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Melbourne Observer - Wednesday, May 25, 2016 - Page 7
‘Sound of Music’ climbs every mountain
Interview: Mike Brady with John O’Keefe
■ Do Re Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain and So Long, Farewell delighted the 2000-strong audience at Sound of Music at the Regent Theatre on Thursday. The 2½-hour show (includes 20-minute interval) has everything. Independent reviewer Simon Parris said on his Man In Chair website: “This polished production is set to continue the love affair, while introducing a new generation to the rose coloured optimism of the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic. ● At front from left: Louisa (Bronte Muir), Brigitta (Chloe Vigilante), Marta (Kayla Muir), Gretl (Annie Jones); second row, Kurt (Joshua Vass); third row, Friedrich (Jackson Rudge); with Maria (Amy Lehpamer), Captain Georg Von Trapp (Cameron Dadodo) and, at back, Leisl (Stefanie Jones). Melbourne
Observer
Showbiz News
By Cheryl Threadgold and Di Rolle
NZ artists perform tonight Briefs Online
■ After almost two years of work the High Country History Hub will be realised by the end of June. Comprising more than 10,000 pieces of historical information, the hub will go live for the first time this June. The High Country History Hub is the first of its kind and is a joint collaboration between the Mountain Cattlemen’sAssociation of Victoria, the Mansfield Historical Society and the Merrijig Public Hall Committee. - Mansfield Courier
■ New Zealand Chamber soloists are visiting Australia to present Aotearoa and Beyond tonight (Wed., May 25) at the Recital Centre. From the classicism of 18th-century Vienna to Czech folk music, the romanticisms of 19th century Prague and the traditional Greek dances and contemporary classical techniques this concert takes listeners on a journey through time and culture. This melting pot of influences and style defines the New Zealand Chamber Soloists as a piano trio, and capture what it means to be a New Zealand classical musician in the 21st century The New Zealand Chamber Soloists perform traditional classical repertoire and “new” music, unique to their Asia Pacific identity. One of the New Zealand’s premier chamber music ensembles, James Tennant (cello), Lana Hall (violin) and Katherine Austin (piano) perform regular within New Zealand and abroad whilst returning a a close
Melbourne Observations with Matt Bissett-Johnson
● New Zealand Chamber soloists Lana Hall, James Tennant and Katherine Austin association with the cert performances, juxta- work commissioned for Conservatorium of Music posing the old and new the trio from New at the University of worlds that meet in Zealand’s leading conWaikato. Aotearoa, New Zealand. temporary composer Primarily exponents of Among the works that John Psathas, who also piano trio repertoire they New Zealand Chamber wrote the music for the collaborate with compos- Soloists will perform at 2002 Commonwealth ers and musicians alike to Melbourne Recital Centre Games and 2004 Olymproduce vibrant and elec- tonight at 6pm will be pics opening and closing trifying festival and con- Corybas, which was at ceremonies.
Don’t come back for 3 years: VCAT
■ Dominic Zaffina's application to the Taxi Services Commissionfor accreditation to drive a commercial passenger vehicle and private bus has been refused by Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal member Elizabeth Wentworth. Zaffina has been disqualified from applying for driver accreditation for a period of three years. Zaffina was found guilty of two charges of ‘make threat to kill’ in 2011. He denies he did anything wrong, and says he is a victim. Zaffina has a long history of psychological ill-health, the Tribunal was told.
● Mike Brady ■ Mike Brady is back in town and Melbourne Observer reporter John O'Keefe caught up with him to check his schedule. JOK: You're just back from Ireland. Was the trip to record new material , drink Guinness, or catch up with new family members ? MB: I was there to meet my first grandchild Mossy Brady and to do a bit of work/research on a new Irish album I,m planning. I can't afford to catch up with all my relatives as Guinness is quite expensive these days and I have just too many. JOK:As a youngster did you have any bonds with Ireland? MB: Not really , although my dad always wanted to settle back in Dublin. We ended up in Australia, probably because the weather seemed better from that distance. The links were maintained with wearing shamrock on St Patricks Day and the march through the City which we just thought everyone did. JOK: Once the final siren sounds are you due to resume your Saturday show on 3AW? MB: Well I never really know whether I'm back on or not till the last couple of weeks before the last game. I won the ratings in the last survey but that’s no guarantee. It’s been 14 years now so you just never know!! JOK: On the subject of football, do the AFL have you on speed dial for another Grand Final Day performance ? MB: Ha ha. I always say we’re ‘in talks’ but nothing is finalised. I have a good relationship with the AFL these days and I love to do it but the main thing is the game. I must thank Meatloaf one day for helping me get back on the ‘playing list’. JOK: What do you regard as your greatest musical achievement from the heady days of MPD until now? MB: I think my Irish album Bloodlines The Australian Irish Story is the culmination of a lot of things I have learned in songwriting, and life in general.. Up There Cazaly is the most public thing and I'm proud of it but I like to think of myself as more than a ‘one trick pony’. JOK: Are you still composing advertising jingles? MB: Yes I still am but not as many as in the old days. I like to work with agencies that understand that many of my ‘old jingles’ are based on my strategic ability not just by capacity to write ditties. All the music tracks I've done that are still on air and working decades after I wrote them have a strategy ‘superglued’ to them. Original tracks still outperform existing tracks licensed for a small fortune with no particular relevance to the product. There are few exceptions. JOK: Now here's your chance to plug your forthcoming gigs, June onwards. MB: Ah well I'm off to Europe in June-July so I've got the Go Show Gold national tour in Oz late July. InAugust I'm doing a small tour with my Irish band around regional Austtralia. September-October is footy time for me and I do lots of shows at clubs around the country doing the old favourites Up There Cazaly, One Day in September etc. Bookings 9646 8300.