Helping young singers is important for Opera power couple Peter Coleman-Wright and Cheryl Barker but its the villainy and tragedy in the art that's the real high note.
The pair have been appointed as officers of the Order of Australia for their mutual performance and fund raising contributions to the arts, and as role models for young singers, a job Mr Coleman Wright described as one of his most important roles.
"It's been a total thrill, a great recognition of all the work I've done as an ambassador for Australia," he said.
"I've always felt I want to put back into the industry the valuable things I have learned along the way and I enjoy it very much and it's a great joy to work with young people."
But the baritone said there's fun in playing the villain or the troubled soul, and he counts Sweeney Todd, Don Giovanni and Scarpia, the villain in Puccini's Tosca, among his favourite roles.
"Playing naughty people is much more fun than playing good people," he said.
Ms Barker, a Soprano for more than 25 years, counts the tragedy of Madame Butterfly ("gives up her son, great sacrifice, kills herself at the end") as one of her favourite roles.
While most people in Australia have nothing to do with Opera, Ms Barker sees her appointment as an honour and an opportunity to engage the community.
"Just to put Opera out there for the public is wonderful and if it inspires someone to go and see what it's all about, well that's great," she said.
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