The Ten Tenors – Mum’s the Word Tour

The Ten Tenors  – Mum’s the Word Tour
Frog in a Sock Production. Executive Producer: D-J Wendt. Musical Director: Steven Baker. Concert Hall, QPAC, 15 May 2013

After touring Europe for the past four months The Ten Tenors came home to Brisbane, the city where their phenomenal success all started 15 years ago.

The continued popularity of this Australian opera-crossover group was in no doubt when they gave a capacity audience at the Concert Hall what they wanted – a little opera, “Nessun dorma” (Turandot), a little operetta, “Dein ist mein ganzes Herz” (Yours is my Heart Alone) (Land of Smiles), and a lot of pop; Men at Work’s “Down Under,” Meatloaf’s “I Would Do Anything For Love,” plus medleys of Elton John (“Your Song”), Michael Jackson (“Billy Jean”) and Queen (“Somebody to Love”).

With state-of-the-art lighting by Shawn Gallen, boy-band choreography by group-member Keane Fletcher, this group of personable young guys won audience approval time and time again with their vocal pyrotechnics and thrilling harmonies. Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” was a highlight, but then so too was “Ave Maria,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “The Boxer,” and Burt Bacharach’s “Close to You.” For harmonic brilliance though my personal favourite was “Waltzing Matilda.” I’ve never heard it sung better.

Kudos must also go to the trio of guys who made up the band: Michael Manikus on piano and keyboard, David Orr on acoustic and electric guitar, and especially Jackie Barnes on drums and percussion who was almost a show unto himself.

Peter Pinne            

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