Ernesto Tomasini

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Ernesto Tomasini
Born 15 May 1968
Palermo

Ernesto Tomasini (born 15 May 1968 in Palermo, Italy) is an Italian actor/singer/writer living in Britain. Best known for his more recent forays into contemporary music, he has behind himself a 20 year career on the stage.

Early performances

Tomasini begun his career at 16 on the Italian comedy circuit and, later, in the legitimate theatre. He sang operatic soprano arias in the streets of his native Palermo, Sicily, until the owner of a small club by the port asked him to perform in his establishment. Throughout his teens Ernesto devised comedy sketches and sang songs in smoky clubs and small cabaret spaces. On one instance he caused a riot by performing his "outrageous" show at a conservative political party's celebrations.[1] He kept his cabaret activities secret from his parents;[2] his mother found out the truth about her son's suspicious nights out long after his debut, by reading an article about his shows on the national press.

Stage

As his acts became more sophisticated (with original songs co-written by himself) he moved up to exclusive clubs until he landed on the legitimate stage, appearing next to one of Italy's leading stars of the time, Duilio Del Prete, in the national premiere of Franz Xaver Kroetz's Death on Christmas Night.[3] After this he performed in numerous theatre productions, never abandoning his first love: Cabaret (something he continues to do to this day). He was the support act for TV comedian Nino Frassica and performed on the televised (RAI 3) Premio Anna Magnani.[4] For the Scuola di Cabaret TV show, he created comic characters that became household names and in 1992 he was awarded the prize for best comedy act from Sicily.

The following year he moved to the UK where, after graduating at the Arts Educational London School, he made a point of having as varied a career as he could, working as actor/singer on the West End stage (Chicago the Musical), in Off-West End productions (Blind Summit's Mr China's Son) and with experimental theatre companies (Lindsay Kemp).[5]

As avant-garde comedian and cabaret artist he has performed in theatres, museums, nightclubs and cultural institutes in twelve countries around the world and has collaborated with artists as diverse as Stephen Montague and Ron Athey[6] and with the Resonance Radio Orchestra.

Having made some early experiments in the late '90s with a production called The Other Woman,[7] in 2002 Tomasini started to create (in various capacities) his own shows and first attracted attention with an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival with True or Falsetto? A Secret History of the Castrati.[8] Written by Time Out critic Lucy Powell, the show was a sell out hit not only in Edinburgh but also in London for two seasons and on international tours, in three different languages.[9] This was followed by Ernesto's own script for The Veiled Screen: A Secret History of Hollywood! which has had two London runs in 2006, sponsored by the Arts Council of England.[10] Tomasini's style of performance - an operatic, dark and twisted blend of Italian Cabaret, avant-garde performance art and thought-provoking Vaudeville - has been defined "as shocking as it is moving".[11]

Music

In more recent times Tomasini has lent his voice to experimental music projects, quickly establishing himself as an international cult figure.[12] A wide vocal range combined with his melodramatic delivery have interested the press: Frontiers magazine described him as "the most exciting and flamboyant personality to shake up the opera world since Klaus Nomi" [13] and Italian newspaper La Repubblica called him a "prominent figure in avant-garde circuits with his seducing high voice reminiscent of those belonging to evirated singers".[14]
He has sung his repertoire in London venues like the Royal Albert Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall, the Purcell Room, the National Theatre, the London Astoria and the Tate Britain.
On radio he has sung, acted and was interviewed on all the BBC stations, Classic FM, Radio Nacional de España, Radio New Zealand and on major stations in France, Germany, Brazil and the US.
For six years he has been the muse of composer Othon Mataragas. As Othon & Tomasini they have performed in some of Europe's most prestigious concert halls, theatres, museums and churches. They feature on the soundtrack of Bruce LaBruce's film: Otto; or, Up With Dead People, they performed at the show of hat designer Nasir Mazhar for the London Fashion Week (an experience that Ernesto repeated on his own the following year) and were special guests at Marc Almond's London concert at the Roundhouse. In 2010 they made their West End debut and performed at the National Portrait Gallery. Othon's first album, in which Tomasini sings alongside Almond and David Tibet, was released in 2008 on the Durtro Jnana label. 2011 saw the distribution of their first single and music video together and Othon's second album, Impermanence, in which Tomasini and Almond are joined by Camille O'Sullivan as guest singer, on Cherry Red/SFE. In 2012 the same label published their second single and video.
Ernesto is singer and songwriter of Almagest!, a band he co-founded with Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo (of cult Italian band Larsen). Since 2007 they have produced three albums and one music video and have performed in arts festivals in Portugal, Italy[15] and Germany (at the Volksbuehne in Berlin, the Natural History Museum in Turin[16] and the Kurt Weill Fest, to name three).
In 2011 he created a new noise music project with dj José Macabra, called Trans4Leben, which opened the Drop Dead Festival in Berlin.[17]
Other collaborations of note are those with Andrew Liles (of Nurse With Wound for whom he has sung at the Sala Apolo in Barcelona,[18] at the Wet Sounds Festival in London, at the PRE Final Fest in Rome and has recorded tracks that became part of his CDs: The Vortex Vault Collection, 2007) and the "father of industrial music"[19] Peter Christopherson (aka Sleazy of Coil, Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV, with whom he performed in Italy in a live soundtrack for Derek Jarman's The Angelic Conversation).[20]
In 2008 Ernesto appeared as special guest singer, alongside Marc Almond and Antony (of Antony & the Johnsons), at the Current 93 concert in London's Queen Elizabeth Hall.[21] A production music track that he recorded with Rolo McGinty of The Woodentops was released in 2010. In 2012 he was special guest of the band Patti Plinko at the Royal Albert Hall's Elgar Room.

