Rachael Beck wows crowd at Melodienacht
From the opening sounds of Olympic Fanfare, Tanunda Town Band thrilled audiences as they presented their 48th annual Melodienacht.
Held at the Tanunda Show Hall on Friday and Saturday night, guests provided rave reviews as they enjoyed a swathe of musical variety.
The highlight of the evening was undoubtedly Rachael Beck, the Queen of Australian Musical Theatre.
Recognised for her leading roles in The Sound of Music, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Beauty and The Beast, Rachael was an instant favourite and confirmed her reputation as the sweetheart of the stage.
“I’ve had the most wonderful time here. I’ve never done a night like this before – such an electric atmosphere,” Rachael said.
“I don’t think there’s anything quite like Melodienacht anywhere else in Australia – I definitely have to come back!”
Rachael’s emotional performance of Send In The Clowns and I Dreamed A Dream were a perfect counterpoint to the up-tempo Cabaret, And All That Jazz, and Perhaps, Perhaps, Perhaps. Her original song, Perfect Day was reminiscent of a heart-wrenching Mr. Bojangles.
Audience favourites included the band’s traditional and well-known Oom Pah songs, as well as band members Alison Hall and Rachel Turner leading enthusiastic sing-a-longs of The Beatles, Abba, Tom Jones, and Lily Allen.
Adelaide’s Eric “Tooch” Santucci, a former cornet player with TTB, performed as the band’s support artist, bringing his soulful and funky vocal styling to the fore.
Accompanied by the band and rhythm section, his renditions of Georgia, Uptown Funk, Happy and Proud Mary brought the house down, while his tribute to jazz vocal legend Kurt Elling’s arrangement of Norwegian Wood held the audience in awe.
For the full story see this week’s edition of The Leader.
