Veronica’s Score: 4.5 Twinkling Stars
What a delight! Meeting Mozart promotes itself as a show for 2-8 year-olds, but this much older kid loved it. Standing with arms stretching to the ceiling while singing “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” with young children has a way of reminding you of the power of music to connect and transform us.
Running at a child-friendly 45 minutes, the show sets out to introduce kids (possibly) to their first taste of classical music and the work of Mozart. However, unlike attending a high brow concert in one of the bigger opera house spaces, no one has a passive experience. One of the joys, even as an adult, is how active we are encouraged to be. No sitting in respectful silence here.
Simon Tedeschi plays Mozart – yes, really – and he shares the stage with actor and comedian Emily Taylor as his wife and muse, Constanza. Dressed head-to-toe in Rococo fashion – high wigs, lace, frills and feathers – and with ludicrous German accents, the pair apply the rules of pantomime to invite us to enter the 18th-century world of a musical genius. With the fourth wall scarcely there, we have the youthful audience conducting the musicians, dancing the minuet, and knowing they can directly address the performers – they certainly do.
Tedeschi produces such glorious sounds from a piano, and watching his fingers move along the keys is mesmerising. That his adopted persona is more of “a cheeky monkey” merely is charming, and he proves a deft comic. He and Taylor bounce off each other beautifully and are supported by a quintet of talented young musicians: Lidia Bara (Violin), Ho Yin Alfred Yu (Violin), Eda Talu (Viola), Nazli Sendurgut (Cello) and Isabella Brown (Double Bass).
The show, written by Tedeschi, Tim McGarry, and Eva Di Cesare (who also directs) has been touring for a while now, so it’s very tight with no flat spots. Best of all, the performers seem to be having a wow of a time.
Highly recommended. Take your kids or borrow someone else’s.
Veronica Hannon, Theatre Now
4 – 13 Oct 2019
Venue: SOH: Playhouse Theatre
Theatre Company: Sydney Opera House
Duration: Approx. 40 Min (no interval)
Sing & Play Session $25 All Tickets (Fri 11th Oct 11am)
Premium $35
A Reserve $29
B Reserve $25
Friday 4 October at 10.30am, 12pm and 1.30pm
Saturday 5 October at 10.30am and 12pm
Sunday 6 October at 10.30am and 12pm
Tuesday 8 October at 10.30am and 12pm
Wednesday 9 October at 10.30am, 12pm and 1.30pm
Friday 11 October at 10.30am*, 12pm and 1.30pm
Saturday 12 October at 10.30am and 12pm
Sunday 13 October at 10.30am, 12pm and 1.30pm
*Relaxed Sing and Play performance
Watch with delight as renowned Australian pianist Simon Tedeschi assumes the persona of the musical wunderkind himself, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Watch with delight as renowned Australian pianist Simon Tedeschi assumes the persona of the musical wunderkind himself, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, on this journey into the music behind the man.
Joined by his wife and muse, Constanze for an introduction to Mozart’s music, from variations on ‘Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star’ to his major compositions. Little music lovers will meet all the instruments in the ensemble along the way, and discover some of Mozart’s best known and loved classical music.
Presented by Sydney Opera House
Written by Simon Tedeschi, Eva Di Cesare & Tim McGarry
Directed by Eva Di Cesare
