An enthusiastic Canberra audience sustained their extraordinary record of sold-out performances by Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell with their show The Songs of Elton and George.
After playing three sold out performances at Hamer Hall in Melbourne and two in the Sydney Opera House in 2024, with John Foreman and the Australian Pops Orchestra, Callea and his husband, Tim Campbell decided to embark on a 32-date tour of major venues across Australia running from February to June this year.
Even though they’re touring with a much smaller band than for their Hamer Hall and Sydney Opera House concerts, most of these concerts are already sold out. Callea and Campbell are no strangers to sold out shows having already performed 27 of them across the country in 2023 with their Up Close and Unpredictable tour.
So, what’s the secret of their success?
Well to begin with, both are power-house singers. Callea is an Aria Award-winning artist, who first came to fame as the runner-up in the 2004 edition of Australian Idol. His debut single, The Carol Bayer Sager/David Foster/Tony Renis/Alberto Testa song The Prayer became the second highest selling Australian single of the 2000’s.
Over the last twenty years Callea has honed his skills to forge a multi-award winning career performing in concerts, musicals and special events for the likes of Queen Elizabeth 11 and Luciano Pavarotti. Artists with whom he has toured include Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Diana Ross.
Tim Campbell’s career is no less illustrious, ranging from starring roles in television series including Home & Away and House Husbands, hosting national prime time shows, among them Celebrity Singing Bee and Wheel of Fortune and starring in major stage musicals, Wicked, Rent and Shout!
These national tours allow them to combine their complimentary talents with excellent production values and disciplined direction to present crowd-pleasing performances which showcase their impressive individual performance skills.
Callea and Campbell also have another ace up their sleeve in that their seventeen-year relationship has mellowed into an easy-going onstage partnership that allows both to make each other the butt of their good-natured humour.
In the case of Callea, this comes as something of a surprise, as he gets little opportunity to reveal this side of his personality on his television guest appearances which tend to focus on his artistry as a vocalist.
In trawling through the repertoire of Elton John and George Michael, which is the focus of The Songs of Elton and George, both artists have mined a fertile selection of excellent contemporary songs to create this entertaining evening of song.
Neither attempt to imitate the artists they have chosen to celebrate, but instead, put their own stamp on each song, with the support of excellent musical arrangements from their superb five-piece band and backing singers, Susie Ahern and Rocky Leprevite.
Attention to striking costuming and lighting design also set their show apart from many on the touring circuit, exemplified by Callea’s first entrance in a blaze of Swarovski diamantes to sing George Michael’s Father Figure, followed by Campbell, only slightly less extravagantly costumed, to sing Elton’s John’s Yellow Brick Road, then joining Callea in a duet for George Michael’s Jesus to a Child, with Callea finishing the set with stunning versions of George Michael’s I Can’t Make You Love Me and Kissing A Fool.
The concert continued in in this vein, with the audience reacting vociferously as song after favourite song featured, with the choices of costuming becoming the basis of much of the humour; Campbell preferring more conservative choices to Callea.
Both backing singers got a moment in the spotlight with Rocky Leprevite joining Campbell for a medley of Elton John favourites, Tiny Dancer, Rocket Man and Daniel, and Susie Ahern joining him for George Michael’s, I knew You Were Waiting.
Guitarist Cory Jack joined Callea for a stripped back version of Elton John’s Candle in the Wind which should have been a highlight but unfortunately suffered from the over-amplification of the guitar, a problem which seemed to creep in during the latter section of the concert when the band tended to drown out the singers.
However, Callea and Campbell have devised a winning formula, which will serve them well while-ever they maintain their production standard, with the songs of carefully selected artists providing them with endless repertoire on which to exercise their individual talents for imaginative re-invention.
Meanwhile, this is a concert you should not miss when it comes your way. That is, if you’re lucky enough to find a ticket.
The Songs of Elton and George
Canberra Theatre – Canberra Theatre Centre, Civic Square, Canberra
Performance: Saturday 29 March 2025
The Songs of Elton and George is currently playing selected dates and venues across Australia. For more information, visit: www.songsofeltonandgeorge.com for details.
Image: Anthony Callea and Tim Campbell in The Songs of Elton and George – photo by Sam Tabone
Review: Bill Stephens OAM