In a hectic collision of voice and machine, The Australian Voices choir gave Brisbane Powerhouse’s Visy Theatre a taste of what it’s like when contemporary meets classical, with ‘Boombox’.
Featuring an astounding array of different inspirations and elements, the group of 20-or-so vocalists managed to project without microphones. They weaved in and out of the long, drawn out sounds of opera and the quick, fast-paced haste of rap effortlessly, connecting with every word they spoke.
In one of the standout moments of the evening, the choir proved that music makes almost anything sounds magical, singing about the horrific outcome of a shark attack, loss of limbs and all. They then launched into a war of vocabulary, in a piece appropriately named ‘Words That Turn Into Other Words’.
To accurately describe it is a challenge; think of a baby Pokémon evolving into an adult Pokémon, but in the form of words. They began with one word, which slowly morphed into another, and so on.
Closing the show was something rarely ever associated with singing: politics. Playing softly in the background was Julia Gillard’s misogyny speech. Singing rapidly in the foreground: the Australian Voices choir.
What better way to live up to their name than to perform a musical version of the famous speech made by the former Australian Prime Minister. “I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man,” the choir chanted in unison. “Not now, not ever!”
The audience cheered after what seemed like the final piece. That is, until they launched into their musical rendition of Donald Trump’s 'political correctness' rant. The serious and stern nature of politics met with the melodic sounds of a choir was a strange arrangement, but this reviewer uses strange in the most positive way possible.
Other mentionable moments were the choir’s on-point impersonation of a dial-up connection and their interpretation of the rap battle between M.C Busy Bee and M.C Kool Moe Dee.
‘Boombox’ seamlessly integrated classic with contemporary, marrying the two in an energetic display of spine-tingling vocals and mellifluent stage presence.
Five out of five boomboxes!
