MESSAGE FROM DAVID...

Thanks to all those who have inquired about the new CD The Enchanted Way. It will be released on April 30 and has been a great joy on so many levels.

Collaborating with friends, brilliant colleagues and recording material I've wanted to do for many years. I have a strong British heritage (Welsh, Scottish, and English) and songs like Danny Boy, She Moved through the Fair and Loch Lomond being in my concert repertoire for years. Growing up in Ballarat and hearing my father singing many of these wonderful Celtic and Folk melodies has made it feel like a natural process in my career - a homecoming of sorts.

I hope you enjoy these truly great songs and perhaps for some you'll discover for the first time some of these gems of the British Isles. The melodies are timeless and in some cases we have just let them speak for themselves with little or no accompaniment at all like Danny Boy and She Moved through the Fair in line with their folk origins. On other songs like Bushes and Briars and Barbara Allen we adopted a more 'Vaughn Williams-esque' style accompaniment - lush and descriptive. Jessica Wells and I had a great time planning the general soundscape of the album and her fantastic arrangements have been realised by The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Flinders Quartet.  Friends Paul Kelly and Janine Maunder dropped by to sing and add a little of their magic. Conducted by my friend Ben Northey (we both grew up in Ballarat) made it even more special.

Now I'm busily preparing the role Eisenstein for Opera Australia’s Die Fledermaus. It's a great cast with Antoinette Halloran, Amelia Farrugia, Catherine Carby, Warwick Fyfe, Stephen Smith, Kanen Breen, actor Paul Blackwell and a guest appearance from Yvonne Kenny. The stylish production is by incumbent Artistic Director of the Sydney Festival Lindy Hume whom I've worked with many times before. It should be a lot of fun as it is a fantastic production. Brian Castles-Onion is waving the baton and is great fun to rehearse with.

In between rehearsals I'm off to Queensland to do Opera in the Vineyards with the talented young soprano Jacqueline Porter and accompanist David McSkimming (busy week that one!)
The Adelaide Cabaret Festival beckons in June with my one man show 'Am I Really Here' with an ensemble led by the other 'David' of the keyboard David Cameron (he also adds guitar and sitar)

Probably my biggest challenge this year is Winterreise in July of which I'm very excited about.
In between all of this I'm one of three presenters on the new Foxtel Arts channel called STVDIO (yes that is a V). It's driven by SBS and has a wonderful array of Arts programs that not only bring great performances but get behind the scenes and up close and personal with artists and performers from every discipline. The other presenters are ballerina Darcey Bussell and singer Katie Noonan

Then onto a tour with the magnificent Yvonne Kenny. Very exciting! Not only is she one of our most distinguished artists ever she is also a lovely person and I am indeed fortunate to be sharing the stage with her. I believe this will be a very special concert series and the material we are preparing is sublime but more on that later.

I've also been busy training to get my SLSA Bronze medallion - just one of those things I never got around to until now.
I would like to acknowledge the passing of the great Scottish Tenor Kenneth McKellar who was a great inspiration not only for his beautiful interpretations of some of this material but also his honest and direct singing on his Handel recordings of which I am in still in awe: a true singing master.

Best wishes to all and I do hope you enjoy the new CD.
David

The year ahead ……

MARCH 2010

STVDIO
On March 25 Foxtel and SBS announced the exciting new arts channel STVDIO. It was also announced that David Hobson will be one of the key presenters on the channel. David brings his unique personal insights to his role as presenter. Armed with his trademark wit, charm and tremendous passion, he will introduce some of the best opera and fine music programs. He will offer insightful commentary and fascinating analysis of some of the finest performances and documentaries.

For more information www.stvdio.com.au

MAY 2010

OPERA IN THE VINEYARD – May 2nd
David will perform at Ballandean Estate in Queensland with Jacqueline Porter

For more information www.ballandean-estate.com.au/OperaInTheVineyard.aspx

FLEDERMAUS
Later in May, David will return to the role of 'Eisenstein' in Fledermaus as part of the Opera Australia Melbourne Autumn season.

For more information www.opera-australia.org.au

JUNE 2010

ADELAIDE CABARET FESTIVAL
David Hobson - Am I Really Here?

David will lead you on an intimate evening of song as he explores his multi-faceted repertoire from classical to contemporary, and including his own original songs.
Musical Direction by David Cameron
Written and Performed by David Hobson.

Saturday June 19 @ 3pm & 7pm
Sunday June 20 @ 6pm

For more information www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au/adelaidecabaret/events/david-hobson-am-i-really-here/

JULY 2010

On the 16th of July David will appear with The Queensland Orchestra at the Powerhouse, Brisbane in Zender's version of Schubert's Die Winterreise.

AUGUST 2010

SINGING FOR LOVE - NATIONAL TOUR WITH YVONNE KENNY

August 26 Adelaide Town Hall
August 28 Sydney Opera House
September 1 Melbourne Recital Centre
September 2 Melbourne Recital Centre
September 4 Canberra, Llewellyn Hall
September 8 Hobart Theatre Royal
September 10 Perth Concert Hall
September 12 Brisbane, Queensland Performing Arts Centre

Tickets on sale from mid May

For more information www.singingforlove.com.au

In early August ABC Records are releasing SINGING FOR LOVE - a compilation album of David and Yvonne’s repertoire with some additional new songs.

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