Music News Australia

Saturday, 24 March 2012

Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour; Red Carpet

Earlier this evening Mrs Macquarie’s Chair hosted the red carpet event for Handa Opera.

It was one for Opera buffs and a few politicians showed up also, including NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell.

Fortunately the rain stayed away, which was a relief for organisers.

Well done to everyone who helped organise the event, and we wish them commercial success with the production which is understood to be world class.

Press Release

La Traviata: Handa Opera On Sydney Harbour 2012
24 May 2011

Fireworks, a harbour stage and a giant chandelier will transform opera in Sydney like never before when Opera Australia presents La Traviata on Sydney Harbour for an exclusive three-week season starting 24 March 2012. It will be the first opera in Australia to be held on a tailor-made stage built over the water off the Royal Botanic Gardens and will be directed and
designed especially for this unique outdoor staging. It is the Company’s most ambitious project to date, working in conjunction with Events NSW on behalf of the NSW Government to attract audiences from across the globe to be a part of this uniquely spectacular opera event. Francesca Zambello will stage direct the production which will also feature sopranos Emma Matthews
and Rachelle Durkin, and tenors Ji-Min park and Gianluca Terranova as well as Jonathan Summers and Warwick Fyfe. Tickets with prices ranging from $85 - $350 with full dining + show packages available, go on sale to the public on 4 July 2011.

A new sponsorship has been secured from The international Foundation for arts and Culture under the auspices of Dr Haruhisa Handa, who is renowned for his passion and support of cultural endeavours across the globe. Together with funding from events nSW on behalf of the NSW Government, the IFAC sponsorship will enable Opera Australia to roll out three annual seasons of what will now be known as Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour.

Events NSW on behalf of the NSW Government, will work with Opera Australia to reach out to potential markets across Australia, New Zealand, Asia, Europe and the USA to stimulate tourism to coincide with this major opera event.

NSW premier Barry O’Farrell said Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is set to confirm our place as one of the world’s most breathtaking cities.

“Opera on the Sydney Harbour will be a spectacular event and will focus national and international attention on Sydney. Sydney Harbour will once again become the stage, attracting people from all over the world. Supporting events like this which have such a bold vision is a key priority for our Government. The countdown is officially on, bring on 24 March 2012,” Mr O’Farrell said.

Adrian Collette, Chief executive of Opera Australia said “a vision of this scale is only possible when it’s a vision shared and we’re very fortunate to have such partners in the The International Foundation for Arts and Culture, and Events NSW on behalf of the NSW Government.”

News...

Opera Australia announces stellar lineup

Fireworks, a harbour stage and a giant chandelier will transform opera in Sydney like never before when Opera Australia presents La Traviata on Sydney Harbour for an exclusive three-week season starting 24 March 2012. It will be the first opera in Australia to be held on a tailor-made stage built over the water off the Royal Botanic Gardens and will be directed and designed especially for this unique outdoor staging. It is the Company's most ambitious project to date, working in conjunction with Events NSW on behalf of the NSW Government to attract audiences from across the globe to be a part of this uniquely spectacular opera event.

Francesca Zambello will stage direct the production which will also feature sopranos Emma Matthews and Rachelle Durkin, and tenors Gianluca Terranova and Ji-Min Park as well as Jonathan Summers and Warwick Fyfe.

Tickets with prices ranging from $85 - $350 with full dining + show packages available, go on sale to the public on 4 July 2011.

“unique, high-calibre shows of this level represent a creative and cultural landscape of which Sydney can be. Showcasing local talent on a world stage, Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour is something for us all to look forward to” said Lord Mayor Clover Moore MP.

internationally-acclaimed director Francesca Zambello has been appointed to steer the first production, bringing particular expertise in staging outdoor opera gleaned from Bregenz Festival in Austria, where she directed West Side Story on a floating barge in 2004. Her career has spanned theatre, music theatre, film and opera and has ranged from Aladdin at Disneyland and
The Little Mermaid on Broadway, to War and Peace for Paris Opera and Carmen for Opera Australia. She is a multi-award winner including three Olivier Awards, two Evening Standard Awards, two French Grand Prix des Critiques, a Palme d’Or in Germany, a Best Production Award in Japan, a Golden Mask Award in Russia and a Helpmann Award in Australia. She is currently the Artistic and General Manager of Glimmerglass Summer Festival and Artistic Advisor to the San Francisco Opera. She lives in London and New York.

“When Lyndon first mentioned the prospect of doing something in such a unique and spectacular setting, it appealed to me immediately. The chance to work with Opera Australia and its wonderful performers to bring La Traviata to the stage is something that i would always consider an exciting undertaking. but staged on the water, under the stars and with that iconic Sydney skyline as a backdrop, this is truly a special opportunity” said Ms Zambello.

Joining her on the creative team is award-winning set designer Brian Thomson whose recent work with Opera Australia has included La Bohème (2011) and Bliss (2010). Brian’s set design has been devised in close collaboration with the stage director and includes a giant chandelier so enormous it requires its own barge! The set design is complemented by a sophisticated
lighting design by John Rayment which will create atmosphere through colour, projections, dazzling light displays and fireworks. Costume designer Tess Schofield will transform Opera Australia’s singers, dancers and actors into a spectacular throng of romantics and party-revellers, maintaining its glamour through to the heart-breaking finale. The Orchestra will be
conducted by Opera Australia favourite, Brian Castles-Onion and the choreographer will be Stephen Baynes.

Lyndon Terracini, artistic director of Opera Australia said, “Opera is the most spectacular art form, and Sydney Harbour is the most spectacular cityscape. What could be better than combining these to create the ultimate event? Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour will become one of those ‘once in a lifetime’ events that you won’t want to miss..

Websites

Opera On Sydney Harbour

www.operaonsydneyharbour.com.au

Opera Australia

www.opera-australia.org.au

AB Publicity

www.abpublicity.com.au

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Friday, 23 March 2012

Lenny Kravitz Performs at Sydney Entertainment Centre

Lenny Kravitz by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer

Lenny Kravitz, a photo by Eva Rinaldi Celebrity and Live Music Photographer on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
Lenny Kravitz, The Cranberries and Wolfmother Perform At Sydney Entertainment Centre

Tonight's the night. McManus Entertainment and the Sydney Entertainment Centre have brought together three of the greatest bands on the planet - under the one roof. Enter legendary Lenny Kravitz, The Cranberries and Australia's own Wolfmother.

The anticipation of music lovers in Sydney has been building and was further fuelled along by the announcement of promoter Andrew McManus...

"Not only will rock fans around Australia get to enjoy these three great artists, highlights of Lenny’s performance will be broadcast around the world via the F1 Rocks network to a huge international audience. It’s been 18 years since Lenny Kravitz last toured Australia. Lenny is an international superstar and it’s a pleasure to bring him back here. And it’s perfect timing for those that are at the Grand Prix in Melbourne. Fans can conveniently walk over from the track to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and enjoy a great night of rock in Melbourne".

Promo...

Get ready to rock Australia! McManus Entertainment in association with F1 Rocks is thrilled to announce the return of rock icon Lenny Kravitz to Australia in March 2012. Marking his first concert appearance in the country in 18 years, Lenny will be joined by Irish chart-toppers The Cranberries, and Aussie rockers Wolfmother. In addition to playing Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl during the Australian Grand Prix weekend, Lenny Kravitz, The Cranberries and Wolfmother will also be playing shows in Sydney, Wollongong, Brisbane and Perth.

“Not only will rock fans around Australia get to enjoy these three great artists, highlights of Lenny’s performance will be broadcast around the world via the F1 Rocks network to a huge international audience. It’s been 18 years since Lenny Kravitz last toured Australia. Lenny is an international superstar and it’s a pleasure to bring him back here. And it’s perfect timing for those that are at the Grand Prix in Melbourne. Fans can conveniently walk over from the track to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and enjoy a great night of rock in Melbourne,” says promoter Andrew McManus.

Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre, style and class into a 20-year musical career, one which revels in the rich influences of '60s and '70s soul, rock and funk. Lenny Kravitz is a four-time GRAMMY Award winner and has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide. The artist’s multiple talents as a writer, producer and multiinstrumentalist have resonated through eight studio albums into a timeless catalogue. Lenny Kravitz released his ninth studio album earlier this year, Black and White America (out now through Roadrunner Records). Marking his first release of new material in three years, Black and White America is a rich rock and funk-infused collection filled with Lenny’s signature guitar riffs, compelling melodies and the undeniable anthemic lyricism that has been his trademark over the course of his 20-year career. In addition to the release of his new album, Lenny Kravitz will appear in the upcoming motion picture "The Hunger Games" set for release in March 2012.

“I am excited to return to Australia after so many years away,” says Lenny. “It's going to a great show and I cannot wait to see all my fans there. We are going to bring it!”

