With less than one month to go before PSO’s Eurythmics Reimagined is right by your side, it’s high time to announce the three voices each representing different eras in the unparalleled career of Annie Lennox. PLUS, Perth Symphony welcomes a new face to the conductor’s baton care of our Women on the Podium program, and PSO’s own INNEKA, the act that took Telethon by storm, play a special featured set.
Eurythimcs Reimagined takes on a unique chronological format. Playing the spunky new wave synth-pop Lennox of the early 80s will be Irish non-binary vocalist Freddie Mai. Making waves in 2019 with the jazz/soul outfit Bass Lemon, Mai grew up in Fremantle. Renowned for their soulful vocals and powerful presence, Freddie has become a mainstay in the Perth scene. Since the dissolution of Bass Lemon, Freddie focuses purely on writing new music and producing their own solo project. But we can’t wait to see them with a red crew cut singing Here Comes the Rain Again and Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).
Sabrina Davies brings with her one of Perth’s biggest voices as well as history of singing Annie Lennox. While she’s best known for her wildly successful ‘P!nked’ and Lady Gaga shows, she grew up a child of the 80s on influences like Kate Bush, Eurythmics and divas Aretha Franklin and Whitney Houston. When tomorrow finally comes, we can’t imagine a better singer to own that iconic blonde crop and bring the Miracle of Love, Thorn in My Side, Would I Lie to You and so many of the biggest hits of the mid-80s to life.
Last but far from least, Ali Bodycoat is well regarded as one of Western Australia’s most respected vocalists. She has established herself as an unrivalled force in the local music and artistic industry – a constant on the West Australian jazz fest scene, Ali returns regularly to the Perth International Jazz Festival, Jazz by the Bay and has performed in over six Fringe festivals, winning Best WA Cabaret for her original show, Minor Major Marlene in 2017, amongst many other Fringe awards. Ali has performed for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Gala at the iconic Melbourne Town Hall in October 2018 and was guest vocalist at the Perth Festival 2020 launch. With all the poise of the Annie Lennox solo era post-Dave Stewart in the early 90s and beyond, plus ‘Diva’ headgear and attitude to match, we can’t wait to see her bring to life solo era hits from Walking on Broken Glass and Little Bird to Why? to the stage.
The big announcements don’t stop there. Jen Winley makes a first-time appearance as PSO conductor, bringing a world of experience to the baton. Winley completed a Bachelor of Music Performance in Percussion at WAAPA, graduating top of her class in 1999. Moving to Melbourne in 2000, she worked frequently with the Melbourne Symphony, including tours to China and Russia, and regularly with Orchestra Victoria. In high demand as a freelance musician, Jen has worked with WASO, the Adelaide Symphony and Tasmanian Symphony orchestras and the Academy of Melbourne in addition to regular chamber music performances. During this time, Jen has worked with world class artists such as Pinchas Zukerman, Luciano Pavarotti, Debbie Reynolds, John Farnham and KISS. Jen is currently completing a Master of Music in Orchestral Conducting at UWA and works as a conductor for the WA Youth Orchestra (WAYO).
Finally, adding a bit of spectacle and ‘wow factor’ to the start of the night will be the electric violin quartet everyone’s talking about right now, INNEKA. With a special featured performance from 7:30pm, think Ministry of Sound meets Hans Zimmer – in New York. Four women, four stunning electronic instruments, each on four strings. Having already featured at Telethon, the State Theatre Centre and on the cover of The West’s Play Magazine in the past three months, INNEKA combine the virtuosity, energy and emotion of classical with electronic music and instruments.
SWEET DREAMING: Eurythmics Reimagined
by Perth Symphony Orchestra
HBF Stadium, Mount Claremont
Thursday, December 3, 2020
Tickets: From $69.90+bf – on sale 9am Tuesday, October 6
through www.ticketmaster.com.au
