Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, March 28, 2012 - Page 47
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FROM THE GROUND UP Bad Boys of Music Theatre
Famous Requiem ■ Every so often you hear a work that makes you think you must have died and gone to heaven. Such a work is Gabriel Fauré's famous Requiem, with its soaring choruses and beautiful Pie Jesu for a fine soprano soloist. Leading Melbourne musical ensemble Gloriana Chamber Choir is bringing the delights of Fauré to St Mark's Anglican Church, 250 George St, Fitzroy, on Sunday (April 1) at 2.30 pm. And Gloriana's director Andrew Raiskums is chuffed to have secured the in-demand soprano of the moment, Siobhan Stagg, to sing the famous Pie Jesu. "Siobhan is one of our rising stars, and I can't think of anybody who can sing the Pie Jesu with the purity and beauty that she brings to it. Her voice truly touches the hear, so it is a coup for us to have her," Andrew said. At the first anniversary service to commemorate Black Saturday, Barney Zwartz said: 'Siobhan sang Fauré's Pie Jesu with an angelic purity and beauty that palpably deepened the already solemn mood inside the cathedral. Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was visibly moved." Sunday at St Mark's will be a happier occasion for the Fauré Requiem, and it also features bass-baritone soloist Matthew Thomas and organist Christopher Cook. According to Raiskums, in his requiem Fauré wanted to lay emphasis on death being a joyful deliverance, an aspiration towards a happiness beyond the grave, making it an appropriate choice in the lead up to the Christian celebration of Easter with its death and life theme. As a choir, Gloriana always delivers a fine massed sound, under the sensitive and skilled direction of Andrew Raiskums as conductor. In this concert, the soloists and choir will be joined by an orchestra drawn from the Australian National Academy of Music. Apart from Fauré's Requiem, the concert will feature other French delights, including Poulenc's Mass in G and some contributions from Debussy, Saint-Saens, Berlioz and Messiaen. Tickets are $30 pre-purchased or $35 at the door. Enquiries: 0417 368 277. - Julie Houghton
■ Tickets are now on sale for the Circus Oz world premiere of From The Ground Up, which is being presented from June 20 – July 15 under the heated Circus Oz Big Top at Birrarung Marr, Melbourne. Circus Oz is currently touring the USA with the popular show Steampowered in Salt Lake City (Utah), Davis (California), Fayetteville (Arzonia) and Princeton (New Jersey). The ensemble soon returns to Melbourne to work with some fresh new performers where they will gleefully bolt together, developing and creating exciting acts for From The Ground Up. Friends and families will be entertained by power-packed aerialists, knockabout jugglers, live wire musicians – all acrobatically suspended in disbelief under the Circus Oz Big Top. Circus Oz is credited with revitalising a traditional art form in a uniquely Australian way and is a rock ‘n’ roll, animal-free circus that has influenced the development of circus arts around the world since its foundation in 1978. Circus Oz undertook its first and critically praised international tour in 1980, and has since continued touring to more than 100 cities and regions in 26 countries, playing to more than two million people. Season: June 20 – July 15 Duration: 2 hours (including 20 minute interval) Venue: Circus Oz Big Top, Birrarung Marr, between Federation Square and Batman Avenue, Melbourne Booking: ticketmaster.com.au and 136 100
● John Franklin and Andrew Strano ■ Fancy a laugh? Then watch out, because the Melbourne Comedy Festival is heading your way. One of the first acts, The Bad Boys of Music Theatre are back with a frenetic five-night season of their new show at Chapel Off Chapel from tonight (Wed., Mar. 28) until Sunday (Apr. 1). John Franklin and Andrew Strano became mates years ago when doing their university music theatre courses at the Victorian College of the Arts, and these days spend an entire show lampooning each other and parodying many fine music theatre tunes in the process. These boys are never short of a word, and there are plenty of them in the title of the show - The Bad Boys Of Music Theatre Are Not Quite Right In The Head. Obviously they do not follow the old maxim that brevity is the soul of wit. However, these two young singers work seamlessly together and this year's show is in true cabaret style with round tables and chairs for the audience, so you can take in a glass of wine or a coffee and sit back and be entertained. It's all happening in the Loft Theatre at Chapel Off Chapel, 12 Little Chapel St, Prahran. Phone: 8290 7000 www.thebadboysofmusictheatre.com - Julie Houghton
Remember Shirley Cecil?
The Voice premieres ■ The Nine Network is giving maximum publicity to its new series, The Boice, which begins on Logies night - Sunday, April 15 at 6.30pm. The music competition featuressuperstar coaches Keith Urban, Seal, Delta Goodrem and Joel Madden. Host is Darren McMullen. There are three phases of competition: The Blind Auditions, The Battle Rounds, and the Live performance shows. One of the contestants is Melbourne performer Matt Hetherington. Thousands of talented singers from around Australia submitted their auditions online in a bid to join the program. The Voice will commence with The Blind Auditions. Coaches can select an artist for their team of competitors.
■ The former Donvale home of early Melbourne Tv and radio personality Shirley Cecil has been put on sale as a deceased estate through Ray White Manningham. Shirley was a 3DB and HSV-7 personality, and lived with husband Mike Lodge on the acre-block at 13 Wembley Gardens, Donvale. It is being sold by nieces Ruth Puchlenko and Judith Perry. Mike Lodge was a leading civil engineer. The property features four living zones, tennis court and water fountain, says agent Frank Perri. An April 21 auction is planned.