The Cranberries, fronted by Dolores O’Riordan, lit up the charts around the world for more than a decade with classics such as Linger, Dreams and Zombie. They have sold more than 30 million records and have had two number one albums in Australia, No Need To Argue (1994) and To The Faithful Departed (1996). Other live favourites include Free To Decide, When You’re Gone, Salvation, Ode To My Family and Ridiculous Thoughts. After taking a few years off to raise their families, the band are thrilled to be back with their new album, Roses (released next year through Shock Records on February 10), their first record in more than ten years since Wake Up And Smell The Coffee in 2001.

In 2007 Aussie rockers Wolfmother won a GRAMMY Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for their single Woman. This followed ARIA Award wins for Best Group, Best Breakthrough Album and Best Rock Album for their debut self-titled album. The album Wolfmother has been certified 5 x Platinum in Australia (as well as Gold in the US, UK and Canada). Their latest album, Cosmic Egg, was released in 2009 and debuted at number three in the Australian charts (as well as charting in Europe and US).

Thank yous...

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been diligently working away in putting this awesome concert together... especially the good folks at Flourish PR and McManus Entertainment.

News Update...

Near capacity crowd

Stay tuned for a full report, review and some exclusive photos from Sydney in a few short hours.

We'll see you back at the Sydney Entertainment Centre again really soon.

Websites

Lenny Kravitz
www.lennykravitz.com

The Cranberries
www.cranberries.com

Wolfmother
www.wolfmother.com

Sydney Entertainment Centre
www.sydentcent.com.au

McManus Entertainment
www.mcmanusentertainment.com

Flourish PR
www.flourishpr.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr
www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotograph

Eva Rinaldi Photography
www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia
www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Thursday, 22 March 2012

Katy Perry New Music Video 'Part Of Me' Goes Live; Worldwide Buzz

Pop music sensation Katy Perry has just released her new music video for 'Part Of Me' live over the internet via YouTube, and the reaction has largely been very positive, with internet click counters are going crazy.

Analysts at agency firms such as Hitwise and Media Man believe the latest Katy Perry music video will have a strong chance of "breaking internet and television" records.

To no great surprise, the song and video are about a relationship break-up, with art once again reflecting live in a performing artists release.

While the song itself was written many years before Katy even met Russell Brand, she did alter some of the lyrics to reflect her current situation, singing:

"So you can keep the diamond ring, It don't mean anything, In fact you can keep everything, yeah yeah, Except for me."

In the music video, Katy catches out her boyfriend messing around with another woman, and to help get over it she joins the army. She even cuts off her hair, starts training for battle, and goes into the combat zone.

Don't change your dial and we'll have more Katy Perry news for you really soon, plus more scoops from the world of music and entertainment.

Well done Katy, and we look forward to seeing you back down under in Australia again soon.

Websites

Katy Perry official website

www.katyperry.com

'Part Of Me' music video on YouTube

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuwfgXD8qV8

EMI Music

www.emimusic.com

The In Sound From Way Out

www.theinsoundfromwayout.com

Eva Rinaldi Photography Flickr

www.flickr.com/evarinaldiphotography

Eva Rinaldi Photography

www.evarinaldi.com

Music News Australia

www.musicnewsaustralia.com

Lenny Kravitz Headlines Sydney Entertainment Centre; The Cranberries and Wolfmother Support

Tonight's the night.

Hungry for some Lenny Kravitz news? Wait no longer... no time for games fans.

McManus Entertainment and the world famous Sydney Entertainment Centre have brought together three of the greatest bands anywhere - Lenny Kravitz, The Cranberries and Australia's own Wolfmother.

The anticipation of music lovers in Sydney has been building and was further fuelled along by the announcement of promoter Andrew McManus...

"Not only will rock fans around Australia get to enjoy these three great artists, highlights of Lenny’s performance will be broadcast around the world via the F1 Rocks network to a huge international audience. It’s been 18 years since Lenny Kravitz last toured Australia. Lenny is an international superstar and it’s a pleasure to bring him back here. And it’s perfect timing for those that are at the Grand Prix in Melbourne. Fans can conveniently walk over from the track to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and enjoy a great night of rock in Melbourne".

Lenny Kravitz Song List...

Come On Get It
Always On The Run
American Woman
It's Over Till It's Over
Mr. Cab Driver
Black And White America
Fields Of Joy
Stand By My Woman
Believe
Stand
Rock And Roll is Dead
Rock Star City Life
Where Are We Running
Fly Away
Are You Gonna Go My Way
Let Love Rule

Promo...

