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With some calling Baz Luhrmann’s much anticipated $130 million film epic Australia nothing more than a tourism commercial, it was surely time for the Aussies to deliver on their creative promises. At this week's stunning performance of stirring patriotism and talented diversity, the Aussies once again showed us they are much more than just deft hands at crocodile wrestling.
Carnegie Hall played host to the ‘Australia Plays Broadway’ concert event, which featured a selection of Australia’s most celebrated musical talents accompanied by the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. The event was part of G’day USA: Australia Week, which is the largest tourism event held in the U.S by any country.
The show was hosted by the talented and charming in equal parts, Simon Burke. He showed there was little he can’t master—his credits include 20 years on Play School, Australia’s answer to Sesame Street.
The indigenous Australian performers easily stole the show. Namely, a haunting performance in his native tongue by Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. Subtitles were artistically, if somewhat illegibly, projected behind him.
While twin brother Cellists Pei-Jee and Pei-Sian Ng left me profoundly aware that I have zero musical talent, such was the extraordinary mastery of their performance.
The indie talent of the night was supplied by Sydney singer/song writer Lior. A superb performance of his song Bedouin Song—a nod to his Middle-Eastern heritage—had me downloading it from iTunes the moment I later walked through my front door.
The headliner of the night was of course Olivia Newton-John. She spoke of fundraising efforts for her Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre in Melbourne, Australia. As always she was an absolute delight and her performance of I Honestly Love You was truly heartfelt and culminated in a touching wave to her husband in the audience.
It was a show with a million moving parts and with more than 17 individual songs performed with all manner of instruments, it was no mean feat executing it so beautifully and professionally.
The finale involved all the performers of the evening on stage including a swarm of children from the Qantas choir. It was a medley of songs from one of the greats of Australian song writing, Peter Allen. The rendition of I Still Call Australia Home would have caused even the most hardened Aussie in the audience to choke up and swear to call home more often.
Once again I am left with a sneaking suspicion that with their pristine beaches, perfect weather and beautifully diverse artistic culture that the Aussies absolutely have it all.
Tags:
australia plays broadway, gday usa, lior, olivia newton john, peter allen, simon burke
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Posted on 1/22/2009
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