American Songbook Festival 2015

12 JUNE-4 JULY BROADWAY CLASSICS, JAZZ STANDARDS AND POP HITS

STORM LARGE

MELBOURNERECITAL.COM.AU/SONGBOOK

WELCOME Glorious musical standards from Broadway, roaring jazz parties, red-hot cabarets and pop icons – 20th-century America gave birth to a swag of singers, songwriters, composers and musicians who have defined American popular song. Melbourne Recital Centre's American Songbook Festival celebrates the exceptional song-writing and artistry that developed over the course of the 20th century with a brilliant line-up of local and international artists.

HOW TO BOOK

ONLINE Simply visit our website

MELBOURNERECITAL.COM.AU/SONGBOOK select your performances and follow the online booking instructions.

PHONE Give the box office a call on 03 9699 3333 Mon-Fri 9am-5pm to book your tickets.

BOOKING TICKETS IS SIMPLE. Purchase tickets to as many individual concerts as you like.

FOOD AND BEVERAGE PACKAGES Enjoy food and beverage packages at selected performances in the Salon.

Purchase these when you book tickets and save.

2 AMERICAN SONGBOOK FESTIVAL

IN PERSON Visit the box office in the ground floor foyer Mon-Fri 9am-5pm and two hours prior to all performances.

Transaction and delivery fees may apply

MARY WILSON UP CLOSE ‘Wilson is an incredible performer in her own right, combining raw talent with an elegance that is matched by her humility.’

Melbourne Recital Centre welcomes back Mary Wilson of The Supremes: Motown royalty, cultural ambassador and iconic entertainer. Get up close and personal with Mary as she shares stories and songs from the breadth of her celebrated career. The Supremes were the most successful vocal group in American history, with twelve #1 singles on the Billboard Hot 100, countless international tours, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Vocal Group Hall of Fame.

In Mary Wilson: Up Close you’ll hear hits such as ‘My World Is Empty Without You’ as well as Wilson’s own impeccable versions of standards such as ‘New York State of Mind’, ‘I Am Changing’ and ‘Both Sides Now’.

Sat 13 June 8pm Elisabeth Murdoch Hall (1 hour & 50-mins incl. interval)

TICKETS A reserve $75 (Conc. $65) B reserve $65 (Conc. $55) ARTISTS Mary Wilson, vocals (USA) Mark Zier, piano/musical director (USA) Frank Di Sario, bass Craig Fermanis, guitar Darryn Farrugia, drums

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STORM LARGE & LE BONHEUR ‘...sure to send shivers down your spine throughout this beautiful storm of a show.’

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL MAGAZINE Reuniting with her loyal and fearless band, Le Bonheur, Storm Large delivers a collection of tortured and titillating love songs; beautiful, familiar, yet twisted – much like Storm herself. Lead singer in Pink Martini and finalist in the reality show, Rock: Star Supernova, by the voice, beauty and visceral talent of Storm Large makes her an artist who truly lives up to her name.

Fri 19 June 8pm Elisabeth Murdoch Hall (1 hour & 15-mins no interval)

TICKETS A reserve $65 (Conc. $55) B reserve $55 (Conc. $45) ARTISTS Storm Large, vocals (USA) Le Bonheur

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PAINTED FROM MEMORY Michael Falzon and Bobby Fox interpret Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello’s heartbreaking Painted From Memory.

In the late 90s, Burt Bacharach teamed up with the inimitable Elvis Costello to create the remarkable song ‘God Give Me Strength’. Bacharach and Costello continued to write together, earning a Grammy Award for ‘I Still Have That Other Girl’ from the 1998 album Painted From Memory.

Taking its name from the Bacharach and Costello album, Painted From Memory will be a first for Melbourne Recital Centre audiences. Michael Falzon and Bobby Fox perform a unique interpretation of this classic album along with other classic hits.

Falzon and Fox are two well-established stars of the Australian musical theatre scene both individually hand-picked by music legends (Queen’s Brian May and Frankie Valli respectively) to star in We Will Rock You and Jersey Boys.

