All Rhodes lead to a festive feast

BOOMING baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes will be joined by other world-class performers when he serves up a feast of fine classical and traditional Christmas music in Tasmania next week. For the Teddy: ’Tis the Season shows in Hobart and Launceston, Rhodes will team up with rising star soprano Cristina Russo, leading Melbourne harpist Alannah Guthrie-Jones, and renowned Welsh concert pianist Rhodri Clarke, plus two talented Tasmanian youngsters. With an ARIA Award, two Helpman Awards, a Limelight Award, a Green Room Award and a MO Award to his name, New Zealand-born Rhodes has become a major international star. He has won a legion of fans with his turns in shows including South Pacific, The King and I, Don Giovanni and Sweeney Todd, as well as concerts with the likes of the Tasmanian, Melbourne and New Zealand symphony orchestras.

Russo has established an international career spanning opera, theatre, concert and film, including performing key roles for Victorian Opera and appearing as a soloist in Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor, and many more.

Guthrie-Jones studied harp at the Victorian College of the Arts and then London’s Royal Academy of Music, where she won the Guy McGrath Harp Prize.

She has also worked with the Melbourne, Adelaide, West Australian and Tasmanian symphony orchestras.

Clarke graduated with first- class honours from the Royal College of Music and has performed around the world as a piano soloist, accompanist and chamber musician, at venues such as Berlin’s Philharmonie, the Vienna Konzerthaus, London’s Royal Festival Hall, the Sydney Opera House and New York’s Carnegie Hall.

Teddy Tahu Rhodes and friends present ’Tis The Season at the Theatre Royal from 7.30pm on Tuesday.

Tickets are $65-$89, phone 6233 2299 or go to www.theatreroyal.com.au for bookings.

The show then moves to Launceston’s Princess Theatre on Wednesday night. Go to www.theatrenorth.com.au for bookings.

The Hobart concert will also feature talented 13-yearold local singer Gryff Connah.

In Launceston, 12-year-old Sahara Rumble will join Rhodes and Russo on stage.