#270: David Hobson - Generosity of Spirit

Funny In Failure

David Hobson is an Australian tenor, composer and performer. He is Australian Royalty in the music space and is one of Australia’s best known operatic and recording artists. He has sung many roles for Opera Australia and in both state and international opera companies, including his award-winning performances of Rodolfo (La Boheme) and the title role in Orphee.

Other roles include Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Ferrando (Cosi fan Tutte), Count Almaviva (The Barber of Saville), Nadir (Pearl Fishers), Lindoro (L’Italiana in Algeri), Frederic (The Pirates of Penzance), The Architect in the world premiere of The Eighth Wonder, Eisenstein (Die Fledermaus), the title role in Candide, Danilo (The Merry Widow) and Aristaeus/Pluto (Orpheus in the Underworld).

In the world of music theatre, David has played the role of Caractacus Potts in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Buddy in Sondheim’s Follies and Nicky Arnstein in Funny Girl.

Special engagements include appearing with the San Francisco Opera in the world premiere of Dangerous Liaison, a performance in the Great Hall, Canberra for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, Schubert’s Winterreise for the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and singing the national anthem at the AFL Grand Final. He has performed his own show at the Sydney Opera House and at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and toured nationally with Lisa McCune, Marina Prior, Yvonne Kenney and Teddy Tahu Rhodes.

He is also well known from his appearances on Carols in the Domain, Carols by Candlelight, Spicks and Specks, It Takes Two, Dancing with the Stars and as a presenter on the Foxtel arts channel, STUDIO.

He has recorded numerous albums with many reaching No 1 chart status. David has also won awards including Operatic Performer of the Year, the Sydney Critics Circle Award, The Age Performing Arts Award for Best Performer in Opera and an Australian Record Industry Association (ARIA) Award.

In 2023, David performed around Australia in a 60 city concert tour of The 2 of Us, with Marina Prior.

David recently toured around Australia with comedian Colin Lane in their show, In Tails.

We chat about saying no, collaboration, falling into his work, physicality behind opera, doing comedy with Colin Lane, his voice and looking after it, gratitude, rejection, generosity of spirit, fork in the road moments plus plenty more.

The video footage of this entire chat is now out as well (one day after release)! So check them out on YouTube under Michael Kahan Check David out on: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidhobbo/

Website: https://www.davidhobson.net.au/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/davidhobsontenor/ Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCcLFneHVu5PDu46YBlGOecw

In Tails with David Hobson and Colin Lane: https://www.davidhobsonandcolinlane.com/ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1IjPdzVCaGhebzQzGMlfAv?si=bMPD1SLYRQOKnEU0i-YhHg&nd=1&dlsi=b6fb61e4d69542c3 -------------------------------------------

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