Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, October 9, 2013 - Page 107
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Observer Showbiz Every Week in the Melbourne Observer
Radio: 3MBS-FM fiddles with program grid ...... Page 108 Theatre: Class clowns show sense of humour ...... Page 109 The Spoiler: Advance plotlines for TV soapies .......... Page 109 Jim and Aaron: Top 10, best movies and DVDs ............ Page 110 Cheryl Threadgold: Local theatre shows, auditions ........... Page 111 PLUS THE LOVATT”S MEGA CROSSWORD
IAN MOSS AT ECHUCA Quartets At Sunset
● Asher Fisch ■ It's Melbourne Festival time, and in the past classical music lovers have sometimes felt ignored in favour of everything that is new and ground breaking. The good news is that in this year's festival, thanks to cocurators Richard Tognetti and Michael Stevens, classical is back! One of the most popular features of past festivals, the sunset chamber music concerts, has returned in the Quartets At Sunset series. Held at Collins St Baptist Church, these short concerts begin at 6pm, making them ideal for city workers to stay on and enjoy a great concert. This year's quartets are an exciting mix of international and local musicians, with America's Attacca Quartet kicking off the series on October 14 and 15. Australia's Flinders Quartet takes the stage on Friday, October 18, followed by the Shanghai Quartet from China and America on Monday-Wednesday, October 2123. Australia's Ironwood quartet performs on Thursday, October 24, and the final sunset concert is Friday, October 25 featuring the Australian String Quartet. This year's festival is paying tribute to composer Franz Joseph Haydn. There is a free series of lunchtime concerts featuring Haydn performed by musicians at the Australian National Academy of Music at the Foxtel Festival Hub, in St Kilda Rd opposite Hamer Hall, at 12 Noon from Monday-Saturday, October 21-26. There are some big names visiting this year - world famous French sisters Katia and Marielle Labèque, pianists who will play a program of Debussy, Ravel and Bernstein on Saturday, October 19, at Melbourne Recital Centre. Brahms and Wagner are the other two big names being celebrated this year in the festival, and on Friday, October 18 renowned Israeli conductor Asher Fisch takes to the piano and accompanies German mezzo-soprano Stefanie Irányi for an 'illustrated lecture', featuring Wagner's Wesendonck Lieder'. Asher Fisch pops up the next night, Saturday October 19, at Hamer Hall as conductor of the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra with Australian soprano Lisa Gasteen. The combined forces will work their way through many of Wagner's most popular compositions. Sunday, October 20 and Monday, October 21, see Richard Tognetti don his conducting and lead violin hat with the Australian Chamber Orchestra, with guest cellist Stephen Isserlis, to play Brahms' Symphony No 4 and Dvorak's Cello Concerto at Hamer Hall. And for those who fancy a huge event that combines music and film, try The Crowd, a one night only event at the Palais Theatre on Friday (Oct. 11), where the Australian Chamber Orchestra, ANAM Orchestra and vocal ensemble The Consort of Melbourne, join forces to explore the question of what we feel when we are part of a crowd, through the music of Debussy, Chopin, Shostakovich, Dean and more, with time-lapse imagery. www.melbournefestival.com - Julie Houghton
By CHERYL THREADGOLD
● Ian Moss ■ Bookings are now open for the Third Annual Riverboats Music Festival, being held on the banks of the mighty Murray river at Echuca-Moama from February 14-16, 2014. The Riverboats 2014 line-up includes The Cat Empire, Tim Finn, Ian Moss, Paul Dempsey, Don Walker, The Basics, Dan Kelly's Dream Band, Wagons, Thelma Plum, Tinpan Orange, Mojo Juju, Sweet Jean and Liz Stringer. In a stunning natural location with historic paddle-steamers meandering past all weekend, a mix of Australian music icons and red-hot up-and-comers will take to the amphitheatre stage from lunchtime until late each day, against the unique backdrop of Echuca-Moama's towering river red gums, grassy slopes and historic riverside setting. Festival Producer David Frazer says: "We are so excited to once again be presenting some of the most celebrated names in Australian music on the banks of our most famous river." Riverboats takes place at the picturesque Aquatic Reserve in the heart of Echuca-Moama. Families and friends can relax on picnic rugs in the shade whilst enjoying a delicious range of regional food and wine, and the festival's central location means attendees can easily explore the town, historic wharf precinct and natural surrounds, all within walking distance. A hit of the festival last year, the Riverboats Deluxe Ticket is back in 2014, offering festival goers a unique opportunity to experience a two-hour river cruise aboard one of the grand old dames of the Murray, the paddle-steamer Pevensey. Accompanied by fine local catering and live music by Riverboats artist Mojo Juju, the cruise takes place on Saturday, February 15 from 12 Noon to 2pm, returning just in time for the start of the festival's Saturday line-up. Once again, the Beechworth Bakery will be the location for the Official Festival Breakfast, on Sunday, February 16 from 9am - 12 Noon, on the top floor of the bakery, featuring live music, views over the Campaspe River and some of the finest food in the region. With the announcement of an exceptional 2014 line-up and a three-day festival ticket of just $110, the Riverboats Music Festival is one of the best ways to while away a weekend with friends and family this summer. For tickets and further information, visit www.riverboatsmusic.com.au
‘The Producers’
● Matt Hadgraft ■ Matthew Hadgraft (pictured) is currently rehearsing for the role of accountant Leo Bloom in MLOC’s production of The Producers, having moved to Melbourne from Brisbane in March last year to pursue more performance opportunities and “be in the thick of it”. Matt sang with St John’s Cathedral Choir on a choral scholarship, before studying piano, musicology and theory at the Queensland Conservatorium, and Primary Education at ACU. He has taught in primary schools, was a piano teacher for 10 years, and worked as a cocktail pianist at the Brisbane Club. He was offered the role of Benny in Dancing Queen: Australia’s Ultimate ABBA Show, which he played for seven years, touring much of the east coast. Between 2006 and 2012, Matt worked in radio on the Gold Coast at Southern Cross Austereo, and played lead roles in Gold Coast community theatre shows including Curtains, Boy from Oz, The 39 Steps, Twice In A Lifetime, Seussical The Musical and the lead in Zen Zen Zo’s professional Cabaret show. Since arriving in Melbourne, Matt has accompanied shows in the 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Melbourne Fringe Festival, and wrote, directed and composed Shoulda Coulda Woulda, a succinct musical comedy, for the 2013 Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Versatile Matt also performed in the ensemble of Nova’s 42nd Street in 2012, ARC’s 2013 production of Singin’ In The Rain, and in September was the Musical Director and acerbic receptionist Methel Erman in SHooSH! Productions’ Velvet Addiction. The Producers can be seen from November 8-16 at the Phoenix Theatre, Elwood, directed by Jane Court, with musical direction by Ian Nisbet and choreography by Taylor Hollands. Bookings: www.mloc.org.au or 9551 7514. - Cheryl Threadgold