Morning Melodies – Georgia Wilkinson, Teddy Tahu Rhodes and Rhodri Clarke, at Hamer Hall

Vocally astonishing, soprano Georgia Wilkinson’s voice is equally at home operatically (where she could shatter glass) and in musical theatre.

After six years in straight opera, over the past three and a half years she has moved into musical theatre.

In the latter, she has starred internationally as Christine Daaé, the lead female protagonist in The Phantom of the Opera.

Wilkinson was the youngest Opera Scholar of the Year in the history of the program.

Working with her was a man noted for the extraordinary timbre in his voice, the sensational bass-baritone Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

He could sing from a menu and would still be an instant drawcard, such is the power in his vocals.

In one of Morning Melodies’ shows of the year, the pair unite to metaphorically lift the roof off Hamer Hall, complete with the piano mastery of Rhodri Clarke.

He graduated with first class honours from the Royal College of Music in 2004.

The program starts with a solo on the ivories, before Wilkinson and Tahu Rhodes move through operatic duets and arias, after which Teddy introduces a surprise.

It is an ode to bush songs, beginning with Jack O’Hagan’s 1921 classic Along The Road to Gundagai.

Then the repertoire takes another turn, with numbers drawn from The Phantom of the Opera, Guys and Dollsand Les Misérables taking centre stage.

The famous duet All I Ask of You was written for a soprano and tenor, but Teddy Tahu Rhodes steps up the plate and how, alongside Wilkinson.

The pair is so good and natural together. They excel and delight.  

He has fun explaining how he has just become eligible to collect his Seniors’ Card, while her already storied career remains in its prime.

She is resplendent in sparkling gowns of yellow and blue, he elegant in a suit.

They are entertaining and engaging throughout, while Rhodri Clarke has another classical piano solo to showcase his stellar talent on the keys.

Part of the attraction of Morning Melodies is that the hour invariably races by and you yearn to hear more.

Such is certainly the case with this combination.

I am at the head of the queue to press for a return engagement.

For more about Morning Melodies, go to https://www.artscentremelbourne.com.au/festival-and-series/morning-melodies