Other

In 2008 he was paid tribute in his hometown of Palermo with a special evening entitled Tomasini con la O, in which he discussed his life, career and main sources of inspiration.
A lecturer on theatre history and techniques he has given master-classes to drama students in England, Spain and Mexico.
His work and performance style are discussed in three books and an academic essay.[22] In March 2012 he was included in the book Eccellenza Italiana (Italian Excellence, with an introduction by the President of the Republic of Italy, Giorgio Napolitano), in the Theatre/Music section, for representing Italy in the world.[23]
For two years (2010-2012) Ernesto was the London correspondent of the Italian magazine Musical!.[24]

Discography

  • Black Widow (album, 2007) Beta Lactam-ring Records
  • Black Sea (album, 2007) Beta Lactam-ring Records
  • When I Leave You (single, 2007) Othon Mataragas
  • Canes Venatici (album, 2007) Blossoming Noise
  • Otto; or, Up With Dead People (soundtrack album, 2008) Crippled Dick Hot Wax!
  • Digital Angel (album, 2008) Durtro Jnana
  • The Hunting Dogs of Boötes the Herdsman (album, 2010) Chew-z
  • Last Night I Paid To Close My Eyes (single, 2011) Cherry Red/SFE
  • Impermanence (album, 2011) Cherry Red/SFE
  • Impermanence (single, 2012) Cherry Red/SFE
  • Düde (album, 2012) Tin Angel Records
  • Messier Objects (album 2013) Tourette Records
  • InSonar, L'Enfant et le Ménure (album, 2013) Lizard Records

Bibliography

  • Scarlini, Luca. Lustrini per il regno dei cieli. Bollati Boringhieri, 2008
  • Guarracino, Serena La primadonna all'Opera. Tangram Edizioni Scientifiche, 2010
  • Tomaz Pires, Luìs. The Julie Andrews Visual Encyclopedia. Lisbon: Pires, 2011
  • Cazzato, Luigi (curated by) Orizzonte sud. Besa, 2011
  • Palumbo Crocco, Cristina (with a preface by the President of the Republic of Italy Giorgio Napolitano). Eccellenza Italiana. Rubbettino, 2012
  • Pajdic, Predrag & Nash, JL. Beneath the Shadows the Soul Walks. The Pandorian, 2012
  • Johnson, Dominic (cur). Pleading in the Blood: The Art and Performances of Ron Athey. Intellect Live, 2013

