Tanunda Town Band 2006 Classic's Concert

2006 Classic’s Concert: ‘Broadway’
28 October 2006
Guest Vocalists : James Pratt & Alexandra Gard.
Musical Director: David Polain.

The venue for this year's Tanunda Town Band Classic's Concert was the beautiful and historic Yalumba Winery at Angaston. Just for a moment, upon entering the grounds of this magnificent winery, we forget about the drought that's taking place and one find's yourself amongst established tree's, beautifully manicured lawns and the wonderful turn of the century buildings that adorn the grounds of Yalumba.
                           
Tanunda Town Bands guests are invited into the lower floor of the Upper Barrel Hall. Musty smells of raisins hang heavily in the air. Your entry ticket entitles you to a free glass of Barossa Valley sparkling wine and everyone chats. Old friends are catching up with each other and the atmosphere is convivial. The warmth of the heaters, the anticipation, the occasion and we suspect that glass of bubbly, warms one all over.

‘Classic's 2006', ‘Broadway', is the 3rd in the Classics Concert series. In 2004, it was the work of Verdi, 2005 it was the ‘Great Composers' This year is another sell-out performance and the 300 or so guests quickly fill the lower floor of this working winery.

In no time of all, everyone is ushered to the Upper level of the Barrel Hall.

This is a striking and unique room for a brass band performance. The backdrop, of the room, is a row of ‘turn of the century' 1000 imperial gallon wine barrels. (That's about 4000 litres a piece, for those not acquainted with imperial measures).

Everything's old. You can't but help notice this. The venue is old, the wines barrels are old, the floorboards are old and that musty earthy smell of a working winery permeates the air. The bands old too, 150 years just to be precise. This year the Tanunda Town Band celebrates 150 years of continuous banding and they are right at home, performing in the very own Barossa backyard, entertaining their loyal support base.

The rooms full, and the Tanunda Town Band, South Australia's Regional ‘A' Grade Band commences, ‘Classic's 2006', a journey to the bright lights of ‘Broadway'.

That journey beings with the 1956 Leonard & Bernstein song, Candide Overture. Technically exposed and requiring precision, there's some evidence of nerves from the band. Jacob Staehr on Principal Cornet steadies those nerves however with some polished playing.

New Musical Director David Polain is quick to welcome everyone. He's a fine commentator. Indeed, Polain is quite at ease in such high profile concerts. David is a member of the South Australian Police Band and plays Bass Trombone.  He freelances and regularly plays with the Adelaide Art Orchestra, many small bands and ensembles and has played in Porgy and Bess, Guys and Dolls (with the late, great Rick May) the English Ballet, Shout – the Musical, The Mikado and more recently the Boy from Oz with Hugh Jackman as well as backing Sir Harry Seacombe, Sir Tom Rice, Jason Robert Brown, Australia's Leading Ladies, Forbidden Broadway, Anthony Warlow to name but a few.

Polain has been the bands Musical Director in the past and it was obvious early on, that he was pleased to be back at the helm of this famous band directing his energy, skill, enthusiasm, creativity and professional approach.

Next up, was from 1934 & Cole Porter and the title song from the Broadway show of the same name Anything Goes. This piece flowed nicely and the band presented much more at ease.

From 1985 and ‘Les Miserable' came the Ballade I dreamed a dream. This piece was opened beautifully by Staehr on Cornet. Mark Smith on Flugel was in support and there was some very nice and intricate playing from the Euphoniums. Justin Kennedy on Soprano Cornet, just a smidgen tense, but still very nice.

Tenor - James Pratt joined the band for the next segment.

Pratt hails from South Australia's Yorke Peninsula in the mid north. He has studied singing with Robert Dawe for eleven years, but currently lives in Sydney where he has taken up a scholarship to study at the Sydney Conservatorium. James has sung with the State Opera of South Australia for Parsifal, El Nino, Dead Man Walking, The Ring Cycle, La Traviata and La Boheme. As well as playing the principal roles of Tamino, Nanki, Poo, and Orfeo, James has conducted productions of The Sorcerer, Oliver, Camelot and Guy and Dolls.

Also in 2006, for the first time, James was guest artist at Tanunda Town Bands annual Melodie-Nacht. He was thrilled to be invited back to work with Musical Director David Polain and the Band for the Broadway concert.
 
Pratt superbly sang with band, Luck be a lady and The Impossible Dream from the Broadway Show, 'Guys and Dolls'.

Next and from the 1964 Stage Musical, and made into a film, in the form of ‘Fidler on a roof' was Mike Magin - Euphonium, accompanied by band. It was a popular choice for the more mature in the audience.

Soprano Singer - Alexandra Garde joined the band for Can't help lovin Dat Man and Send in the Clowns.
                                                                                                         
Garde has a Bachelor of Music from the Elder Conservatorium. A Soprano, Alex has played roles including Tracy Lord High Society, Petra A Little Night Music, Tessa The Gondoliers, Nimue Camelot, Yum-yum The Mikodo and as a featured soloist with the Gilbert & Sullivan Society of South Australia.

Garde's performance with band, of Send in the Clowns was just stunning. Mark Smith on Flugel, was set a difficult a solo in support which was impressively executed.

Tanunda Town ended the first half with a compilation piece from the 1968 Hippie era and the well known show Hair.

Half time is an opportunity, to be treated to complimentary cheese platters and an opportunity to buy another glass of fine South Australian Red or White Wine. Everything impeccably handled by the bands support staff, just to make you feel special.

A compilation piece from Leonard & Bernstein's West Side Story featured as the bands opening number for the second half.

Gershwin's I've got Rhythm was next.

Soprano Alex Garde joined the band for Pogey & Besses Summertime Her sultry presentation next of All that Jazz was gorgeous.

James Pratt later sang, Do you hear the people Sing.

Pratt and Garde and Band combined for the Phantom of the Opera's Music of the Night.

The show ended with rapturous applause and a standing ovation upon the completion of 76 Trombones.

150 years strong, the Tanunda Town Band had pulled off a stunning exhibition of Broadway Classics. The band was superbly supported by their wonderful vocalists James Pratt and Alexandra Garde.

This was an important performance for the Tanunda Town Band and their new Musical Director David Polain. Established in 1857, this band comes with an enviable reputation for flair and performance. It is the oldest band in continuous existence in the southern hemisphere and it was patently obviously the band was very comfortable performing in their very own Barossa Valley.

This concert signalled the start of the bands sesquicentenary year festivities.

On the 6th of October 2007, the Tanunda Town Band will co-host the 2007 South Australian Band Championships with the best bands from around Australia and overseas.

Tanunda Town Band's 2007 Classic Show ‘Broadway' was reviewed for the SA Band Association web-site by Andrew Stone.

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