To the Sydney Opera House
Object numberM1994/023:002
TitleTo the Sydney Opera House
DescriptionPoem dedicted to the Sydney Opera House by George Brodsky.
George Brodsky was born on the 1st of February 1915 in Berlin to Russian Jewish parents, the only son of Joseph and Raissa Brodsky. He immigrated to Australia via England in 1938 on the mail steamer ‘Jervis Bay’ and would later make his standing as a linguist, lawyer and writer. After marrying Marjorie Purvis Proctor in 1941, he was accepted into the Army as a gunner, but was later transferred to the Army Education Service as Instructor of Languages. His skill across a large number of languages saw him write courses across 7 languages, which would later constitute his book “All Service Polyglot Diary” (1945). He established a program for the tuition in English of newly-arrived refugees and migrants from the former Soviet Union and other non-English speaking countries, and also opened “The Brodsky School of Languages” in Edgecliff. His work as a linguist extended to his being the Chief Government Interpreter and Translator of New South Wales, being a court interpreter in 9 different languages, a position he maintained for 30 years.
In 1948, he began studying law at the University of Sydney, graduating 4 years later with a Bachelor in Law, becoming a Barrister of the Supreme Court of NSW and of the High Court of Australia. After retiring at the age of 62, he returned to practice as a barrister at Elizabeth Street, Sydney. Brodsky indulged in the writing of poetry, prose, music and family correspondence, and participated in sports such as swimming and rowing. He composed an Australian anthem, “Australia’s voice be free and true”, and throughout his life, he preserved his Jewish faith and associated himself with the Great Synagogue in Sydney. He died at the age of 77 without any children in his home at Double Bay, Sydney, and was buried in the Jewish section of Rookwood Cemetery in New South Wales.
George Brodsky was born on the 1st of February 1915 in Berlin to Russian Jewish parents, the only son of Joseph and Raissa Brodsky. He immigrated to Australia via England in 1938 on the mail steamer ‘Jervis Bay’ and would later make his standing as a linguist, lawyer and writer. After marrying Marjorie Purvis Proctor in 1941, he was accepted into the Army as a gunner, but was later transferred to the Army Education Service as Instructor of Languages. His skill across a large number of languages saw him write courses across 7 languages, which would later constitute his book “All Service Polyglot Diary” (1945). He established a program for the tuition in English of newly-arrived refugees and migrants from the former Soviet Union and other non-English speaking countries, and also opened “The Brodsky School of Languages” in Edgecliff. His work as a linguist extended to his being the Chief Government Interpreter and Translator of New South Wales, being a court interpreter in 9 different languages, a position he maintained for 30 years.
In 1948, he began studying law at the University of Sydney, graduating 4 years later with a Bachelor in Law, becoming a Barrister of the Supreme Court of NSW and of the High Court of Australia. After retiring at the age of 62, he returned to practice as a barrister at Elizabeth Street, Sydney. Brodsky indulged in the writing of poetry, prose, music and family correspondence, and participated in sports such as swimming and rowing. He composed an Australian anthem, “Australia’s voice be free and true”, and throughout his life, he preserved his Jewish faith and associated himself with the Great Synagogue in Sydney. He died at the age of 77 without any children in his home at Double Bay, Sydney, and was buried in the Jewish section of Rookwood Cemetery in New South Wales.
Production placeSydney, New South Wales, Australia
Subjectpoems
Object namepoems
Materialpaper
Dimensions
- width: 266.00 mm
height: 560.00 mm
Language
- English
Credit lineSydney Jewish Museum Collection, Donated by Lady Alexandra Harris