‘Lady Sings the Viol’ CD Launch

There are no fat ladies and the show is nowhere near over. In fact, this show has just begun, with the August launch of the eagerly anticipated CD Lady Sings the Viol. Gamba player Jenny Eriksson founder and Music Director of the gamba ensembleThe Marais Project is the anchor behind this latest venture in which she has gathered over a dozen of her colleagues including singers, Belinda Montgomery, Nicole Thomson, Megan Cronin, Narelle Evans and Mara Kiek, and period instrumentalists, amongst them gambists Imogen Granwal, Shaun Ng, Catherine Upex and Daniel Yeadon, violinist Fiona Ziegler, theorbo player/guitarist Tommie Andersson, percussionist Jess Ciampa, harpist Alex Cronin and gittern player Llew Kiek.

Together they have recorded music from the early music and classics to film scores and ballads. The independently released classical music CD unusually cuaght both public and critical imagination, rising to the poll position of CD of the week across the ABC in May 2013.

Jenny Eriksson relates “My idea with Lady Sings the Viol was to do a CD of covers, just like the great jazz singers do. Only, rather than backing each performer with bass, drum and piano, all the songs are accompanied by different combinations of viols, viola da gambas, violin, acoustic guitars and lute.  The unique tone of the viol means that some of the tracks really do sound quite amazing”.

The range of songs on the CD spans centuries from 1300 to the present day.  “I asked five of my favourite singers to each to present one or more songs”, says Eriksson, “Along with some classical pieces there are two songs by Edith Piaf, a gorgeous version of the Cavatina from the film, The Deer Hunter, and an upbeat cover of Chattanooga Choo Choo for three singers, two viols, theorbo and percussion.  A world first I imagine!”

Former Opera Australia principal soprano, now independent Director, Christine Douglas will produce the CD launch in the form of a cabaret.  All five singers from the CD will appear as will some 13 of Sydney’s top instrumentalists making it a night to remember!