Get ready to rock Australia! McManus Entertainment in association with F1 Rocks is thrilled to announce the return of rock icon Lenny Kravitz to Australia in March 2012. Marking his first concert appearance in the country in 18 years, Lenny will be joined by Irish chart-toppers The Cranberries, and Aussie rockers Wolfmother. In addition to playing Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl during the Australian Grand Prix weekend, Lenny Kravitz, The Cranberries and Wolfmother will also be playing shows in Sydney, Wollongong, Brisbane and Perth.

“Not only will rock fans around Australia get to enjoy these three great artists, highlights of Lenny’s performance will be broadcast around the world via the F1 Rocks network to a huge international audience. It’s been 18 years since Lenny Kravitz last toured Australia. Lenny is an international superstar and it’s a pleasure to bring him back here. And it’s perfect timing for those that are at the Grand Prix in Melbourne. Fans can conveniently walk over from the track to the Sidney Myer Music Bowl and enjoy a great night of rock in Melbourne,” says promoter Andrew McManus.

Regarded as one of the preeminent rock musicians of our time, Lenny Kravitz has transcended genre, style and class into a 20-year musical career, one which revels in the rich influences of '60s and '70s soul, rock and funk. Lenny Kravitz is a four-time GRAMMY Award winner and has sold more than 35 million albums worldwide. The artist’s multiple talents as a writer, producer and multiinstrumentalist have resonated through eight studio albums into a timeless catalogue. Lenny Kravitz released his ninth studio album earlier this year, Black and White America (out now through Roadrunner Records). Marking his first release of new material in three years, Black and White America is a rich rock and funk-infused collection filled with Lenny’s signature guitar riffs, compelling melodies and the undeniable anthemic lyricism that has been his trademark over the course of his 20-year career. In addition to the release of his new album, Lenny Kravitz will appear in the upcoming motion picture "The Hunger Games" set for release in March 2012.

“I am excited to return to Australia after so many years away,” says Lenny. “It's going to a great show and I cannot wait to see all my fans there. We are going to bring it!”

The Cranberries, fronted by Dolores O’Riordan, lit up the charts around the world for more than a decade with classics such as Linger, Dreams and Zombie. They have sold more than 30 million records and have had two number one albums in Australia, No Need To Argue (1994) and To The Faithful Departed (1996). Other live favourites include Free To Decide, When You’re Gone, Salvation, Ode To My Family and Ridiculous Thoughts. After taking a few years off to raise their families, the band are thrilled to be back with their new album, Roses (released next year through Shock Records on February 10), their first record in more than ten years since Wake Up And Smell The Coffee in 2001.

In 2007 Aussie rockers Wolfmother won a GRAMMY Award for Best Hard Rock Performance for their single Woman. This followed ARIA Award wins for Best Group, Best Breakthrough Album and Best Rock Album for their debut self-titled album. The album Wolfmother has been certified 5 x Platinum in Australia (as well as Gold in the US, UK and Canada). Their latest album, Cosmic Egg, was released in 2009 and debuted at number three in the Australian charts (as well as charting in Europe and US).

News Scoop...

Lenny Kravitz Discusses His Hunger Games Character's Sexuality...

Lenny Kravitz opened up about his character in The Hunger Games, and he explained why wanted to play the role of Cinna. Lenny further opens up further about his role, and the man who inspired his performance!

"I actually have a friend who is a dancer who is bisexual, and he was a lot of inspiration for my speech pattern and my rhythm, and kind of the way I sauntered in and out a little bit."

"I'll be quite frank with you — I didn’t know about Hunger Games — so when I'm telling kids and they say, 'Who are you playing?' and I say Cinna, they go, 'Oh you're playing the gay guy.' That was an actual answer. I've never brought that up yet. That's how they perceived it. So I thought about it, and I read the book and I don’t see that he is or isn't [gay]. He's a designer, he's a stylist, he has gold eyeliner—that doesn't mean anything either way."

"The question was how far do we go with him. The idea was to pull it back and create a character that's more like a Tom Ford or an Yves Saint Laurent so he wouldn’t be too outrageous. He's classic, he's got his gold. I kind of played him in the middle."

Thank yous...

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who has been diligently working away in putting this awesome concert together... especially the good folks at Flourish PR and McManus Entertainment.