Richard Alan Bonynge AC, CBE[2] (/ˈbɒnɪŋ/ BON-ing) (born 29 September 1930) is an Australian conductor and pianist.

[8] In 1977 he was the founding music director of the Vancouver Opera Orchestra,[9] when he conducted Le roi de Lahore staged there (in which his wife also took part).

Bonynge then gradually added also middle Verdi (La traviata, Rigoletto, Il trovatore), Offenbach (Les Contes d'Hoffmann), then also Massenet (Esclarmonde and Werther[11]).

His recordings also include some works with no operatic or balletic associations, such as the Harp Concerto in E-flat by Reinhold Glière, with harpist Osian Ellis.

[1][15] He is regularly involved in the philanthropic activities of the Joan Sutherland & Richard Bonynge Foundation, often chairing the panel of judges for their annual Bel Canto Award.

The Sir Bernard Heinze Memorial Award is given to a person who has made an outstanding contribution to music in Australia.