The Hollywood Songbook

Presented by Musica Viva Australia

In 2025 Musica Viva Australia celebrates 80 years of taking music across the length and breadth of Australia with a year of tradition, collaboration and innovation. Read more.

Signum Saxophone Quartet and renegade opera star, Ali McGregor, reclaim the Hollywood Songbook in a journey from moody monochrome to vibrant technicolour. Trip the light fantastic from Berlin to Hollywood, via a Shakespearean tragedy, a Broadway musical and a Wild West rodeo in this sonic documentary of turbulent times. 

Artists

Ali McGregor voice
Signum Saxophone Quartet
Blaž Kemperle soprano saxophone
Jacopo Taddei alto saxophone
Alan Lužar tenor saxophone
Aram Poghosyan baritone saxophone

Program

Schulhoff Selections from Five Pieces for String Quartet
Traditional 'I’m a Poor Wayfaring Stranger'
Weill 'One Life to Live' from Lady in the Dark
Weill 'I’m a Stranger Here Myself' from One Touch of Venus
Prokofiev Selections from Romeo and Juliet
Bernstein Three Dance Episodes from On the Town
Berlin 'Let’s Face the Music, and Dance' from Follow the Fleet
Eisler Selections from The Hollywood Songbook
Copland Selections from Rodeo
Porter 'So in Love' from Kiss Me, Kate
Arlen 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow' from The Wizard of Oz
 

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Running time 100 minutes. Running times are approximate and subject to change without notice. 

Student Rush tickets only available in the hour prior to the concert from the Ticket Office. Proof of current study must be produced.