 on 774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne
774 ABC Melbourne is an ABC Local Radio station in Melbourne, Australia. Originally known by its callsign 3LO, it began transmission on 13 October 1924 – Melbourne's second radio station after 3AR.-History:...
(then known as 3LO) for what was meant to be a 13-week run. Such was its popularity that after 10 weeks it was transferred to the Australia-wide ABC Radio National network. "Singers of Renown" remained on Radio National after all the other classical music programs were transferred to ABC Classic FM
ABC Classic FM
ABC Classic FM is a classical music radio station available in Australia, and internationally online. It is operated by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation . It was established in 1976 as "ABC-FM", and later for a short time was known as "ABC Fine Music" , before adopting its current name...
in 1976. It became the longest continuously running Australian radio program presented and produced by the same person, and Cargher himself became the longest continuous program presenter in the ABC's history. Every recording John Cargher played throughout the program's 42-year run was from his own private collection, which he built on the couple of hundred 78s he brought to Australia. In Cargher's opinion the best modern musicals could become classical if they were presented by the best voices. Cargher never just introduced passages from various performances. He would inject fascinating little details. His retirement from broadcasting due to ill health was announced on 15 April 2008. His final "Singers of Renown" program went to air on 27 April. He died three days later.
Cargher also broadcast a general classical music program "Music for Pleasure" on ABC Radio between 1967 and 1996. He also served as Opera News
Opera News
Opera News is an American classical music magazine. It has been published since 1936 by the Metropolitan Opera Guild, a non-profit organization located at Lincoln Center which was founded to support the Metropolitan Opera of New York City...
s Australia correspondent from 1972 up until his death.
On Australia Day
Australia Day
Australia Day is the official national day of Australia...
1987, he was awarded membership of the Order of Australia
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"...
for his services to the performing arts in Australia.
After his death, the ABC released a 3-CD tribute to Cargher, with 2 complete episodes of "Singers of Renown", and some excerpts from his "Music for Pleasure" programs.
His books include:
- Music for Pleasure
- Opera and Ballet in Australia
- There's Music in My Madness
- How to Enjoy Opera Without Really Trying
- How to Enjoy Music Without Really Trying
- How to Enjoy Ballet Without Really Trying
- Bravo! Two Hundred Years of Opera in Australia
- The Good Classical CD Guide
- The Good Opera CD Guide
- Luck was My Lady: Memoirs of a Workaholic (autobiography)