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| [/b]Music: Songs from the Movies at the Sydney Opera House[b] 08 May 2008 @ 16:53:09 by Catriona Menzies-Pike Reviewed by Tara Simmonds A trip down memory lane can be a real pain. All that reminiscing, shaking off of dusty memories, placing people and events – it’s enough to give you a head ache. Not so when your journey is accompanied by the superb talents of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra, a selection of star voices, and a hilarious, passionate conductor whipping up a storm of fun like a first time visit to Luna Park. ‘Songs from the Music’ is more than just classics belted out by an enthusiastic ensemble of guest artists including Kate Ceberano, Anthony Callea, Trisha Crowe, Todd McKenney and the marvellous Cantillation. It’s a sumptuous but more often raucous journey through some of the greatest film songs of all time. A mixed bag of easily recognisable, eagerly anticipated tunes and songs from films like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Arthur, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, The Mission, Titanic, 9 to 5, and Bridget Jones’ Diary had me rubbing my hands in delight at the first bar. The overall approach was perfect: a haphazard spectacle designed by Musical Director and Conductor Guy Noble to relax the audience and ensure we appreciated the talent on display and laughed at the on stage antics. This was less symphony as we know it, and more vaudeville. There were times I felt I was in the bawdy dance halls of old London, and happily so. Jokes, anecdotes, incessant costume changes, umbrella tricks and dance offs between the four stars. When McKenney sent Kate Ceberano’s music stand and lyrics crashing to the floor after finishing his first song, Noble cheekily suggested “changing the lyrics around” before she got on stage. From the time it began with Todd McKenney sauntering saucily on stage in dapper suit, hair slicked back, crooning ‘New York New York’, to the time it ended I was swept along, reliving movie moments, absorbing the spectacle and yes, rollicking down my own memory lane. And the line-up ensured every emotion got a look in along the way. When John Williams’ ‘Flying Theme’ from E.T. played, the racing tempo captured superbly by the orchestra with its gold harp tinkling like ethereal bells, had me sitting in the Albury Cinema at age 7, pulse racing as the BMX with E.T. perched in the basket launched itself up over suburbia to freedom. While the music and songs were for the most part solidly executed, there were three stand out performances. Trisha Crowe’s rendition of ‘My heart will go on’ from Titanic was sung in Italian and in an operatic key. It was a rare treat and the audience responded in form. ‘Requiem’ from the film Amadeus was solemn and mesmerising, Cantillation and the orchestra performed in perfect union, their rich harmonised voices reaching across the concert hall with ease. Perhaps they were inspired by Guy Noble dedicating the piece to Morris Iemma and his proposed privatisation of NSW electricity! I’d missed the Idol mania surrounding Anthony Callea and had only a vague notion of who he was before arriving. Thankfully his talent was spotted by others and he was a welcome addition last night. ‘Nella Fantasia’ from The Mission, which he performed with Cantillation was haunting and immensely enjoyable. His surprisingly strong voice resonated throughout the piece and I’m sure he left a few mouths open in surprise at such beauty. :wub: While the talented Todd McKenney wasn’t in my top three cherries of the night, he was the glue of the performers, maintaining a high consistent artistic standard and further entertaining the audience with anecdotes, umbrella antics in ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ and leading the group with ‘Love is in the Air’. And in the last moments of the second half you’ll be laughing until your sides ache. I wont ruin the surprise, but I guarantee you wont have seen anything like Guy Noble’s piece de la resistance, which had everyone in hysterics and almost brought the house down. So any complaints? Well, yes. I wanted more from Kate Ceberano. Such a big voice, gone disappointingly quiet in songs where it needed to be strongly heard. The classic ‘All by Myself’ from Bridget Jones’ Diary needs to be belted out, as does the refrain in ‘Calling You’ from Bagdad Café. Instead, in some parts I could barely discern her voice above the orchestra. She did however do an excellent version of ‘The Rose,’ resplendent in a purple gown. Trisha Crowe took until the second half to make an impact, where she then out shone everyone else. The first half was marred by an insipid ‘Over the rainbow’ which reduced the song to pretty tatters. This is a song of lament and it felt as though Crowe were singing, happily and airily, from over the rainbow, instead of searching for it. There’s a reason songs become favourite songs – they hit a chord with their listeners, literally. The music is so accessible, addictive, emotive, every passion is roused. And if you have the musicians, singers and conductor all throwing themselves behind the production with the rapt enthusiasm and humour they displayed last night you’re sure to come away feeling touched by the resplendent magic of movies and music. One can only lament the days when the movies were accompanied by an orchestra. Ah, Hoyts, there’s an idea. Songs from the Movies Sydney Symphony Orchestra Musical Director/Conductor: Guy Noble Sydney Opera House 8 May - 10 May 2008 |
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