Ten Tenors Performing at Tulsa PAC
AUSTRALIAN SENSATION: The Ten Tenors, a musical group from Australia, perform 250 shows a year on four continents. The group began in 1995 as “a really fun way to earn a bit of extra beer money,??? says Tenor David Kidd. “It was all very informal and we could never understand why people would hire us to essentially fool around onstage.??? The Ten Tenors will be in Tulsa Jan. 8-13 at the Tulsa PAC for eight performances. Tickets are available by calling (918) 596-7111, at the Tulsa PAC ticket office or online at www.MyTicketOffice.com.
Courtesy Celebrity Attractions
Australia’s most famous musical export, The Ten Tenors, are returning to North America as their “Here’s to the Heroes” world tour brings them to 65 cities across Canada and the United States. Ably tackling everything from arias to ABBA, their unique style is unparalleled fusion of artistry, musicianship and comedy. The Ten Tenors hit the stage in their Tulsa premiere for eight performances only, Jan. 8-13, 2008 at the Tulsa PAC.
From unassuming beginnings in 1995, to a now platinum record-selling and international touring act, the history of The Ten Tenors has been anything but standard. When ten young opera students from the Queensland Conservatorium of Music in Brisbane, Australia banded together to form what was then largely a corporate act, the group’s performances were few and far between and were essentially a part-time affair, providing the members with a bit of money to help them through their studies.
“We joke about it now, but back in the day The Ten Tenors was really just a fun way to earn a bit of extra beer money,” says David Kidd, one of the group’s longest standing members. “It was all very informal and we could never understand why people would hire us to essentially fool around onstage.”
It was exactly those hijinks that became the secret of much of The Ten Tenors’ future success.
In 1998, with the popularity of the group growing by the month, the boys decided to take their onstage antics on the road and began a full-time touring schedule that has yet to wane. Early tours in Australia took them through many outback towns, regional centers and capital cities where the group honed its performance skills in music and comedy, wowing audiences wherever they went.
Their biggest break came in early 2002 when The Ten Tenors were invited to perform at the German final of the Eurovision Song Contest. Within hours, they had sold out an entire tour and were well on their way to becoming one of the most successful touring acts in Germany. More European and Asian countries followed and in 2003 the Tenors made their U.S. debut. Presently, The Ten Tenors circle the globe ten months of the year, performing 250 shows on five different continents around the world.
In 2006, The Ten Tenors embarked on their most ambitious album project to date. “Here’s to the Heroes” was recorded in studios in Australia, the U.S. and London’s famed Abbey Road Studios and is now available in 27 countries around the world.
Currently the group features members Shannon Brown, Drew Graham, Craig Hendry, David Kidd, Liam McLachlan, Dion Molinas, Stewart Morris, Jason Short, Dom Smith and Steven Sowden. Artistic director is Steven Baker. Band members include pianist Michael Manikus, bassist Christopher Pearson and drummer Nicholas Hatch.
With an unparalleled palette of repertoire, The Ten Tenors have taken their passion for quality music and powerful singing to such venues as London’s Royal Albert Hall, the Sydney Opera House and the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles.
These North American dates are the latest installment to The Tenor’s blockbuster world tour in support of their current CD release, “Here’s to the Heroes.” The album, released in North America by Rhino Records, has reached Gold and Platinum status in several countries around the world and has held top 10 chart positions in many more, including the U.S.
The Ten Tenors have been seen by over 90 million people on four continents, selling out shows and winning hearts with their charm, camaraderie and vocal power in opera, pop, rock and more.
They have appeared as headliners and alongside artists such as Rod Stewart, Andrea Boccelli, Alanis Morissette, Willie Nelson and Christina Aguilera.
Their CD, “One Is Not Enough,” reached the top 10 on the European pop charts and they were invited by Disney to record the theme song “Jungle Rhythm” for the film “Jungle Book 2” in 2003. They have been awarded “Best Artist Pop Meets Classics Award” by the Radio Hamburg Awards and received the Variety Group of the Year Award at the 29th Annual Australian Entertainment MO Awards.
The Ten Tenors are welcomed by Primeaux Kia. Tickets may be
purchased via phone at (918) 596-7111 or (800) 364-7111; in person at the Tulsa PAC ticket office; or online at www.MyTicketOffice.com. Discounts are available for groups of 20 or more by calling Celebrity Attractions at (918) 796-0220.
Tulsa’s engagement of The Ten Tenors is part of the 2007-2008 Celebrity Attractions Broadway Season, which includes America’s most beloved musical, “Annie,” and the longest running show in Broadway history, seven-time Tony Award winner “Phantom of the Opera.” Sponsors for Celebrity Attraction’s Broadway Season are: American Airlines, KOTV and Tulsa World.
Updated 01-08-2008
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