Selection of Work in Variety, Cabaret and Performance Art

  • The LA Italian Revue (variety - 1984, USA)
  • The Victoria Series (cabaret - 1988/93, I)
  • Support for Nino Frassica (cabaret - 1991, I)
  • The Lenny Beige Show at the Regency Rooms (variety - 1998, UK)
  • The Amazing Tomasini at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow (cabaret - 2001, UK)
  • Stars Fall From Heaven at the Colourscape Festival (performance art - 2006, UK)
  • The History of Ecstasy at MADRE Museum, Naples (performance art - 2009, I)
  • Tomasini/Macabra Trans4Leben at the MILKandLEAD art gallery, London (performance art - 2011, UK)
  • Lascia o raddoppia? (performance art - 2011, UK)
  • Alternative Miss Liverpool (cabaret - 2011, UK)
  • Franko B's Untouchable (cabaret -2013, UK)

Selection of Theatre Work

  • Morte nella notte di Natale (play - 1988, I)
  • Ballarò (play - 1989, I)
  • Nasci lu iornu (musical - 1993, I)
  • Volti Lunari (play - 1994, UK)
  • Reunion in Genthin (play - 1995, UK)
  • Grand Hotel - The Musical (musical - 1995, UK)
  • The Tempest (play - 1995, UK)
  • Varietè (dark operetta - 1996/97, UK)
  • The Other Woman (compilation musical - 1998/99, UK)
  • The Conquering Hero of Seville (play - 1999, UK)
  • Mr China's Son (multimedia play with music - 2002, UK)
  • True or Falsetto? A Secret History of the Castrati (one man musical - 2002-2007, UK + world tour)
  • The Englishman Sits in a Caravan at St Osyth/Singing (opera - 2003, UK)
  • Cabaret - The Musical (musical - 2003, UK)
  • Chicago - The Musical (musical - 2004/05, UK)
  • The Veiled Screen: A Secret History of Hollywood (one man musical - 2005/06, UK)
  • Camurrìa! (musical - 2008, UK)
  • Petit Cheval Blanc (play - 2013, India)

Selection of TV, Film and Radio Work

  • Premio Anna Magnani (RAI 3, TV - 1990, I)
  • Woman's Hour (BBC Radio 4 - 1998, UK)
  • Outlook (BBC World Radio - 2002)
  • Thunderpants (Pathè, Film - 2002, UK)
  • Walking the Outer Road (Radio New Zealand - 2003, NZ)
  • Crowded Skies (BBC2, TV - 2003, UK)
  • Dream Team (Sky, TV - 2004, UK)
  • The Bottle Factory Outing (BBC Radio 4 - 2005, UK)
  • Children of Men (Universal Pictures, Film - 2006, USA)
  • Siglo 21 (Radio 3 Nacional de España - 2007, Es)
  • Otto; or, Up with Dead People (Film soundtrack - 2008, Ger)
  • Stoo Kuinnutu (music video - Reverso - 2009, Ger)
  • Othon & Tomasini en vivo a la Bienal de Zamora (Radio Nacional de España - 2009, Es)
  • Forget Me Not (Quicksilver Films, Film - 2010, UK)
  • Carne cruda (Othon & Tomasini en vivo y entrevista) (Radio Nacional de España - 2010, Es)
  • Last Night I Paid To Close My Eyes (music video - Cherry Red/SFE - 2011, UK/Dm)
  • Impermanence (music video - Cherry Red/SFE - 2012, UK/Dm)
  • Heavenly Voices: The Legacy of Farinelli (documentary - Tico Films - 2013, EU)

