This year’s Ovation tour with Marina Prior and David Hobson will welcome some familiar faces. It was the idea of producer Kate to welcome into the ovation family Silvie Paladino and Michael Cormick.

I spoke to the newbies, ahead of their Tasmanian tour. Silvie Paladino is no stranger to Tasmanians who watch the favourite performer every year on Carols by Candlelight and of course Silvie has performed with our own TSO and tells me she was “so happy to know Tassie was included in the tour.”

Something similar in Silvie and Michael’s story is that both didn’t seek out musical theatre, rather it chose them.

Silvie says her parents were from a humble immigrant family and her aspirations for a career was to be a hairdresser but that – thankfully for her fans – wasn’t to be. Silvie had another love growing up, that was singing for family occasions. At one of these occasions her uncle heard Silvie singing and impressed by her voice, decided singing lessons were the way to go. Before long, twelve-year-old Silvie was singing at wedding parties on Saturday nights, which she loved and she was earning money. Then there was, ‘Young Talent Time’ in which she won a grand final.

Sylvie says this was “the springboard to a career in music.”

It led to regular appearances on Bert Newton’s TV programs making her a familiar face to audiences and showcasing her talent.

Silvie says this career of over forty years “has been a blessing” balanced with marriage and two children and a sometimes-chaotic household! Sylvie has found her people, her tribe in theatre, forging friendships, including one with the lady she shares the stage with, Marina Prior.

Ovation, Silvie tells me, will be a mix of “Solo duets, show tunes, from Les Mis, Beauty and the Beast and Phantom of the Opera, with Marina, some Italian opera with David and some contemporary with Michael.”

As well as ensemble pieces with her talented friends and what’s more some chat, although she says, the friends have been told to “pull back a bit on the chat.”

Michael reinforces the chat issue. He tells me the group of friend’s love chatting and having some friendly banter, but they can become a bit “like naughty school kids!”

Like Silvie, Michael tells me about his journey into musical theatre which was a surprise because he came from a family of five brothers and three sisters, “none of whom had a showbiz connection, which for him ‘came out of nowhere” after a performance on ‘New Faces with Bert Newton’. He went on to play the original Beast with Rachel Beck and Hugh Jackman, with next stop the West End of London.

Michael says he loves the songs chosen for the duets and ensemble performances and the contemporising of some of the older songs he sings with Silvie. Interestingly. and somewhat sobering but joyous he laughs; “the four Ovation singers have over one hundred and seventy-five years” experience in the business between them.

Michael says he loves the superpower of the group and indeed of music, that can translate meaning to an audience and the dynamic flow it creates, demonstrating the healing power of music. On that note, Michael nominates ‘Bring him Home’ as his favourite song. He is looking forward to bringing the music home to Tassie, Hobart and Launceston and may just stay over for a little holiday!

You can see Ovation at the following dates and venues:

  • Wrest Point Casino, Hobart Saturday 11 April at 3:00pm
  • Country Club, Launceston Sunday 12 April at 3:00pm