We performed amidst vats in a winery in Bathurst, sold out the City Gallery in Wollongong, managed to miss the storms in Canberra and STILL get excellent numbers at the Street Theatre.

We received a standing ovation from our dear friends in Newcastle last night and tonight it’s onwards to the Glasshouse in Port Macquarie. We’re thrilled to be returning to Port Macquarie for the first time since 2005! Our final performance is at City Recital Hall Angel Place on Sunday afternoon before kicking back and sharing a few Christmas drinks.

The feedback has been wonderful with accordion sensation Marcello Maio stealing the show with his interpretation of some of the world’s most passionate music and winning more than just one heart along the way!

“…Marcello Maio provided sizzling accompaniment and deep emotional engagement with the repertoire” and went on to say “Maio stole the show with his remarkable musicianship, expertly navigating the exhilarating Libertango by Piazzolla¸ and providing numerous rich and varied accompaniments including the exquisitely delicate accompaniment for Silent Night.”
Jennifer Gill, Canberra Times – December 6.

>> View photos from Canberra’s performance at the Street Theatre last Sunday.

>>Listen to soprano Anna Fraser and Marcello Maio in their interpretation of the French favourite “Les Feuilles Mortes”.

Listen to Les Feuilles Mortes

>> Watch a 3 minute preview.

Tickets are still available to the following performances!

Port Macquarie Glass House, Friday 10 Dec @ 7.30pm
Sydney City Recital Hall Angel Place, Sunday 11 Dec @ 3pm.

Program highlights include tangos by Astor Piazzola, Brazilian bossa nova Corcovado (Quiet Nights and Quiet Dreams), carols from Mexico, folksongs from Colombia, French favourite Les Feuilles mortes (Autumn Leaves) and Brel’s ‘Ne me quitte pas’.

Don’t miss your opportunity to experience the Song Company a devilishly different light.

>> Book tickets online or phone on 8256 2222.

During the Brezhnev era, Andrei Filipov was a prodigy – the greatest conductor in the Soviet Union and he directed the famous Bolshoi Orchestra. But after refusing to expel his Jewish musicians, including his best friend Sacha, he was fired at the height of his glory. Thirty years later, he is still working at the Bolshoi, but… as a cleaner.

When Andrei intercepts a fax from the Theatre du Chatelet inviting the Bolshoi Orchestra to Paris, he comes up with a crazy idea: he’ll gather up his old musician friends (now working rag-tag jobs), head to Paris and pretend to be the famed orchestra to play Tchaikovsky’s “Violin Concerto.” The long-awaited dream to deliver one final performance!

“An intelligent, perfectly mixed blend of comedy and drama that is emotionally satisfying on every level: the music, top-notch performances from a stellar cast and a sharp, incisive script.” Arts and Opinion.

In Australian Cinemas from April 29.

To win, email prizes@songcompany.com.au

Men react differently on the whole. Older men are like the more respectfully distant version of their female counterparts. I misunderstood one man the other day when we were performing in the Art Gallery of NSW, as he called out to me: “Good luck with that!” I thought he was referring to the fact that I had lost my way to the lifts and was left dithering near the Archibald’s. Younger men glance down at my stomach then hastily look back up again and go into a mild form of shock. Some of them even take a visible step back. “Don’t worry!” I want to say. “You’re not the father!”

Ruth will be taking maternity leave next month. We wish her and Mungo the best of luck with this next life stage.