Multi-tasker

“Double internationals – people who represent their country at more than one sport – are rare. Someone who represents his country on the sports field and also stands on it to sing the national anthem is surely unique.” The Age profiles Jud Arthur – national rugby and show-jumping representative turned opera singer – prior to his star turn with Opera Australia, in The Mikado and The Pearl Fishers. Arthur began to concentrate on singing after a recurring knee injury forced him off the field: “For my voice type (bass baritone) it’s a bit of an advantage that I haven’t had the arse kicked out while I was young. I won’t be near my peak till my late 40s or early 50s.” Unlike most opera singers he has learned French, Italian, Russian, and German “on the job,” rather than at university. And he enjoys nothing more than coming home to sing the national anthem before a big game: “Whenever I’ve sung the national anthem, NZ has never lost.”