Selection of Concerts and Recitals

  • COPA at the Royal Albert Hall (concert - 2001, UK)
  • State of the Nation at the Purcell Room (concert - 2002, UK)
  • Andrew Liles + Ernesto Tomasini & Nurse With Wound at the Sala Apolo, Barcelona (concert - 2007, Es)
  • Othon & Tomasini's First European tour (concert - 2007/08 EU)
  • The Angelic Conversation with Peter Christopherson's The Threshold HouseBoys Choir in Turin (concert - 2008, I)
  • Current 93 at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, with guests Antony, Marc Almond and Ernesto Tomasini (concert - 2008, UK)
  • Andrew Liles + Ernesto Tomasini & Nurse With Wound at the Wet Sounds Festival, London (concert - 2008, UK)
  • Palumbo/Tomasini's Canes Venatici live at the Auditòrio de Serralves, Porto (concert - 2008, PT)
  • London Fashion Week, Nasir Mazhar spring show, London (recital - 2009, UK)
  • Ernesto Tomasini sings: Othon, Canes Venatici and Andrew Liles at the PRE Final Fest, Rome (concert - 2009, I)
  • Othon & Tomasini at The Queen Elizabeth Hall (The Front Room), London (recital - 2009, UK)
  • Othon & Tomasini special guests at Marc Almond's Roundhouse concert, London (concert - 2009, UK)
  • Othon & Tomasini in the West End (Leicester Square Theatre), London (concert - 2010, UK)
  • Othon & Tomasini at the National Portrait Gallery, London (concert - 2010, UK)
  • Palumbo/Tomasini's Canes Venatici live at the Volksbuehne, Berlin (concert - 2010, D)
  • Othon & Tomasini at the Teatro Lara, Madrid (concert - 2010, Es)
  • Palumbo/Tomasini's Almagest! at the Kampnagel, Hamburg (concert - 2011, D)
  • Palumbo/Tomasini's Almagest! at the Natural History Museum, Turin (concert - 2011, I)
  • Tomasini/Macabra Trans4Leben at the Drop Dead Festival, Berlin (concert - 2011, D)
  • Othon & Tomasini at Chelsea Theatre, Impermanence (concert - 2011 UK)
  • Othon & Tomasini Live in London at St Leonard's Church Shoreditch (concert - 2012 UK)
  • Almagest! at Kurt Weill Fest (concert - 2013, D)

References

  1. ↑ Gottert, Michael (April 2010), "Ernesto Tomasini Interview (article)", Black Magazin 
  2. ↑ Ellis, Samantha (5 August 2002), "All Mouth and No Trousers (article)", The Guardian 
  3. ↑ Alaimo, Roberto (25 November 1988), Morte nella notte di Natale (article) Giornale di Sicilia 
  4. ↑ Longo, Piero (1 September 1991), Si conclude domani con il Genio di Palermo Montepellegrino '91 (article) Giornale di Sicilia 
  5. ↑ Shuttelworth, Ian (2 October 1996), Kemp's camp mime to music (article) Financial Times 
  6. ↑ De Ciuceis, Franco (8 June 2009), "Ron Athey, la body art come scena della crudeltà (article)", Il Mattino 
  7. ↑ -, - (10 June 1998), The Other Woman (article) Evening Standard 
  8. ↑ Costa, Maddy (12 August 2002), True or Falsetto? (article) The Guardian 
  9. ↑ Nicholson, Colin (14 April 2003), Hitting the high notes (article) Daily Mirror 
  10. ↑ -, - (5–12 April 2006), The Veiled Screen (article) Time Out 
  11. ↑ Phillips, Giovanna (13 April 2006), Hollywood Unveiled (review) What's On 
  12. ↑ Ca., Al. (20 February 2007), "La voce di Tomasini "perle nere" in falsetto (article)", La Repubblica 
  13. ↑ Clare, Lenora (vol 27 issue 02, 2008), "Naked City: Informer (article)", Frontiers (magazine) 
  14. ↑ Campo, Alberto (16 April 2008), Threshold House, suoni e voci per Jarman (article) La Repubblica 
  15. ↑ Campo, Alberto (29 April 2009), "Brillano sul festival le stelle di Canes Venatici (article)", La Repubblica 
  16. ↑ -, - (October 2010), "Italienischer Theaterherbst (article)", Volksbuehne.de 
  17. ↑ -, - (29 August 2011), "Festival: Kreativer Krach an der Schillingbrücke (article)", Berliner Morgen Post 
  18. ↑ C, J (21 February 2007), "Caprichos esquisitos (article)", La Vanguardia 
  19. ↑ Petridis, Alexis (28 November 2010), "Peter Christopherson Obituary (article)", The Guardian 
  20. ↑ Ferrari, Paolo (11 April 2008), "La memoria dei Coil per Balance e Jarman (article)", La Stampa 
  21. ↑ Diana, Barbara (n. 251, September, 2008), "Ernesto Tomasini, una voce extraordinaire (article)", Il Giornale della Musica 
  22. ↑ Guarracino, Serena (Spring 2010), Anglistica "Of Castrati, Angels and Simians (article)", Anglistica 
  23. ↑ -, - (24 March 2012), Eccellenze Italiane "Eccellenza Italiana (article)", Eccellenze Italiane 
  24. ↑ Tomasini, Ernesto (N.56, July–August 2010), "Con la voglia di sognare ancora (article)", Musical! 

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