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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