Canberra Pops Orchestra - "Magic and Musicals"

For its second 2009 concert the fabulous Canberra Pops Orchestra returns for another night of fine music, fun and frivolity with its latest show – Magic and Musicals.

There will be lush orchestral settings of highlights from many of the best loved musicals of all time. Amongst the treasured memories will be songs from Brigadoon, Oliver, Anything Goes and A Chorus Line and, from the world of light opera, tunes from The Gypsy Baron and The Merry Wives of Winsor. On the magic side the orchestra will perform the marvelous Mozart Overture, The Magic Flute and from The Planets by Gustav Holst, Uranus, The Magician. There will be some Magic of Walt Disney and, after the great success of the 2008 Bach to Beatles concert, Lucy Bermingham will lead the Pops Chorus in a Magical Mystery Tour.

Joining the orchestra as guest artist will be one of Australia’s most outstanding musical theatre performers – Peter Cousens. He played the role of the Phantom in the original London production of Phantom of the Opera then returned home to play Tony in West Side Story, Chris in Miss Saigon, Raoul in the Australian production of Phantom, Alex in Aspects of Love and, of course, Marius in Les Miserables. Peter has recorded three successful solo albums and has featured with Opera Australia and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. Wallabies captain, John Eales, was heard to comment after Peter sang at a Bledisloe Cup match that his interpretation of Advance Australia Fair “was the best rendition of our Anthem I have ever heard”. Peter created ‘Kookaburra’, Australia’s first and only national musical theatre company; a company dedicated to the advancement of Australian musical theatre performers, writers, directors and production personnel. Peter will sing a wide array of songs from his musical theatre career including Love Changes Everything, Empty Chairs, Music of the Night, If I Loved You and This is the Moment.

Don’t miss Peter together with Ian McLean and the fabulous Canberra Pops Orchestra, Pops Dancers and Pops Chorus in Magic and Musicals, another enchanting and entertaining evening of fine quality music.