Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 7, 2014 - Page 43
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POLYPHONIC VOICES ● Michael Fulcher
‘Heroes’ opens Dame Kiri tours ■ With all the talk in the press at the moment of us needing to work until we are 70, Dame Kiri te Kanawa seems to be setting a fine example. This singing Dame whose name has been on everyone's lips for decades has no intention of enjoying a rocking chair and quiet cuppa to celebrate her 70th birthday. Instead, it's a chance for a 70th Birthday Gala Tour, singing all the songs she loves personally and that she feels will resonate with her audience. Many people will remember hearing Dame Kiri sing in the live broadcast of the wedding of Prince Charles and Diana, but Dame Kiri's fame started long before that. Growing up in New Zealand her potential was spotted by a canny musical nun, Sister Mary Leo, who set the young Kiri on her path to international stardom by encouraging and guiding her in those early days. To celebrate the actual birthday, Dame Kiri performed the role of the Duchesse de Crackentorp in Donizetti's comic opera La Fille du regiment at the Royal Opera House in March. After the performance she received birthday greetings from a diverse range of starry names, including singers Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Frederica Von Stade, flautist James Galway, Dame Edna Everage and the entire cast of Downtown Abbey. Downton Abbey devotees will recall that Dame Kiri played Australia's Dame Nellie Melba in a recent episode. At her birthday reception, a cake was presented to her by actor Jim Carter, better known to Downton fans as Carson the butler. These days, Dame Kiri has mostly swapped the opera stage for a life of mentoring young singers and enjoying concert tours. "I'm not singing full operas now, so instead of singing one composer's music the whole evening, I'm able to choose recital and concert repertoire from a very wide list of composers. I can explore music form South America, the Auvergne, Mozart, English folk songs, classic or operatic Italian and French art songs, and that's what I will be choosing from for my Australian tour,” Dame Kiri said. Her Australian tour stars at Melbourne Recital Centre on Saturday (May 10) with a matinee performance on Sunday (May 11) before she heads t Perth, Canberra, Adelaide and Sydney. www.ticketek.com.au or 132 849. - Julie Houghton
● Back row (l to r): Ian Travers, Christopher Roache, Tim Matthews-Staindl, Christian Smith, Megan Nelson, Joshua Mcleod, Thomas Baldwin. Third row: Michael Edwards, Hannah Hornsby, William Cunningham, Stephanie Firth, Thomas Bland, Michelle Clark Second row: Yi Wen Chin, Gabby Aescht, Kristy Biber, Megan Oldmeadow, Michael Fulcher (director) Front row: Gabby Lefevre, Jeremy Bottonley, Elizabeth Chong. ■ Melbourne could be referred to as the choral capital of Australia, such is the enthusiasm for like-minded people getting together to join their voices in song. Naturally, there are a wide variety of choirs in terms of size and standard, but there's a very exciting new kid on the block, Polyphonic Voices. This new chamber choir is the brainchild of Michael Fulcher, Director of Music at Christ Church South Yarra, and now Artistic Director of Polyphonic Voices. Michael is also a vocal coach, opera and choral conductor and the current president of the Australian National Choral Association . Polyphonic Voices consists of 20 of Melbourne's top young choral singers, many of whom have been choral scholars with elite choirs such as Trinity College Choir, Newman College Choir and Queen's at the University of Melbourne, or similar level ensembles. Several of the choristers are soloists in their own right, and as an ensemble they are taking choral music to a new high level of musicianship and sound. The name is taken from the musical term polyphonic, meaning two or more vocal parts, each with a melody of its own. The choir was formed in December last year to perform in the Musical Explorations series at Melbourne Recital Centre, and such was their success, that they decided to continue as a choir and are now launching themselves in their inaugural concert, Songs of Farewell, commemorating 100 years since the start of World War I. Described as a choral reflection on the centenary of World War I, the concert starts at 7.30 pm on Friday, May 16 at the chapel of Trinity College, University of Melbourne, which was built during World War I and furnished as a war memorial, making it a fitting place to perform this commemorative concert. Polyphonic Voices will sing works by composers including Duruflé, Fauré, Howells, Morley, Pärt and Tavener, as well as ANZAC works composed by Australian and New Zealand composers, Michael Leighton Jones and Andrew Baldwin. www.polyphonicvoices.com
● George Werther (Gustave), John Keogh (Philippe) and Kirk Alexander (Henri) in Peridot Theatre’s Heroes. Photo: Annette DeBoer ■ Sir Tom Stoppard’s comedy Heroes was the ideal choice for Peridot Theatre’s ANZAC night opening, and can be seen until May 10 at the Unicorn Theatre, Lechte Rd, Mount Waverley. Adapted and translated into English by Stoppard in 2005 from Gérald Sibleyras’s La Vent des Peupliers, the play is set in 1959 in the terrace of a French convent hospital for retired World War I servicemen. In stark contrast to their picturesque surroundings, the awful reality of war and its aftermath surface constantly during exchanges of seemingly humorous banter between three former soldiers. Director Geoff Hickey has appropriately cast three veteran actors to portray the retired military men, and they deliver fine performances in this dialogue-dependent show. Kirk Alexander is Henri, a long-term resident for 25 years. George Werther portrays Gustave, a 10 year resident, and John Keogh as Philippe skilfully depicts his character’s unexpected fainting attacks. Varied topics discussed by these spirited ex-soldiers include women, an escape plan to reach Indo China using a raft, and whether or not to take Gustave’s beloved dog - a heavy, stone statue. It would seem the men’s dreams will remain out of reach, as do the distant, unseen poplars, which inspire their hopes. The impressive hospital terrace set is designed by George Tranter. Congratulations to George and his team on achieving a first-class result. Great work also by stage manager Gail Brackley as the silent Sister Madeleine, who adds atmospheric authenticity and grace when facilitating minor set changes. French accents are admirably well sustained, and only intermittently was dialogue hard to decipher. Hearty congratulations to Peridot Theatre for presenting a quality production to remind us of the sacrifices of exservicemen and their ongoing issues, as well as offering enjoyable entertainment. Bookings: 9898 9090 or peridotboxoffice@yahoo. com.au - Review by Cheryl Threadgold