Toni Castell's
Life from Light
at
The Union Chapel Islington
15th November 2012


I was greatly honoured to be asked to sing in this modern opera, songs from which I had already recorded on Toni's Momo album. Billed as a 'controversial Wikipedia inspired sexual education opera' this was a real change from my usual repertoire and I enjoyed it massively. To work with synthesisers, drums, electric guitars, a harp, trumpet and visuals altogether was pretty awesome.

          Roberta Howett, Susan Jiwey, Simon Desbruslais and Momo's Band


Toni Castell's is a master of image painting in music, from the environs of a nightclub to the battlefields between North and South Korea.

Self singing 'Never be afraid to say I love you'

Susan Jiwey was the star of the show. She not only had to sing notes that only dogs can normally hear, but she also saved the night when singer Camilla Kerslake dropped out of the project the evening before after being poached for the night by Andrea Bocelli. Susan's voice filled the great gothic space of the Union Chapel and was also extremely effective when combined with the stunning, but modern, timbre of singer Roberta Howett.

The opera was very slick and ran smoothly under the expert directing of Toni, while he played keyboard, guitar and sang. My brilliant girlfriend, Alice Thompson, turned her stud (haha!) in to more of a stud by putting a line of said studs down a black shirt I own...so I looked, as my Grandfather would say, like a real 'Dickie Dazzler'!

                        Self in my McQueen/Thompson shirt


Carolina Busina was a brilliant stage manager amidst the sort of stressful situations that only come with getting an extremely disparate group of musicians, artists and techs together at the right time and making sure they were all calm and collected.


Everyone on stage felt hugely honoured to be involved and a tour is on the cards, so watch this space!

Roberta Howett

                   A triumphant Toni Castells


Live recording of 'Fake Boobs' at The union chapel:-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSWx3MbqNGA

For more information on Momo and Toni Castells please see
http://www.momomusic.net/momo/Home.html




                         All images in this blog are under the copyright ownership of Oliver Gerrish