An eclectic mix, a few highlights of Helen’ s unusually diverse career include her hauntingly debauched Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd and her harridan-witha-heart Katisha in The Mikado( New Zealand Opera); her unforgettable portrayal of Joy Gresham in the play Shadowlands( Mercury Theatre); the mezzo solos in the Messiah and Siegrüne in Die Walküre( Sydney Symphony Orchestra, Sydney Opera House); her scary, but, oh so funny Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz( Peach Theatre Company); her Claudia Cardinale-like Maddalena in Rigoletto( Opera Queensland, Opera Australia, NZO); her poignantly played Fraülein Schneider in Cabaret( Auckland Theatre Company); her tender Angel in The Dream of Gerontius( Auckland Choral Society); her chilling Klytemnestra in Elektra and her heartfelt interpretation of Das Lied von der Erde( Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra); her Mistress of Ceremonies for the New Zealand Aria Competition, the Lexus Song Quest and the“ Queen of the Whole Pacific” Beauty Pageant; and her recordings of Bernstein’ s Jeremiah Symphony, Jenny McLeod’ s The Emperor and the Nightingale and Gillian Whitehead’ s Alice( New Zealand Symphony Orchestra). In addition, Helen has collaborated with music director, Penny Dodd to create and present eleven unique cabaret shows, as well as an album,“ darling, it’ s hell”, featuring jazz standards and romantic ballads, with double bassist Neil Hannan.
Martin Thomas Buckingham tenor
Martin Thomas Buckingham has been described as‘ Electric’ in performance. His portrayal of Rodolfo prompted one reviewer to remark, that he“ radiates charm and charisma as his beautiful tenor voice enchants the audience with Puccini’ s romance.”
Martin has performed in Australia, the United Kingdom, Europe and China. Martin began his studies as an actor and on the Music Theatre stage. He graduated from the Australian Institute of Music on full scholarship with a Bachelor of Music Theatre with first class honours. He later attended Charles Sturt University on a Commonwealth Scholarship obtaining a Masters in Visual and Performing Arts. In 2008, Martin began his work with Opera Australia. In his initial four years with the company, Martin appeared in over 40 productions, covering and performing some 13 assorted roles.
In 2017, Martin looks forward to an excitingly diverse program with concerts in China, Sydney, Melbourne, Hobart and the UK planned. On the operatic stage, Martin will be performing in Barrie Kosky’ s production of Saul for the Adelaide Festival, making his debut with the Australian International Opera Company touring China and reprising the role of Cavaradossi in the Opera Van Diemensland production of Tosca.
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