|
David Hobson and Teddy Tahu Rhodes In Concert
Presented by:
Andrew McKinnon Presentations
Venue:
Frankston Arts Centre
Reviewer:
Simon Parris
Date
Reviewed:
Saturday
7th March 2009
Following the recording of their album ‘You’ll
Never Walk Alone’, the planets have aligned to provide a gap in the
schedules of two of Australia’s busiest stars so that they could
tour the country together in concert.
Separately David Hobson and Teddy Tahu Rhodes
have enjoyed spectacular opera successes. Together they are a
powerhouse of talent, which is used to great effect in this
sublimely entertaining concert.
The peak years of Hobson’s operatic career
coincided with a prolific time in the filming and televising of
Opera Australia’s productions. A prolific solo recording artist as
well as opera star, his greatest hit was surely the acclaimed 1993
Baz Lurhmann production of ‘La Bohème’. Now known to a wider
audience thanks to his appearances on ‘It Takes Two’ and ‘Dancing
with the Stars’, Hobson has a boyish, charming stage presence. He
engages in warm conversation with the audience, always with a
twinkle in his eye. The distinctive timbre of Hobson’s tenor voice
sounded as gorgeous as ever in selections ranging from the
well-loved ‘La Bohème’ aria ‘Che Gelida Manina’ to Rodger’s and
Hammerstein’s timeless ‘Younger than Springtime’.
Originally
from New Zealand, Tahu Rhodes has thrilled opera audiences around
the world with his mellifluous bass-baritone voice – not to mention
his sexy stage presence. His appearance in Opera Australia’s 2007
production of ‘Don Giovanni’ in particular whipped Melbourne opera
goers into a frenzy. With an equally charming stage presence, Tahu
Rhodes thrilled the concert audience with ‘Yeletsky’s Aria’, from
the seldom-heard Tchaikowsky opera ‘Queen of Spades’, and another
‘South Pacific’ selection: ‘This Nearly Was Mine’. Another highlight
was ‘Toreador Song’, which he will perform for New York’s
Metropolitan Opera next February in their new production of
‘Carmen’.
Proceedings were given a extra dose of class with
the presence of highly skilled, highly sought after accompanist
Sharolyn Kimmorley. With an intuitive, feather light touch on the
grand piano Kimmorley gave the gentlemen unwavering support without
drawing the slightest focus from them.
Beginning with the exquisite musical scene ‘Ah
Mimi, tu più non torni’ from act 4 of ‘La Bohème’, the first act of
the concert featured opera and classical selections, culminating in
the all time classic ‘Au Fond du Temple Saint’ from Bizet’s ‘The
Pearlfishers’. This just about brought the house down and left the
audience hungry for more after the intermission.
The second half featured an eclectic mix of
Broadway classics, Australian Folk songs, an American spiritual and
a Victorian parlor song. Throughout the night Hobson and Tahu Rhodes
displayed good hearted camaraderie, with even a dash of choreography
thrown in for Cole Porter’s ‘Brush up your Shakespeare’. The
audience were spellbound the whole time and greatly appreciated the
3 or 4 encores.
Melbourne audiences have a second chance to see
the concert, with a city staging scheduled for Tuesday 17th
March at Hamer Hall. Bookings are through Ticketmaster:
http://www.ticketmaster.com.au/David-Hobson-Teddy-Tahu-Rhodes-tickets/artist/1272316
Simon has
appeared in about 40 productions over the past thirty years. Recent
roles include Uncle Henry/Guard of the Gate in The Wizard of Oz
(Catchment) and Eugene Fodor in Crazy for You (Whitehorse). Other
favourite roles include Mr Fox in Mack and Mabel, Max in The Sound
of Music, Freddy in My Fair Lady, Julio in Paint Your Wagon,
Marcellus in The Music Man and Grantaire in Les Miserables.
Simon has
directed several school productions. Recently he choreographed
Urinetown and Little Shop of Horrors for St Michael’s Grammar
School. He is currently directing Hot Mikado for St Michael’s, to be
staged at the Athenaeum Theatre in May.
Simon has served
on the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Committee for five years, and
is currently Treasurer. He is also a keen audience member, having
seen over 50 shows in five weeks on a recent trip to New York and
London.
|