Multi-platinum selling and four-times ARIA award-winning singer and songwriter Katie Noonan returned to the Sydney Opera House with her trio Elixir and Michael Leunig.
The unique Sydney Symphony Orchestra performance showcased a unique combination of spoken-word poetry, angelic vocals and sublime improvisation.
On Thursday 2 November, students from Year 12 Music class went on an excursion to the Sydney Opera House to watch Katie Noonan’s Elixir with Michael Leunig accompanied by the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. I wasn’t expecting Michael Leunig to draw while Katie Noonan and the Sydney Orchestra performed his poems through song. It was amazing to see how he used cartoons to depict the words of his poem, which Katie was singing.
Katrina F
Katie's voice was so controlled over her trills and melismas accompanied by the clarity her voice, it almost sounded like an actual woodwind instrument at times.
Elissa P
I wasn’t expecting Michael Leunig to draw his cartoons along with the music. It was so fascinating how he drew free handed and how something so simple was amazing. Michael Leunig is a poet and illustrator. He would say his poems and then Katie Noonan would sing the poems with Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Sarah A
Katie's musical interpretation of Leunig's poems, which he read before the start of the song was a whole new experience, especially when Leunig began drawing his signature cartoons while the music was playing. The Sydney Symphony Orchestra added another level of interesting sounds, which all correlated to both the lyrics and the illustrations at the time. Overall, the performance was an amazing and new experience.
Jessica N
For a concert filled with songs unknown to me, I found myself a lot more interested than I’d initially expected. Her voice, as well as the instrumentalists had my whole attention, yet I never found myself bored; having been kept on the edge of my seat with the diversity within each piece.
Elise
Having the screen in the background with the drawing was really cool to watch as well as it made me engage with the pieces more and get a better understanding of the poems as the pictures allowed me to gain a deeper perspective on Michaels poems. I overall enjoyed it thoroughly, especially Katie’s voice!
Gemma