Strictly Baz Luhrmann: The Concert

It’s easy to forget that almost none of the songs in Baz Luhrmann’s movies are original - but rather covers fashioned by his fantastic aesthetic into ultimate movie moments.

With an eye no doubt to finding new audiences and paying down big debts, Opera Australia and its orchestra is staging a homage to those hit songs.

Fronting some 50 OA musicians, soloists Tim Draxl, Alinta Chidzey, Ryan Gonzalez and Phoebe Panaretos deliver musical memories from Strictly Ballroom, Romeo and Juliet, Moulin Rouge, The Great Gatsby and Elvis.   The four are off and running from the start with “Young Hearts Run Free”.

Three soloists were once plucked out by Baz for roles in his stage works.  Tim Draxl never actually worked with Luhrmann but shares going to a party at his place - but Baz wasn’t there!

But more than his showbiz musical colleagues, Draxl is also experienced in TV drama and stage; it shows in the actor’s truth he brings to songs like “Fever” (Elvis) and “Kissing You”, which so sublimely conjures the hand-to-hand first enchantment of Romeo and Juliet.

Most songs recall a wonderful vision of the film scenes in which they were embedded. Ryan Gonzales looks nothing like Prince but excels singing his “When Doves Cry” (R&J), and with Draxl soars through a dynamic “Roxanne” (Moulin Rouge).  He also teamed well with Phoebe Panaretos in “Time After Time” (over the inner Sydney rooftop through Strictly Ballroom) and her solo “Can’t Help Falling in Love” (Elvis) was especially tender. Alinta Chidzey took flight with “One Day I’ll Fly Away” (Moulin Rouge) and with Draxl in the final number, “Come What May”.

The quickly changed gowns and costumes were sparkling and lavish - and a reminder that this tribute was equally for Luhrmann’s creative collaborator, Catherine Martin.  Conductor Vanessa Scammell drove the orchestra at a pace which sometimes over-ran opportunities for a more subtle and quieter singing in this Mark Sutcliffe production.

But hell, it’s showbiz, and it all ends ecstatically with everyone up and waving through “Love is in the Air”.

Martin Portus

Photographer: Robert Catto