Thu 2 July 7.30pm Elisabeth Murdoch Hall (90-mins no interval)

TICKETS A reserve $65 (Conc. $55) B reserve $55 (Conc. $45) ARTISTS Michael Falzon, vocals Bobby Fox, vocals With orchestra Isaac Hayward, musical direction Jonathan Biggins, director In association with Asia Theatricals & Good Egg Creative

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THE SONGS THAT GOT AWAY THE MUSIC OF HAROLD ARLEN

WOMANIFESTO ‘Clotilde is an extraordinary talent.’

FANFARE MAGAZINE Women consistently play an extraordinary role in history.

In America, women have lent their voice to the struggle for their own rights, for civil rights, human rights and the movement for peace. The women of the American Songbook are emblematic of those movements. French singer Clotilde revisits this repertoire through her own eyes, own voice, and own experience as a woman singing the music of Nina Simone, Joan Baez, Janis Ian, Odetta and more.

Fri 26 & Sat 27 June 7pm

Salon in cabaret mode (90-mins incl. interval)

TICKETS

Take a stroll to 1930s Manhattan.

The music of Arlen reigns supreme with ‘Stormy Weather’, ‘I Got The World On A String’, ‘That Old Black Magic’ and the classic, ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’.

From 1930-1970, Arlen contributed over 500 songs to popular music sung by the likes of Lena Horne, Peggy Lee, Pearl Bailey and Judy Garland. These singers are synonymous with his music and have their own stories of tragedy and survival. A vocal powerhouse of jazz, blues, musical theatre and opera, Johanna Allen explores the music he wrote and the women who sang it.

Fri 12 June 7pm | Sat 13 June 4pm & 7pm

Salon in cabaret mode (70-mins no interval)

TICKETS $38 (Conc. $28) ARTISTS Johanna Allen, vocals Mark Simeon Ferguson, musical director 6 AMERICAN SONGBOOK FESTIVAL

$38 (Conc. $28) ARTISTS Clotilde, voice/flute (FRA) Alexandre Saada, piano/fender/loops/percussion/ukulele This concert is supported by Alliance Française

A JOURNEY THROUGH JAZZ, ALL STRUNG OUT

LADY SINGS THE BLUES ‘If we can’t have Billie Holiday, I’m more than happy with Mama Alto.’

ARTSHUB This year marks 100 years since the birth of jazz singer Billie Holiday, one of the most exquisite and influential vocalists to ever interpret the American Songbook.

Countertenor diva and cabaret artiste Mama Alto pays homage to the musical genius and cultural legacy of a complex and captivating icon, and celebrates the centenary of the legend called Lady Day. Sat 4 July 7pm

Salon in cabaret mode (1 hr & 20-mins incl. interval)

TICKETS

Celebrate the pioneers of jazz string playing.

Violinist and arranger, Roger Young takes the listener on a voyage which plots the line between jazz and classical chamber music. The program pays tribute to the pioneers of jazz string playing and celebrates some of the great vocal standards. A quintet of some of Melbourne’s most versatile string instrumentalists will share the stage with vocalist Sarah McDonald, pianist Hue Blanes and master drummer David Jones. A Journey Through Jazz, All Strung Out features the music of George Gershwin, Edgar Meyer, Pat Metheny and more.

$30 (Conc. $25) ARTISTS Mama Alto, vocals Tiffanni Walton, musical director/piano

Fri 3 July 6pm

Salon in cabaret mode (1 hr no interval)

TICKETS $38 (Conc. $28) ARTISTS Roger Young Collective 7

HOW TO BOOK

Enjoy food by Blondie and beverage packages at selected performances in the Salon.

ONLINE

Purchase these when you book tickets and save.

Give the box office a call on 03 9699 3333 Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm.

To avoid disappointment consider ordering food in advance.

Visit the box office in the ground floor foyer Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm and two hours prior to all performances.

Melb.Recital.Centre MelbRecital MelbRecital

MELBOURNERECITAL.COM.AU/SONGBOOK select your performances and follow the online booking instructions.

PHONE

IN PERSON

Transaction and delivery fees may apply.

Your transaction fees assist in supporting the Centre’s artistic program.

Salon seating is unreserved and may be arranged in various formats.

The information in this brochure is correct at time of printing.

Performance durations are approximate only and are subject to variation.

Please note food packages may be unavailable for purchase on the evening due to prior demand.

PRINCIPAL GOVERNMENT PARTNER

Cnr Southbank Blvd & Sturt St, Southbank, Victoria