Ernesto Tomasini

Infobox actor


imagesize = 150px
birthdate = 15 May 1968
birthplace = Palermo

Ernesto Tomasini (born 15 May 1968) is an Italian actor/singer living in Britain.

Tomasini has been very active on the Italian comedy circuit, legitimate theatre and TV since the age of 16. In the early '90s he moved to the UK where, after graduating at the Arts Educational London School, he has had a varied career, working as actor/singer on the West End stage ("Chicago the Musical"), in Off-West End productions (Blind Summit's "Mr China's Son") and with experimental theatre companies (Lindsay Kemp). As avant-garde comedian and cabaret artist he has performed in theatres, nightclubs and cultural institutes in ten countries around the world, winning two prizes in Great Britain.

Having made some early experiments in the late 90s with a production called "The Other Woman", in 2002 Tomasini started to create (in various capacities) his own shows and first attracted attention with an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival with "True or Falsetto? A Secret History of the Castrati". The show was a sell out hit not only in Edinburgh but also in London for two seasons and on international tours (in three different languages). This was followed by "The Veiled Screen: A Secret History of Hollywood!" which has had two London runs in 2006, sponsored by the Arts Council of England. Tomasini’s style of performance - an operatic, dark and twisted blend of Italian Cabaret, avant-garde performance art and thought-provoking Vaudeville - has been described as "exhilarating and moving at the same time". He inserted these elements in his latest production, a deviced piece created with other Italian artists in London, entitled "Camurrìa!". It previewed at the Riverside Studios in June 2008 for the first edition of the Italian Theatre Season.

In more recent times Tomasini has lent his voice to experimental music projects, quickly establishing himself as an international cult figure. A wide vocal range combined with his melodramatic delivery have interested the press: Frontiers (magazine) described him as "the most exciting and flamboyant personality to shake up the opera world since Klaus Nomi".
He has sung in London at the Royal Albert Hall, the Purcell Room and the National Theatre. Up and coming musicians as well as legendary names have written original material for his voice: For a year and a half he has been the muse of composer OTHON and has performed with him in concert halls around Europe, attracting critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. They both feature in the soundtrack of Bruce LaBruce's last film: "Otto; or, Up With Dead People" and in September they have caused a sensation at the London Fashion Week, performing at the show of hat designer Nasir Mazhar. OTHON's debut album, in which Tomasini sings alongside Marc Almond and David Tibet, has just been released on the Durtro Jnana label.
Ernesto also works with Andrew Liles (Nurse With Wound), Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo (Larsen), Peter Christopherson (aka Sleazy of Coil, Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV) and Current 93. He has sung for Liles at the Sala Apolo in Barcelona and at the Wet Sounds Festival in London (in the first ever "under water concert") and has recorded tracks that became part of his CDs: "The Vortex Vault Collection" (Beta-lactam Ring Records, 2007). With Palumbo he has performed at Les Voutes in Paris and has produced the album "Canes Venatici" (Blossoming Noise, 2007). With Christopherson's The Threshold HouseBoys Choir he has appeared (alongside David Tibet, Ivan Pavlov and OTHON) at the Ambrosio Cinema in Turin, Italy, in a new, live soundtrack for Derek Jarman's "The Angelic Conversation". The original music for the movie was created in 1985 by Coil and the Turin show was dedicated to the memory of John Balance, who, with Christopherson, founded Coil. In April Ernesto appeared as special guest singer, alongside Marc Almond and Antony (of Antony & the Johnsons) at the Current 93 / Baby Dee concert in London's Queen Elizabeth Hall.
On radio he has sung and acted on all the BBC stations, Classic FM, Radio 3 (Spain), Radio Aligre (France), Radio MEC (Brazil) and Radio New Zealand.

In July he was paid tribute in his hometown of Palermo with a special evening entitled "Tomasini con la O", in which he discussed his life, career and main sources of inspiration. A lecturer on theatre history and techniques Ernesto has given master-classes to drama students in England, Spain and Mexico.

Discography

* "Black Widow" (2007) Beta Lactam-ring Records
* "Black Sea" (2007) Beta Lactam-ring Records
* "When I Leave You" (2007) Othon Mataragas
* "Canes Venatici" (2007) Blossoming Noise
* "Otto; or, Up With Dead People" (2008) Crippled Dick Hot Wax!
* "Digital Angel" (2008) Durtro Jnana

elected Work

*"The LA Italian Revue, cabaret (1984, USA)
*"Morte nella notte di Natale, stage (1988, I)
*"Various comedy shows, cabaret (1988/93, I)
*"Ballarò, stage (1989, I)
*"Premio Anna Magnani (RAI 3), TV (1990, I)
*"Support for Nino Frassica, cabaret (1991, I)
*"Nasci lu iornu, stage (1993, I)
*"Volti Lunari, stage (1994, UK)
*"Reunion in Genthin, stage (1995, UK)
*"Grand Hotel - The Musical, stage (1995, UK)
*"The Tempest, stage (1995, UK)
*"Varietè, stage (1996/97, UK)
*"The Other Woman, stage (1998/99, UK)
*"Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4 (1998, UK)
*"The Lenny Beige Show at the Regency Rooms, cabaret (1998, UK)
*"The Conquering Hero of Seville, stage (1999, UK)
*"The Amazing Tomasini at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, cabaret (2001, UK)
*"COPA at the Royal Albert Hall, concert (2001, UK)
*"State of the Nation at the Purcell Room, concert (2002, UK)
*"Outlook, BBC World (2002)
*"Mr China's Son, stage (2002, UK)
*"Thunderpants, Film (2002, UK)
*"True or Falsetto? A Secret History of the Castrati, stage (2002-2007, UK + world tour)
*"Walking the Outer Road, Radio New Zealand (2003, NZ)
*"The Englishman Sits in a Caravan at St Osyth/Singing, opera (2003, UK)
*"Cabaret - The Musical, stage (2003, UK)
*"Crowded Skies (BBC2), TV (2003, UK)
*"Chicago - The Musical, stage (2004/05, UK)
*"Dream Team (Sky), TV (2004, UK)
*"The Bottle Factory Outing, BBC Radio 4 (2005, UK)
*"The Veiled Screen: A Secret History of Hollywood, stage (2005/06, UK)
*"Stars Fall From Heaven at the Colourscape Festival, performance art (2006, UK)
*"Children of Men, Film (2006, USA)
*"Siglo 21, Radio 3 Spain (2007, Es)
*"Nurse With Wound at the Sala Apolo, Barcelona, concert (2007, Es)
*"Othon & Tomasini, European tour, concert (2007/08 EU)
*"Otto; or, Up with Dead People, Film soundtrack (2008, Ger)
*"The Angelic Conversation with The Threshold HouseBoys Choir, Torino, concert (2008, I)
*"Current 93 at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, concert (2008, UK)
*"Camurrìa!, stage (2008, UK)
*"Nurse With Wound at the Wet Sounds Festival, London, concert (2008, UK)

External links

* [http://www.ernestotomasini.com official website]
* [http://arts.guardian.co.uk/features/story/0,11710,769206,00.html Guardian Unlimited] interview by Samantha Ellis from 2002
* [http://www.lastampa.it/Torino/cmsSezioni/mostre/200702articoli/1686girata.asp La Stampa] article from 2007
* [http://www.mixtape.gr/t.asp?sec=1&sub=4&uid=10 Mixtape] interview by Biku Stratake on Greek National Press, 2007
* [http://www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/trueorfalsetto-rev.htm British Theatre Guide] review by Gill Stoker, 2003
*imdb name|1146398