Collaborations

Simon Tedeschi/Kevin Hunt – ‘I want to play like him’

Join the mutual admiration society of two pianists. A two-piano performance that transcends genre, resulting in a unique blend of styles and backgrounds. It stirs the jazz and classical realms into one musical recipe. The two have played throughout Australia to great acclaim. The duo is receiving rave reviews across Australia.

Tedeschi and Hunt serve up an exciting mix of audience favourites, with music from Bach to Duke Ellington and other classical and jazz greats such as Shostakovich, Debussy, Fats Waller, Brubeck and Oscar Peterson. Gershwin’s much-lauded masterpiece, Rhapsody in Blue receives a new pianistic polish from the two maestros.

Particularly exciting for the duo will be their performance of Duke Ellington’s historic ‘Black ‘ from Black Brown and Beige. Premiering at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 1943 it portrayed the history of African Americans. “Simon has always loved jazz and has recently been ‘soaking up ‘ the American Jazz feeling.

Equally, I have always loved classical music for its detail of sound production and composition, ” said Kevin Hunt. “The music we play together constantly weaves between jazz and classical forms, and now after years of playing together our improvising has become an exciting focus of the performance.”

Kevin Hunt is a popular and versatile jazz pianist. He has, over the last 18 years, shared the stage with international artists including Herb Ellis, Billy Cobham, Sheila Jordon, and Larry Adler. He has also recorded and performed with most of Sydney’s prominent jazz artists.

He works with his own trio, the Kevin Hunt JS Bach Trio, and also tours extensively with Don Burrows. Kevin and Don conduct workshops and masterclasses for school and university students.

“They were still wanting more from pianists Simon Tedeschi and Kevin Hunt when the performance finally ended over two hours later. Whether I Want to Play Like Him is really a cabaret act or not seemed to matter less than the richly playful quality of what the performers were doing with a lot of jazz, a little classical and a bit of original.”

Canberra Times, July 23, 2008

Simon Tedeschi and John Bell AO OBE

John Bell AO OBE, founder of Bell Shakespeare Company and Helpmann Award winner, partners with internationally acclaimed, ARIA-nominated pianist Simon Tedeschi to present two fascinating performances; Enoch Arden, a deeply moving performance of Lord Alfred Tennyson’s classic 1864 poem set to music by German Romantic composer, Richard Strauss; and Bright Star, a feast of Romantic poetry and music featuring the works of Keats and Schubert.

Enoch Arden

Told through spoken word and solo piano, this timeless tale of love, loss and redemption follows the story of three childhood friends, Enoch Arden, Philip Ray, and Annie Lee. Enoch and Annie marry and start a family, but after Enoch is shipwrecked on an island for ten years, he returns home to find his soulmate Annie remarried to his best friend Philip, believing Enoch to be dead.

Heartbroken when he learns of Annie and Philip’s relationship and of their child together, Enoch must decide whether to intervene or to leave the two lovers to their lives together, sacrificing his own happiness in the process.

Described by Bell as “a moving and dramatic tale of shipwreck, loss and redemption – very satisfying theatre”, Tedeschi similarly says audiences should expect of Enoch Arden, “A tragic, tempestuous, romantic tale accompanied by music of genius. Half chamber music, half theatre.

Bell, long heralded as a major creative force in the Australian theatre scene and named one of Australia’s National Living Treasures, is delighted to be performing with a musician as accomplished and masterful as Tedeschi.

He says, “I love working with musicians; I love being up close and watching their technique and feeling the visceral presence of the instruments… I’ve admired Simon for a long time; he’s a bit of an entertainer and showman as well as being a great pianist.

Of one thing I can assure you: Simon’s performance of Strauss’ expressive and at times exquisite score is good enough reason to have a listen.”

Bright Star

Premiering in 2018 is Bright Star which traces the life, love and genius of John Keats and Franz Schubert – two bright stars who were ascendant in late 19th century Europe. They were contemporaneous geniuses who never met– but both died young and both loved a woman they could never marry because they were too poor.

In this theatrical presentation, John Bell and Simon Tedeschi renew their triumphant partnership (following the success of “Enoch Arden”)  to present a feast of Romantic poetry and music including Schubert’s Sonata no.18 in G major (‘Fantasie’).

Echoes of the Jazz Age

Held together by Scott Fitzgerald’s famous essay Echoes of the Jazz Age, the programme includes snippets of T.S. Eliot, Groucho Marx, Mae West, W.C Fields and Dorothy Parker along with the music of George Gershwin, Fats Waller, and Jelly Roll Morton.

Immerse yourself in the atmosphere and enjoy a 1920s themed cocktail from the bar before the performance, and stay back for a Q & A and a chance to meet the artists after the show.

Dazzling music, a touch of gravitas and just a whiff of nostalgia… a tantalising trip back in time with John Bell and Simon Tedeschi – plus the brilliant Blazey Best.

Words and Music

“Words and Music” is a delightful and varied programme of some of John and Simon’s favourite pieces of poetry, prose and music including the words of Shakespeare, John Keats, Alfred, Lord Tennyson, letters by Mozart and Beethoven, along with their music, some wicked backstage stories from the Opera House and the Concert Hall and a sizzling jazz tribute to Fats Waller— a surprise package with something for everyone!