At one point in Act II, our maligned heroine Fanny sits on her park bench in the middle of the stage while action revolves around her later, when a lot of narrative needs to be covered in a short space, four singers are on stage reading and writing letters. The opera is divided into named "chapters" whose subtitle is sung to the audience with relish and humour, which serve to frame the story. So it's a brave move for Jonathan Dove and librettist Alasdair Middleton to have tackled Jane Austen's Mansfield Park - four hundred pages or so of comedy of manners which glories in the acute observation of its characters and the societal norms which they inhabit.īut to my mind, Dove and Middleton pull it off admirably, using some unusual devices to great effect. With strong story telling, diverse arrangements and littered with catchy hooks, Heartland demonstrates Matt’s versatility as an artist and his development as a genuine and unique crossover artist between Australian, Americana and Outlaw Country.Turning great novels into opera isn't a new idea - consider Prokofiev's War and Peace or Massenet's Werther - but it can be a tricky business: opera thrives on pace and high drama, while the greatest novels have time and space for reflection and character development. “Now That You Have My Heart… is testament to Ward’s ability popular country and alt country elements to produce convincingly heartfelt songs on this strong debut”. This experience has only served to expand Matt’s influences, broadening both his personality and capacity as a musician. Most recently Ward has travelled through music, living and touring out of Texas in the United States. His journey as adult, combined with his strong urban roots, provide compelling authenticity as an artist. A songwriter’s songwriter whose material speaks deeply and simultaneously of his journey and of ours.” (Matt Fell, 4 x Golden-guitar winning producer) “Matt Ward is that guy… Wordsmith, tunesmith, and craftsman. Time on the road, his connection to the country, emotions experienced along the way – it is the lifeblood of country music, and Matt has it in spades. Working for years across regional and outback South Australia, Ward has an intimate knowledge of the land and its people. But Matt’s musical journey has been different from most. Featuring some of Australia’s best musicians, Heartland combines classic Australian influences with outlaw and classic country to draw comparison to Paul Kelly, Steve Earle and Jason Isbell in the songs, vocals and band arrangements. Crafted by award-winning producer Matt Fell at Love Hz Studios (Sydney), Heartland showcases Matt’s exceptional songwriting and takes the listener on an album-length journey of love, loss and redemption. Rhythms Magazine described Heartland as a “ strong debu t “, its track Annabelle as a”world class song” and that the single Take Me Home “wouldn’t be out of place on a Catherine Britt or Fanny Lumsden record”. ![]() His debut album “Heartland” reached #1 ARIA Australian Country album, and debuted at #1 on iTunes country charts. Each of his three singles (Annabelle, Back to the Country and Take Me Home) have been highly successful releases and along with Heartland have received nearly 110,000 streams on Spotify. Delivering a soulful blend of Australian Country and Americana music, Matt Ward is rapidly forging his own space within the Australian Country and Americana scene.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |