Sound Design – Geoff McGahan

Archie Roach – Mission Songs Project QMF 2019

Geoff2019-07-07T16:42:02+10:00

The week-long regional tour of Mission Songs Project culminated in a performance as the curtain rasier for Let Love Rule with Archie Roach as part of the 2019 Queensland Music Festival at the Tivoli last night. It has been an amazing week taking us to Longreach, Palm Island, Gympie and back home to Brisbane. It is always fantastic to visit new places, but this time is was also great to work with a whole lot of new musicians and crew, that trust and allow me help present their story, and to be a part of their creative journey.

Check out Jessie’s page about The Mission Songs project here, and get an insight into an interesting and important part of Australian Musical, and cultural history and you can hear Archie Roach’s Let Love Rule album Spotify

Archie Roach – Mission Songs Project QMF 2019Geoff2019-07-07T16:42:02+10:00

Opera Queensland’s Tosca

Geoff2019-06-25T14:12:42+10:00

Opera Queensland presents Puccini’s Tosca

Often described as the greatest opera of them all, Tosca embraces the grand themes of the human spirit brought to life by one of the greatest composers of them all, Giacomo Puccini.

Tosca will transport QPAC’s Lyric Theatre to 1970s Italy where political and religious tensions are at breaking point. Tosca, a famous opera singer, is devoted to painter Cavaradossi but Scarpia, the tyrannical Chief of Police, has his own plans for her. What ensues is a gripping tale of lust, betrayal and cold-blooded murder that careens at breakneck pace.

This new production directed by Opera Queensland’s Artistic Director Patrick Nolan and conducted by Oliver von Dohnányi features an all-star company headlined by New York-based Australian soprano Rachelle Durkin, Angus Wood, Sam Hartley and José Carbó. In a world of political tyranny and widespread intolerance, Tosca offers a timeless plea for artistic and political freedom. This is opera where women are not afraid to fight for their right to be equal.

It was such a pleasure to work alongside OQ and the QSO as the Sound Designer for this production.

Opera Queensland’s ToscaGeoff2019-06-25T14:12:42+10:00

Bleach Festival – Verdi’s Requiem

Geoff2019-06-17T15:53:31+10:00

A Fantastic week spent on the Gold Coast at HOTA (Home of the Arts) doing Sound Design for this show as part of the Bleach Festival. 2019’s festival culminated in a highly evocative and engaging performance of Verdi’s Requiem, presented by Opera Queensland and The Queensland Conservatorium of Music Symphony Orchestra.

Giuseppe Verdi’s setting of the Latin Requiem Mass is one of the great choral blockbusters, rivalling Handel’s Messiah and Mozart’s own Requiem for popularity. Already outsized for performances in most churches, the Requiem will break free of the concert hall in Opera Queensland’s 2019 season, coming to the Gold Coast’s Home of the Arts for an outdoor performance, in collaboration with the Bleach* Festival, that promises plenty of surprises

(Limelight Magazine, April 2019)

It was an incredible evening, put together by countless creatives and performers. Congratulations to all those from Bleach Festival, HOTA, Opera Queensland, Griffith University and the crew I worked alongside from Norwest Productions – it was a truly exhilarating performance that looked and sounded amazing.

Bleach Festival – Verdi’s RequiemGeoff2019-06-17T15:53:31+10:00

A Flowering Tree

Geoff2019-06-17T15:53:31+10:00

Opera Queensland’s Production of John Adams A Flowering Tree

A Flowering Tree was Opera Queensland’s first opera of their 2019 Season. This was my first time being involved with OQ for a number of years, and it was great to be part of this semi-staged opera in QPAC’s Concert Hall.

Kumudha is a young woman with a secret power – the ability to transform herself into a tree covered in valuable blossoms. But sometimes rare gifts can inspire both love and jealousy in equal measure.

Exploring themes of magic, transformation and the healing power of deep and selfless love, A Flowering Tree is a majestic retelling of a traditional Indian folk tale by world renowned composer John Adams.

Images by Stephanie Do Rozario

A Flowering TreeGeoff2019-06-17T15:53:31+10:00

Sound Designer for The New Black

Geoff2019-06-17T15:53:32+10:00

It was a great pleasure to be involved as the Sound Designer in the debut performance of The New Black at The Arts Centre Gold Coast.

The New Black is a brand new musical hailed as the next Bran Nue Dae by Cameron Woodhead of The Age.

Jim Kokatha is a young, bright, educated, Aboriginal man on the way up at a prestigious Brisbane law firm. But when his Aunty expects him to represent her at an inquest, Jim is caught between his aspirations and his responsibilities. In trying to reconcile the two, he takes us on an uplifting journey full of comedy, drama, song, dance and spectacle.

The New Black is savvy, professional, urban, ambitious… and cheeky!

Featuring Leeroy Bilney as the young gun lawyer, Ernie Dingo as his father, Robyn Archer will return to the musical stage as the charismatic Magistrate Madeleine Hawkshire. Elaine Crombie who featured in Redfern Now will shine as Aunty Eileen, William Zappa will play Rupert Kerighan. Marcus Corowa has written songs for the production. A Deadly Award winner, his music is turning heads amongst music fans with his catchy melodies, heartfelt lyrics and silky smooth singing voice. Drawing on his Aboriginal and South Sea Islander roots, Marcus combines elements of country, pop and funk to create a soulful sound that is distinctly his own.

Sound Designer for The New BlackGeoff2019-06-17T15:53:32+10:00