BY LEAH BLANKENDAAL, SERIES COORDINATOR
Welcome to Con Fuoco, CutCommon’s interview series with emerging musicians in Australia.
Anthony Zatorski is an Adelaide performer and composer who recently completed his First Class Honours at the Elder Conservatorium of Music, learning with Cheryl Pickering in Classical Voice.
As a freelance performer, Anthony has performed – and had his works performed – in a number of high-profile events across Europe, China, and America. Anthony specialises in new music, and collaborates with composers and artists from other disciplines to create and perform new works.
Anthony is preparing for a series of concerts featuring music for voice, electronics, percussion and toy piano in various venues across South Australia. Keep an eye on his Facebook page for updates.
Your all-time favourite piece of music?
Definitely has to be György Ligeti’s Mysteries of the Macabre. The writing of the vocal part is absolutely stunning and is beautifully complimented by the grand gestures of the orchestra. The merging of Finnish and English languages creates some very unique textures and expressions.
Most memorable concert experience?
The most memorable concert experience was being involved in the Adelaide Festival’s production Danny Elfman’s Music From the Films of Tim Burton. I was very lucky to be one of the soloists and sing This Is Halloween from Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas with Danny Elfman himself.
Biggest fear when performing?
My biggest fear is forgetting or mixing up the words in a piece when performing by memory. It’s so easy to mix up the words when they match up with the same melodies.
Best piece of musical advice you’ve received?
The best advice is from my singing teacher Cheryl Pickering, which is to breathe in the thoughts you want to express, and say the text on pitch. Don’t think about singing it – rather, think of the idea you are expressing, and everything else will happen naturally if you know the melodic material.
Most embarrassing moment on stage?
It was 2012, and I was performing Rossini’s Largo Al Factotum aria in the Adelaide Festival Theatre for the Primary Schools Festival of Music. I started off strong and confident, and then the second section of the aria came up. I somehow forgot all of the words, and made up some Italian sounding words to cover it up!
How do you psych yourself up for practice on a lazy day?
Usually, I find the repertoire I’m preparing quite fun, but on the days I’m having trouble having fun with the music, practising my favourite sections usually gets me excited about the rest of the pieces.
Favourite post-gig activity?
I love going out for a few drinks with my friends and colleagues. It’s great to unwind and debrief after a particularly stressful performance!
What are you most proud of in your musical career so far?
In 2016, I was lucky enough to be asked to write a piece for clarinettist Samuel Bertino to perform at the American New Music festival, Omaha Under The Radar. To see my work performed internationally and to have an amazing response from the audience was a very proud moment indeed.
What do you love most about making music?
I love communicating and expressing concepts and ideas. To be able to tell stories through music is one of the most beautiful things about being a musician. Seeing and hearing the audience’s reaction to the journey is a very special part of performing to me.
What’s your ultimate goal?
To make a living performing and educating people in new music.
Stay tuned for our next Con Fuoco. Would you like to be interviewed? Email editor@cutcommon.com with your bio and we’ll be in touch.
Image supplied. Credit: Connor Patterson.
