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Here I Am: The Music of Anthony Costanzo

15 July, 201231 December, 2019 Erin James 0 Comments Anthony Costanzo, Brent Dolahenty, Cabaret, Melbourne Cabaret Festival, Music Theatre, Rob Mills

Melbourne based performer and composer Anthony Costanzo will take to the stage with some of Australia’s most talented performers to showcase his music at the Melbourne Cabaret Festival tomorrow night.

This special one-off concert at Chapel off Chapel will feature debut performances from two new Australian musicals Costanzo has penned, each with a different collaborator, as well as tracks from Costanzo’s brand new EP.

“I will be performing songs from my upcoming album, the other artists will be performing songs from the new shows”, an excited Costanzo told AussieTheatre.

The Cabaret Festival event coincides with the launch of his EP, and Costanzo is overflowing with energy.

“I am a little bit nervous – this is all new material and has never been heard before,” he admits.

But on the back of his previous musical’s success – Life’s A Circus – and with such wonderful performers enlisted to bring his new music to life, Costanzo has little to worry about.

Here I Am: The Music of Anthony Costanzo will feature world premiere performances from Trashed, a new song cycle with lyrics by Nick Christo and Partners a more traditional musical with book and lyrics by Peter Fitzpatrick (Flowerchildren).

Costanzo has assembled some of Australia’s finest performers to present his latest offerings, including Rob Mills (Legally Blonde), Laura Fitzpatrick (Fiddler On The Roof), Cameron MacDonald (Jersey Boys), Belinda Allchin (Cats), Brent Dolahenty (Moonshadow) and Zoe Trilsbach (We Will Rock You), and he told AussieTheatre how thrilling it is to hear them perform his music.

“It’s going to be a great night”, he said.

“The singers are amazing, they all sound absolutely fabulous. Cam [MacDonald] is coming down from Brisbane and Millsy [Rob Mills] is down from Sydney. Not only are these people my friends, they are fabulous artists.”

Although he writes music with characters and not particular artists in mind, Costanzo explains that he chose his cast knowing their voices and their abilities.

“I selected these performers because of the songs, and I needed to find the right person for the right song”, he said.

Although Here I Am: The Music of Anthony Costanzo is a once only event, Australian audiences shouldn’t have to wait too long before productions of these brand new musicals are staged in full.

Partners (Costanzo and Fitzpatrick) will have a run at OzMadeMusicals this year alongside Matthew Robinson’s new show, and will go into workshop stages later in the year.

“I’m going to say probably 2013 there will be a production of it. It’s very new and very fresh”, said Costanzo.

According to the maestro himself, the new song cycle Trashed won’t be too far behind.

“Nick wants to do a workshop/reading of [Trashed] in Melbourne in October or November this year and then dare I say he’ll probably put it up in Sydney some time next year.”

Costanzo praised the diversity of this year’s Melbourne Cabaret Festival, who are presenting this event, and

“It’s been really really enjoyable and it’s nice to work with creative and inspiring people”, he said.

Inspiring indeed. This talented, persistant and creatively driven artist is ready to show the world what he’s made of.