Rhodes CONTENT IN QUARK 21/2/09 9:49 AM Page 1 DAVID HOBSON AND TEDDY TAHU RHODES IN CONCERT SHAROLYN KIMMORLEY, PIANO Rhodes CONTENT IN QUARK 21/2/09 9:49 AM Page 2 WELCOME MESSAGE It is easy to see why David Hobson They are joined by Australia’s leading and Teddy Tahu Rhodes have become accompanist, Sharolyn Kimmorley, two of opera’s most popular stars. who has worked closely with David The combination of outstanding vocal Hobson and Teddy Tahu Rhodes in talent, impressive stagecraft, and an devising this recital programme. amiable manner have won them I first proposed this tour over ten legions of fans and the respect of their years ago. The two artists are in such colleagues all over the world. demand, that it has only now come to We are fortunate that both these artists fruition! have devoted such a significant part of My thanks to their agent, Jenifer Eddy, their careers to performance here in who herself has made an outstanding Australia. contribution to opera in Australia, and Tonight you will have the opportunity to to Martin Buzacott of ABC Classics, witness an even wider range of their producer of You’ll Never Walk Alone, talent as they present a programme of their first album together. arias, folksong and show tunes. And a very warm welcome to all the music-lovers attending these very special concerts. ANDREW McKINNON PLAYBILL PRODUCER / PRESENTER AD Rhodes CONTENT IN QUARK 21/2/09 9:49 AM Page 4 DAVID HOBSON AND In an atmosphere of high emotion at the “We started the session with David and Both artists brought with them their wish-lists “David recorded it late at night, and our end of 2008, the two friends assembled Teddy singing ‘Amazing Grace’ but we of favourite songs, and the result is an album producer Virginia Read, vocal coach TEDDY TAHU RHODES at the Eugene Goossens Hall in Sydney didn’t realise that the studio doors had of music that uplifts the spirit and showcases Sharolyn Kimmorley, and I just sat there to record much-loved songs of hope, been left open,” says ABC Classics’ the uncanny beauty of these two silently in the Control Room with the tape HAVE RECORDED faith and glory, as if in defiance of the Martin Buzacott, the album’s Executive magnificent voices united as one. rolling, as time stood still,’ Buzacott says. glum mood of the times brought on by Producer. “When I went out to shut them, “It’s an album of great tunes,” says Hobson, Rhodes too wanted to stretch himself THEIR FIRST ALBUM the world economic crisis. I found a passing tradesman standing in whose own suggestions for duets included vocally, taking on repertoire that is The sessions were intense and we were the airlock, spellbound, with tears the Welsh classic ‘All Through the Night’ normally associated with very different TOGETHER FOR ABC very, very inspired,’ says David Hobson, streaming down his face. We knew from and Albert Malotte’s immortal setting of ‘The types of singers. His version of Leonard whose most recent albums The Promise that moment that this was going to be no Lord’s Prayer’. Rhodes nominated the stirring Cohen’s ‘Hallelujah’, accompanied by CLASSICS. “YOU”LL and A Little Closer have topped the ARIA ordinary album.” anthem ‘Battle Hymn of the Republic’ and harp and strings, might be the debut- NEVER WALK ALONE” charts. ‘This is the album Teddy and I an unusual version of ‘Little Drummer Boy’ – recording of this most popular song of have always wanted to make, but as popularised in a duet featuring the modern times in a performance by a WAS A FASCINATING because of our busy concert and implausible combination of Bing Crosby bass-baritone, while its chorus captures operatic schedules, it’s taken us literally and David Bowie. Rhodes’ falsetto head-voice for the first EXPERIENCE FOR ALL years to find the time.’ “In most cases we were faithful to the time on disc. Right from the first rehearsal, it was clear originals, but on a couple of tracks we went But the emotion of the sessions was CONCERNED that something special was going on. for these kinds of more modern versions,’ captured most poignantly on the title says Hobson. ‘For instance, we ended up track, the great Richard Rodgers classic recording ‘Go Tell It On the Mountain’ in an ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’, which was arrangement inspired by James Taylor!” recorded just an hour after Rhodes Hobson’s choices of solo repertoire included learned of the death of his friend and several pieces that featured in his headlining colleague, the conductor Richard concerts at the Sydney Opera House, Hickox, with whom he’d been working which occurred in between the album just days earlier. sessions. “People often ask me to sing ‘The “Teddy decided to deal with his grief in Holy City’ and ‘Gounod’s Ave Maria’,” he song, so he put on the headphones and says, “so I couldn’t leave them out.” began