Taryn & Jud
A TALE OF LOVE AGAINST THE ODDS
“Holy hell, look at that guy,” was Taryn Fiebig’s unprompted thought after first clapping eyes on seasoned singer Jud Arthur in 2004. “He is striking. But of course, I knew he was married and had two little kids.”
Still, the pair – then both principals with Opera Australia – struck up a friendship. And later – after Jud’s marriage to the mother of his daughters, Lucia and Milijana, now 16 and 13, broke down – he would spend a solid year trying to woo the woman he was equally taken with at first sight. “We eventually got together in 2011 and we’ve been together ever since,” he smiles, adding that their 2015 wedding was a “lovely, happy day”.
So far, so fairytale love story. Now enter the wicked villain to threaten their eternal happiness.
In December 2017, Taryn, who had already successfully fought and won a battle with breast cancer, wasn’t feeling well during a family trip to Europe. “Jud and I were still trying for children with IVF and I thought maybe it was the drugs because I went from having a flat stomach to looking five months pregnant in just two days,” she recalls. A trip to the gynaecologist confirmed the worst: “I had stage three serous carcinoma and it was in my uterus, ovary, appendix, peritoneum.” An operation and four rounds of chemo followed and her CA 125 cancer marker retreated to normal levels. Sadly, that wouldn’t last and now, despite feeling well enough to perform on stage, Taryn, 47, has had to resume a new type of chemotherapy in the hope doctors can operate on two tumours they found behind her bladder.
“I’m fortunate my voice hasn’t been affected – if anything, it’s better than ever,” she says.
Jud, 58, tears up as he admits it’s a worrying time in their lives. “She’s an incredible person, a wonderful mum and a wonderful wife,” he says after taking a moment to compose himself.
“Jud is an unwavering human being, he’s amazing,” says Taryn of the man who has stood by her side through doctors’ appointments, tears and pain. “I think it’s harder for him. He says he’d do it for me if he could, and I know he would. We love each other more than we ever have – but I wouldn’t say it’s been easy.”
Così fan tutte debuts at the Arts Centre Melbourne on May 14.