All go for Figaro, another fine production by ETO
Dan Baird and Homemade Sin, with their classic hard rock from the USA, will be shredding riffs in Kinross on Sunday, May 27 with an energetic gig at the Green Hotel.
Dan Baird was the main songwriter in The Georgia Satellites, known chiefly in the UK for ‘Keep Your Hands to Yourself ’ and for blowing Status Quo offstage at the Reading Rock Festival in 1987.
Dan has been writing, touring and producing since leaving the Satellites, and anyone listening to UK rock radio in the last few years should also have heard ‘I Love You Period’ – another runka-runka-three-chords-and-acloud-of-dust boogie that helped cement his reputation.
Homemade Sin performs a mixture of Baird’s solo material in addition to the hits and fan favourites from his years with The Georgia Satellites. To achieve a similar classic tube amplifier sound, Baird relies heavily on a vintage set-up very similar to what was used during his tenure with The Georgia Satellites.
Dan Baird performs Backstage at the Green Hotel next Sunday at 8pm. Tickets £20, www.mundellmusic.com The 2018 Perth Festival of the Arts burst upon us with an impressive production of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, writes Ian Stuart-Hunter.
A most welcome return visitor to Perth Festival of the Arts is always English Touring Opera. From their Cuban inspired production seen in Perth in 2010 they had a more traditionally staged performance played before a well- attended house in Perth Concert Hall, which transformed itself convincingly for opera: proscenium arch and large orchestral pit included.
This production convinced not only musically but really brought the personalities to life as individuals. Perhaps apart from the Jack-in-the-box acting of the Figaro, Ross Ramgobin, the intrigues and disguises seemed more believable.
The set was a blue and white flat aping a baroque interior which was to effect folded and re-folded to form differently shaped rooms. This was done with speed by members of the cast ensuring almost no halt between numbers.
By some miracle ETO always get their principals to look well together: the Susanna, Rachel Redmond, looked well with the Figaro and the Count, Dawid Kimberg, was a good aristocratic pair for his Countess, Nadine Benjamin.
In all cases their singing conveyed the role excellently: Susanna bright and pert; Countess Rosina, creamier with a wonderful top; Figaro, characterful in fun and threats; the Count, both feeling put upon and angry, yet with suave tone for flattery.
The second team of intriguers were also excellent: Gaynor Keeble, less acidic as Marcellina, Omar Ibrahim’s Bartolo vivid – both amusingly transformed as Figaro’s parents. The nastiness of JohnColyn Gyeantey as Don Basilio, effected in an oily tenor, was clear.
Devon Harrison as the Gardener, humorously singing in accent, and Barbarina, Abigail Kelly, in the pin aria, were most impressive in their contributions.
The period size orchestra under the lively, acute direction of Christopher Stark played with point and élan, only the horrible clangy electronic ‘harpsichord’ could be adversely criticized.
The well-filled Perth Concert Hall gave its enthusiastic appreciation. Again, it was a triumph for English Touring Opera. Long may they continue to return to Perth.
Dan Baird and Homemade Sin rock the boat Abigail Kelly (Susanna) and Nadine Benjamin (Countess Almaviva). Photograph by Jane Hobson