the opening verse,” recalls One of the stand-out tracks is Hobson’s Buzacott. “Those first words, ‘When you haunting take on the American spiritual ‘(I walk through a storm, hold your head up Am a) Poor Wayfaring Stranger’, which high, and don’t be afraid of the dark’, Buzacott remembers encountering on a had us all in tears. We knew Dusty Springfield television show. “I was a immediately that they had to become the child at the time, and it was the only time I very first thing that we hear on the ever heard it, but the beauty of that version album.” never left me.” Hobson tracked down that Throughout the recording process, performance on YouTube, and arranger conductor Guy Noble proved a Jessica Wells set about recreating it sympathetic accompanist in charge of especially for him to sing on the album. Sinfonia Australis. With arranger Wells also in attendance, the sessions proceeded with a sense of discovery and constant musical evolution, ideas being traded back and forth with each new take. “We were so ‘in the moment’ and I think that spontaneity and freshness and sheer joy of singing has been captured on the album,” says Hobson, who now sets out with Rhodes on a national tour in March, performing some of the same repertoire alongside opera classics. “None of us who was involved in it will ever forget the experience of recording this album, and we hope that audiences around the country will be as inspired by these great songs as we were.” Rhodes CONTENT IN QUARK 21/2/09 9:49 AM Page 6 DAVID HOBSON TENOR David Hobson began his operatic appeared with San Francisco Opera as career with Victoria State Opera in Chevalier de Danceny in the world 1987 as Rodolfo in La bohème and premiere of Dangerous Liaisons, Frederic in the company’s production of partnering Renée Fleming, Thomas the Broadway version of The Pirates of Hampson and Frederica von Stade Penzance. The following year marked under the baton of Donald Runnicles. his debut with The Australian Opera as David Hobson's concert engagements Perchik in Fiddler on the Roof, followed have included Messiah with the by Lawrence in the world premiere of Tasmanian and Sydney Symphony Brian Howard's Whitsunday. In the Orchestras, Gala New Year's Eve same year he was awarded the Dame concerts in Perth and Hobart, a Joan Sutherland Scholarship. Bernstein concert at the Sydney Opera Since this time, David Hobson has House, numerous appearances with become one of Australia's best known The Australian Pops Orchestra and for opera singers. He has performed many Carols in the Domain, Carols by roles for Opera Australia, including Candlelight, Elijah with the Sydney Count Almaviva (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), Symphony Orchestra under Christopher Marco (The Gondoliers), Tamino (The Hogwood, a performance in the Magic Flute), Don Ramiro (La presence of Prince Edward, a recital of cenerentola), Eisenstein (Fledermaus), French Lieder for the Australian the Architect in the world premiere of National Gallery, and Opera in the The Eighth Wonder, Ferrando (Così fan Vineyards. tutte), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), David Hobson is an impressively Rodolfo in the Baz Luhrmann production versatile artist who has worked in the of La bohème, Nanki Poo, Lindoro areas of rock, jazz, recording and (L'Italiana in Algeri), Piquillo (La television. As a composer, his works Pericole), Orphée (Orphée et Eurydice) include a music theatre version of – the last five being televised nationally Macbeth, workshopped by the – Nadir (Les pêcheurs de perles) and Victorian Arts Centre, the chamber Michael Chamberlain in the world composition, ‘Remembering Rosie’, premiere of Moya Henderson’s Lindy. which was premiered in 2001 by He has also performed for Victoria State Opera Australia's OzOpera and the Opera as Ernesto (Don Pasquale), ‘Loch Ard Suite’ for the laser show at the Ferrando, Lindoro and, in concert, the Warrnambool Maritime Museum. He title role in The Student Prince and composed the score to the feature film, Alfred (Die Fledermaus); and Nadir for One Perfect Day, released in Australia West Australian Opera. In 1994 he Rhodes CONTENT IN QUARK 21/2/09 9:49 AM Page 8 in 2004 and subsequently in the USA. a gala concert with the Australian This score was nominated for the AFI, Opera and Ballet Orchestra and a APRA and IF awards for best original return to West Australian Opera to sing score and awarded the Film Critics Belmonte (Die Entführung aus dem Circle of Australia award for best Serail). original score. Together with the Performances in 2004/2005 included Australian composer David Ralph Rackstraw (HMS Pinafore) and Hirschfelder, David Hobson released a the Defendant (Trial by Jury) for Opera highly acclaimed CD of original Australia, Nanki-Poo at the Adelaide compositions titled Inside this Room.