Veni, vidi, vici - I came, I saw, I conquered

How Handel conquered the opera world with Julius Caesar exactly 300 years ago.

Countertenor Tobias Cole is joined by his old music teacher, pianist Elizabeth Swain and violinist Katie Cole to perform highlights from the opera interspersed with entertaining anecdotes about the composer and his singers.

For those who don’t know what a counter tenor is - it is the rarest of all voice types. The countertenor was not originally an operatic voice type as historically it was the castrati who would sing the female operatic roles in an age when it was not proper for women to sing in the opera. Handel composed roles for the high male voice, such as the countertenor or castrato, due to the popularity of these vocal types during his time. The use of countertenors and castrati allowed Handel to achieve a specific vocal color and dramatic effect in his operas and oratorios. These roles were written to highlight the unique qualities of these voices, rather than to feminize them. Countertenors and castrati were highly valued for their ability to sing in the soprano and alto registers with great agility and expressiveness, and they were often cast in roles that required a sense of otherworldliness or emotional depth.

Tobias Cole is an award-winning singer and conductor with a passion for quality ensemble performance and for creating pathways for children and adults to achieve this. He is a regular guest singer in one of Australia’s finest vocal groups, The Song Company and in 2014 established his own professional ensemble in Canberra, Clarion, to perform Evensong a monthly program in the National Portrait Gallery .In 2013 he founded Turner Trebles primary school choir and, in 2014, Vocal Fry for high school students in the ANU Music Development Program. As a singer he has performed principal roles with all the major Australian opera companies, including Opera Australia and has performed as a soloist throughout Australia and overseas.

Tobias was a scholarship music student at Newington College in Sydney, and his teacher was Elizabeth Swain. Elizabeth Swain, OAM - a well known and much loved choral conductor who established the Newington College Music Department, and then went on to conduct the Choir at St Mary’s Cathedral in Sydney. Elizabeth also conducted local Northern Rivers chamber choir, Dynasty8.

ABOUT SHARA MUSIC TEMPLE

Imagine sitting on a soft, upholstered couch, glass of champagne in hand, with world-class musicians just feet away engaged in fervent musical conversation. For a serious music lover, nothing comes close to the rapture of listening to a great performance in the privacy, comfort, and intimate setting of a beautiful living room, the way great music was meant to be heard.

For those of you who prefer to fly “first class,” Shara Music Temple will host Salon Concerts in the founders’ South Golden Beach home, in Northern NSW. After a complete performance of the works, you will have a rare opportunity to witness musicians at work, and to meet the musicians after the show.

Space is limited to 50 guests so please reserve early! Please arrive by 5pm, but no later than 5.30pm when the music will begin promptly! And finally , you'll get to meet Carl and Donna, our cats.