SEASONINGS
Featuring Eleanor Blythman and Johanna Allen
With associate artists Jane Matheson and Zoe Wallace.
WHEN | Sunday 4th August, 2pm
To season: ‘to pep up, add zing to, enliven…to enrich’
Using the metaphor of flavour and inspired by the seasonal environment of Montsalvat, this is a musical concert that invigorates the soul and the spirit.
Featuring the music of Purcell, Monteverdi, Michel Le Grand and Bizet alongside re-invented pop hits by Miley Cyrus and Sia, Johanna Allen and Eleanor Blythman traverse the seasons through music. Joined by pianist Jane Matheson and cellist Zoe Wallace and against a framework of poetry and contemporary writers, Allen and Blythman draw on all facets of their professional experience to present Baroque hits, modern pop songs re-invented, iconic standards and loved arias. Musical immersion meets modern day recital, as these two friends and colleagues pep, spice, awaken and enrich your ears and hearts.
Both working internationally in opera, musical theatre, cabaret and recital, Eleanor and Johanna wanted to create something that reflected the richness and the beauty of the Montsalvat environment. They also want to present classical music in innovative ways. The result is this: A smorgasbord of musical snacks, lovingly curated into a life affirming feast for all seasons.
BIOS
JOHANNA ALLEN BIOGRAPHY.
JOHANNA ALLEN
Two time Green room award winner, Johanna has worked extensively within musical theatre, opera, orchestral work, stage, film and television. After graduating with a Bachelor of Music Performance (Hon Classical Voice Elder Conservatoriuml and B.A. (Drama Performance and Direction) she studied with Daniel Ferro at the Juilliard School. New York, and Actors Studio NY. Recent roles include: Mrs Teavee (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, X Roads). Mother Abbess, The Sound of Music (GFO), Signora Nacarelli The Light in the Piazza, Arts Centre, Charlotte (A Little Night Music, Green Room winner) Alice Beane (Titanic, The Marello Project, Green Room winner), and others. As writer/performer commissions include Cake: Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Euromash (Melbourne Recital Centre and Queens Theatre Adelaide) Johanna was also awarded a 'Star of Fame' at the Adelaide Festival Centre alongside Sir Robert Helpmann and Hugh Sheridan for her year. This coincided with her beginning a side career in radio, as presenter/producer for the ABC and the highly successful release of her Arts Program 'Words with Friends' on Saturday afternoons. Other credits include Wicked, Dr Zhivago (GFO), Marcy in Dogfight (Hayes Theatre) Carlotta in Phantom of the Opera for Really Useful/ Neil Gooding productions, Showboat (Prod Company), Emma Goldman in AssassIns, Threepenny Opera (Sydney Theatre Co/Malthouse), and Bakers Wife (Into the Woods, GFO, Capitol Theatre Sydney) Her self-written play The Songs That Got Away - the music of Harold Arlen has had sell out seasons at the Hayes Theatre Sydney, Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Melbourne Recital Centre, Glen Street Theatre, Noosa Festival and Parramatta Riverside. Opera credits include include Kate: The Pirates of Penance, Pitti Sing in The Mikado (Opera Australia), the Old Lady in Candide ( State Opera of South Australia and the role of Gussie Bethell in Ode to Nonsense. ) a new work about the life of Edward Lear. She has appeared in concert with David Helfgott, Anthony Warlow, David Hobson, Michael Buble, Suzanne Vega, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra, New York City Big Band, Orchestra Victoria and New York Baroque Ensemble.
ELEANOR BLYTHMAN BIOGRAPHY.
ELEANOR BLYTHMAN
Eleanor’s versatility as a performer has seen her work successfully across a number of genres including opera and musical theatre, and as a concert soloist throughout Australia and Europe. Originally from Adelaide, Eleanor is an Elder Conservatorium, Adelaide and Royal College of Music, London graduate. Eleanor performs regularly with Opera Australia with roles including Rosina in The Barber of Seville (Vic Schools) and The Queen of Hearts, Mary and Spider in By the Light of the Moon. Most recently, she performed in their Australian tour of The Phantom of the Opera, as Swing and covered and performed the role of Madame Giry.
London West End credits include Mrs Jenks in The Tenderland by Copland and Confidante, Wardrobe Mistress and Madame Firmin in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre. She also performed in The Phantom of the Opera 25th Anniversary Gala at Royal Albert Hall.
Other roles include Sister Margaretta in the GFO/London Palladium production of The Sound of Music, Clara in Passion for Swell Productions, Wife in Elena Kats-Chernin’s Undertow for Icebreaker productions touring to Hungary and Finland and The Queen of the Night with Co-Opera in Mozart’s The Magic Flute which toured Australia and Europe. For the State Opera of South Australia roles include, Gretel in Humperdink’s Hansel and Gretel, Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George Lois/Bianca in Kiss me Kate, Princess and the Nightingale in L’Enfant et les Sortilèges, Madame Herz in Mozart’s The Impressario, Peep-Bo in The Mikado and and Amy March in Mark Adamo’s Little Women. Eleanor is also a proud resident of the Nillumbik shire and looks forward to creating performances for her local community.