‘The Ten Tenors’
Four Christmas trees line the stage as those tenors from Australia return with an eclectic show including Christmas songs, rock ’n roll favorites, opera and an Australian folk medley. They’ll sing through December 13 at San Diego Civic Theatre.
This is not the concert your grandmother dragged you to, when she told you to sit still and be quiet. No, these guys, spiffed out in black suits and red-striped ties, give the impression of a Vegas act (and incidentally sing “Viva Las Vegas” into the bargain). And they want audience participation, encouraging clapping during and football-style cheering after songs … not to mention the rock-star adulation of screaming women’s voices.
The repertoire of this show (one reason they’re touring now is to promote their latest CD “Nostalgica”) offers something for grandma and mom and the kids, opening and closing with Italian music and tossing in a rather over-emoted “Moon River” along with Paul Simon’s bitter “The Boxer” and Queen’s achingly sad “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Elvis and his well-known lower body moves are represented, and so is Bing Crosby (in a Christmas medley) and the Doo-Wop decade.
It’s a big, lush sound when they all sing together, well blended and lovely. And it’s equally pleasurable to hear the individual voices with the others as backup, or two at a time as in the fine arrangement of “Drummer Boy.” (One question: why do they need to lug around mikes when they could just be body-miked? It looks a little clunky.)
The original Ten Tenors began performing in 1995 while in conservatory, as a way to make a little money. Since then, they’ve been seen by over 90 million people on six continents, selling out shows and winning hearts with their unusual brand of audience-participation music.
Stagecraft is minimal here – four Christmas trees decorate the stage,. There are a few rows of lights here and there and a roving spot that for some reason seems to end up highlighting the ceiling. And the three-piece band is largely overmiked (par for the course for Civic).
Tenors (and sopranos) have always been the rock stars among singers, and these guys take advantage of it. In addition, they joke, cut up and in general seem to be having so much fun that it’s impossible not to go along.
In line with the most commonly used (though not necessarily most accurate) statistic, there is one gay member of the group.
The Ten Tenors sing through December 13, 2009 at San Diego Civic Theatre. Shows Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 2 and 8 p.m.; Sunday at 1 and 6 p.m. For tickets call (619) 570-1100 or Ticketmaster at (800) 982-2787.’
Australia's Ten Tenors appear through December 13 at Civic Theatre.
