John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra have added some new events this holiday season. In addition to the traditional New Year’s Eve and The Day Before Gala Concerts, there are three other events.
It all kicks off with The Great Christmas Singalong with Silvie Paladino on Saturday 20th December. This is followed by They Sang at Carnegie Hall with Bernadette Robinson on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd of December. And then The Idols of Musical Theatre featuring Rob Mills, Casey Donovan and Paulini on December 27th and 28th. The events are all being held at the Melbourne Recital Centre. The concert series offers a diverse array of performances that will appeal to a wide audience.
I asked Bernadette Robinson how she came to be included in this holiday concert series with John Foreman’s Australian Pops Orchestra.
“I think I muscled my way in there!” she laughed.
Bernadette Robinson was just three years of age when she started singing the songs of Shirley Bassey to her family. Robinson’s mother would listen to country music, and so she learnt to sing like Patsy Cline very well. She remembers going to see the movie of Funny Girl and then adoring Barbra Streisand. She listened to their performances and then learnt how to portray them.
All these music influences have come together into a unique concert celebrating some of the world’s greatest singers, which includes everything from Edith Piaf to Judy Garland and Dolly Parton. The idea came when Robinson realised that Edith Piaf had performed at the legendary Carnegie Hall. She started investigating who else had performed there and put together a concert that pays tribute to nine incredible women, titled They Sang at Carnegie Hall. Nine different singers with entirely different styles.
Although They Sang at Carnegie Hall is essentially a concert, there will be some introductions to each of the singers being celebrated. In choosing what to include in the concert, Robinson’s “must include” is always Edith Piaf. Fans of Robinson’s work expect Edith Piaf to be included.
“I love her, it’s just a given!” said Robinson.
Bernadette Robinson is classically trained and loves to sing opera, which provides her with the opportunity to showcase her incredible vocals, and so she has included some songs from the opera Tosca.
Robinson admits some voices are harder to perform than others. While Shirley Bassey is easy, and Judy Garland is like falling off a log, Robinson said Eartha Kitt is surprisingly tricky. So too is Dolly Parton. She explained that sometimes it’s harder to find the delicate vulnerability in a performer like Dolly Parton, than the powerhouse of Shirley Bassey.
Bernadette Robinson has mastered the art of transitioning from one voice and style to the next. She said it takes focus and recalibration of her voice, but something she’s been able to manage. It also takes careful consideration of the order of the performances in a concert.
Earlier this year Bernadette Robinson performed these songs as part of the Morning Melodies series at the Arts Centre Melbourne. However, she was accompanied only by a piano. For the two They Sang at Carnegie Hall concerts Bernadette Robinson will be accompanied by the Australian Pops Orchestra, conducted by David Young.
I asked her what it’s like being backed by a full orchestra instead of just a piano.
She replied with a laugh, “Um, terrifying! Because I haven’t done it for so long!”
Bernadette Robinson has been performing for many years in one woman shows with either a small band or just a piano as accompaniment. She is looking forward to having a full orchestral backing.
“It’s just going to be so luscious! It will be magnificent. It will really lift me and will make me want to sing even better!’
For audiences who already love Robinson’s work, this is a rare treat to hear her perform with a full orchestra. For those new to Bernadette Robinson, this is the ideal time to experience her extraordinary performance.
For tickets: CLICK HERE
For more information https://apoconcerts.com/
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