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ASO: Gospel Messiah
Composed by George Frideric Handel in 1741, 'Messiah' has long since been traditionally performed during Advent, the expectant holy period awaiting the birth of Christ; it being among the most widely recognised oratorios in western choral literature. Heralded by the popular Hallelujah Chorus, 'Messiah' documents the life of Jesus and his significance according to Christian belief.
This Christmas season is set to kick off with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra presenting 'Gospel Messiah', a totally revamped working of this classic masterpiece. Paulini Curuenavuli, who first came to the nation's attention during the first series of 'Australian Idol', can hardly contain her enthusiasm when discussing her role in this latest production alongside other such Aussie icons; 'seventies legend Doug Parkinson, jazz trumpeter James Morrison, and renown soul, gospel, jazz and blues diva, Trace Canini.
"Look, when I first heard Handel's Messiah I was like, 'Oh my gosh, that it was like real operatic," states devout Christian Curuenavuli,
"It's like um... orchestra playing and all that old school kind of stuff, you know? Like, things that everyone kind of knows like the Hallelujah Chorus and things like that. But do you know what?" she focuses towards her thoughts on this latest updated version. "Mark Ferguson he's absolutely done some amazing things with it. He's actually given it a real make over by infusing all these different styles together like jazz, gospel, soul and pop into it. So when I first heard it I thought, 'like, oh man, that must be a real hard thing to do', but after hearing some of the stuff that we're going to be doing it's unreal, it's amazing."
Running the risk of upsetting any true purists, I ask Curuenavuli if she was aware of any other contemporary productions of 'Messiah', thinking of back in 1993 when the New York Philharmonic had a go... "Absolutely yes," she gushes, "they did that with Quincy Jones and I've heard that version but I don't think that our version is anything like his.
"I don't know if you've heard of Kurt Franklin and Israel Horton?" she asks. "They're both really amazing gospel singers who are huge in America and Mark's kind of put a lot of their influence into this because it has that Latino, gospel vibe and also a hip hop vibe and I think it's going to appeal to a lot of young kids.
"And that's another thing," Fijian born Curuenavuli declares of the work's greater original meaning, "I connect with it so much because of the words and all of that kind of stuff. So for me to be actually doing this show is like a dream come true because I've always wanted to do something like this," she reflects. "And to be onstage with the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra is going to be an amazing experience," she adds [passionately to the topic. "And you know, Doug Parkinson is an amazing singer. I mean, we've had a few rehearsals and I couldn't believe it. I was like, 'Thank you Lord for giving me this opportunity to be working with Doug and James, Trace and the ASO, you know? It is such an honour.
"And then there's this amazing jazz choir," she considers, and offers, suddenly. "The Adelaide Connection, are also going to be there and that is unreal. I'm sorry," she momentarily fades and quietly gathers herself, "but I am just like so excited to be doing this, you know?"
Despite having performed publicly since her early teens and then in front of millions during her 'Australian Idol' television appearances, and achieving multi-platinum album sales both solo and with other former 'Idol favourites, The Young Divas, Curuenavuli still admits to having butterflies leading up to this latest challenge.
"Do you know what?" she leads me. "I am nervous about it because first of all I don't read music fluently and that's what I'm nervous about, as well as performing with people who have been doing it for such a long time. These guys are people who you listen to and I just go, 'Oh, this is just out of control', do you know what I mean? I guess I'm just hoping that I do a good job and that I do blow people away, and that people enjoy the show because what Mark has done with the show is amazing. Like it goes from hip-hop to Latino, then old school hand clapping and foot stomping and it's got a bit of southern gospel too, so it's just going to be a great, great show."
Steve Jones
The ASO and guests perform 'Gospel Messiah' in the Festival Theatre on Fri 14 and Sat 15 Dec
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