Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 9, 2012 - Page 51
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Independent Theatre: Laet reviews .............. Page 53 The Spoiler: Next week’s ‘soaps’ plotlines ........ Page 53 Radio Confidential: Radio ratings released ........... Page 54 Jim and Aaron: Best DVD-film selections ................. Page 57 Cheryl Threadgold: Community Theatre - it’s a wrap ...... Page 60 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD
RUSSIAN, GREEK TREASURES ‘Lieder of the pack’: Ashlyn Timms
First-class cast of musical all-rounders
● Ashlyn Tymms ■ Young Melbourne soprano Ashlyn Tymms has plenty to smile about after winning the National Liederfest singing competition in Melbourne. Ashlyn, 23, beat a strong field of finalists to win the Robert Salzer Foundation Scholarship, the Henkell Brothers Award and the Goethe-Institut Australien Award. The National LIederfest celebrates the art of lieder singing, which is normally beautiful foreign language songs performed with piano accompaniment. The focus is on the simplicity and beauty of the singer's performance and the way the singer works with the accompanist. Ashlyn performed with pianist Rhodri Clarke, who won the Best Accompanist Award, while Ashlyn and Robert were together awarded the Alan McArthur MemorialAward for best ensemble of voice and piano. They performed a recital of Korngold, Straus and Grieg, and Ashlyn has just finished a semester of German at the Lyceum Learning Centre and is delighted to be able to continue her studies at the Goethe Institut. "I'm also currently planning an around the world trip for November/December. Singing is such an expensive path that I'm so pleased I can put the money towards further study, as this is my first year 'out in the real world," Ashlyn explained. Some readers may have seen Ashlyn as the lead role of Eurydice in The Opera Studio Melbourne's Orpheus and Eurydice at the National Theatre last year. The National Liederfest is a prestigious competition conducted by the Lieder Society of Victoria and attracts entrants from all around Australia. - Julie Houghton
● Michael Bingham (Cole Porter) and Cassandra Beckitt (Linda Porter) in Red Hot and Cole at the Williamstown Mechanics Institute until May 19. Photo: Gavin D. Andrew ■ The Williamstown Mechanics Institute transforms into the stylish 1930s Ritz nightclub for Williamstown Musical Theatre Company’s latest production, Red Hot and Cole, which runs until May 19. Celebrating the life and music of the great American songwriter Cole Porter, this show comprises an excellent balance of biographical narrative and musical entertainment. The wonderful smorgasbord of more than 30 of Porter’s songs, includes Anything Goes, You’re The Top, Just One Of Those Things, Don’t Fence Me In and True Love,.Red Hot and Cole is expertly directed by Anna Marinelli, with music rendered by Malcolm Fawcett’s terrific seven-piece band.Williamstown Musical Theatre Company shows traditionally impress with strong singers, so it is not surprising that a first class cast of musical theatre allrounders has been assembled for Red Hot and Cole. Michael Bingham is well-cast as the enigmatic, talented Porter who, after joining the French Foreign Legion, meets his future wife, Linda Lee Thomas, beautifully portrayed by Cassandra Beckitt. Space limitation prevents mentioning all performers, but standouts for me were Mark Monroe (Noel Coward), Philippa Chalke (Ada ‘Bricktop’ Smith) and Bianca Giorgetti’s (Elsa Maxwell) powerful vocals. Choreographer Carla Gianinotti’s dance routines sparkle on stage, particularly the well-rehearsed, entertaining tap numbers. Norm Cassidy-Anderson’s 1930s art deco set helps establish the elegant atmosphere, as do Suzanne Eltt’s colorful costumes and authentic hairstyles for the period. The highs and lows of Cole Porter’s life, including familiar names such as Hedda Hopper, Ethel Merman and Clifton Webb, combined with Porter’s marvelous music (he wrote both the lyrics and music for his songs) presented by highly talented performers, musicians and production team, make for a very enjoyable theatre experience. Season: Until May 19. Venue: Williamstown Mechanics Institute, Cnr. Electra St. and Melbourne Rd., Williamstown. Tickets: $32/$28. Bookings: 1300 881 545. www.wmtc.org.au - Cheryl Threadgold
● Deacon Vladimir Bigdan ■ Melbourne's St Paul's Anglican Cathedral will echo with the glorious sounds of historic Russian music and some modern Greek treasures, on Saturday (May 12). The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir will sing Tchaikovsky's beautiful 1878 The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom - and while it's an Anglican cathedral, the RMP is bringing a real-life Russian Orthodox cantor, Deacon Vladimir Bigdan with his big bass voice to fill the cathedral. RMP Music Director Andrew Wailes is passionate about the importance of this music. “The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom is rarely performed in this country, and what's so special is that as well as being sung in Old Church Slavonic, we will have Deacon Vladimir Bigdan with his glorious bass voice and understanding =of the Russian Liturgy to our performance,” Wailes said. This Tchaikovsky work is considered one of the finest choral masterpieces of the Russian Orthodox Church, so should be a deeply moving musical experience for the listener. The Greek section of the program will be a new work by Australian-Greek composer Stefan Cassomenos, the RMP's official accompanist, called Hieratikon, which takes its inspiration from the words of St John Chrysostom. Cassomenos is a celebrated solo pianist and composer and has been selected as a finalist in the prestigious Sydney piano competition. To add more Greek flavour, Australian-Greek bass-baritone Nicholas Dinopoulos will bring his fine voice to the work - something that won't be difficult for him as part of his workload is as a cantor in the Greek Orthodox Church. Acclaimed Australian soprano Merlyn Quaife completes the soloist line up. The final work on the program is Anastasis, by Australian composer and Jesuit priest Christopher Willcock, which is a setting of a mystical poem of the same name by fellow Catholic priest Anthony Kelly. There will be professional string players and percussionists and the recorded sounds of authentic Russian Cathedral bells. Bookings: www.ticketmaster.com.au or 136 100. Enquiries: 0427 028 096. - Julie Houghton