By Luke Voogt
Powerful female voices will fill Geelong’s theatre with sound when The Ten Sopranos come to the city for the second time, according to Penny Pavlakis.
A singer of more than 30 years, Pavlakis has led the 10-women group for a decade.
“They can do amazing things with their voices,” she said.
“There are some amazing opera singers in there but there are a lot of contemporary singers that can cross into the operatic realm, and that’s what makes it so special.”
Pavlakis has graced the stage more than 10,000 times in her storied career, performing from London to New York.
She has won singing competitions around the world and was a regular performer on Midday, hosted by Ray Martin, Kerry Anne Kennerly and Derryn Hinch.
But as far as career highlights go, nothing beats the “human-to-human” connection she gets with her audience when performing.
“You go out there and you impart your soul and musical expertise, and you tell a story through music,” she said.
“Audiences are why you’re here as a performers.”
Musical performance was one of the few ways to connect in a world where texting and social media were “diminishing” human interaction, Pavlakis said.
“Collectively we deliver a show that leaves audiences crying. We want to move them and make them feel.”
She described The Ten Sopranos as an act “unmatched” in Australia.
“The proof is in the pudding – the act’s been together for 10 years and we’re still going strong,” she said.
“We have a pool of 15 girls and one is just good as the other but all in different ways – it’s being able to use your voice as an instrument.“It’s got all the different varieties of sound you’d hear in an operatic and contemporary performance gelled into one.“
The show has everything from great operatic numbers to contemporary classics like Aye Calypso and Don’t Cry Out Loud, drawing on the sopranos’ diverse range of talents.
Pavlakis started recruiting the women after returning from a lengthy tour of Europe a decade ago.
At the time Australia’s Ten Tenors had been performing for ten years.
“I thought, ‘Why not ten women?’ At that time there was nothing,” she said.
She saw herself as a mentor for the women despite them all being “amazing singers” in their own right.
They, in turn, constantly helped her refine her own singing.
“As Pavarotti said you don’t stop learning until you close your eyes.”
Pavlakis encouraged locals to witness The Ten Sopranos in action during their rare performance at Geelong Performing Arts Centre 8pm next Saturday.
“I believe it’s one of the best shows to come out of this country,” she said.
“Hopefully we’ll see some of you after the show.”
