At the 2008 ARIA Fine Arts Awards tonight, expectant mother Andrea Keller won her third ARIA Award, Richard Tognetti scored a hat trick, Chris Lilley was recognised for his unique comic brilliance, and angel-voiced Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu took the first of a possible four ARIA Awards in 2008.
The ARIA Fine Arts ceremony celebrated both passion and excellence within the Australian music industry across four genres. Honouring achievements in the Classical, Jazz, World Music and Soundtrack/Cast/Show recordings, the Fine Arts event, now in its fifth year in the ARIA program, was held for the first time at the magnificent City Recital Hall, Angel Place in Sydney.
Winner of the ARIA Award for BEST SOUNDTRACK/CAST/SHOW ALBUM is one Australian television's great success stories of recent years, Chris Lilley. His 4CD set release of SUMMER HEIGHTS HIGH, the cult mockumentary hit from ABC TV, demonstrates Lilley's comedic brilliance and why Australians of all ages have adopted the vocal mannerisms of Jonah, Ja'mie and Mr G.
Having won the last two ARIA Awards for BEST CLASSICAL ALBUM for his Bach series, National Living Treasure Richard Tognetti makes it a hat trick – the first time ever in this category. For this year's ARIA Award winner, BACH SONATAS FOR VIOLIN AND KEYBOARD, Tognetti was joined by musical and real life partners Neal Peres Da Costa on harpsichord and organ, and Daniel Yeadon on cello and viola da gamba.
FOOTPRINTS, the winner of the BEST JAZZ ALBUM, is a tribute album to the great composer and saxophonist Wayne Shorter by Melbourne-based pianist Andrea Keller. Andrea couldn't attend the awards as she is due to give birth to her second child in less than two weeks, but will be back on stage to perform this album in November at the Wangaratta Festival of Jazz.
One of this year's great musical discoveries is a blind singer from North East Arnhem Land Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu. His album GURRUMUL has won the ARIA Award for BEST WORLD MUSIC ALBUM. It is largely sung in indigenous languages and has had music critics hailing the arrival of an extraordinary
talent, a veritable "gift from the gods". The ARIA voters agreed and he has been nominated for four ARIAs this year, including the coveted BEST MALE ARTIST. One down, three to go?
The 2008 ARIA Fine Arts Awards was hosted by Australian screen icon Jack Thompson, with special guest presenters: director Bruce Beresford; three time ARIA Award winner Paul Dyer; and opera stars Emma Matthews and Philip Langridge.
The audience was treated to performances by this year’s nominees: Grace Knight, Mike Nock, Archie Roach, Neal Peres Da Costa and Daniel Yeadon, and The Divas from Priscilla Queen Of The Desert The Musical.
ARIA congratulates all winners and nominees.
Photos from the 2008 ARIA Fine Arts Awards can be viewed in the gallery section.
Pictured are left are, L-R:
ABC Music's Robert Patterson, who accepted Chris Lilley's award for Best Original Soundtrack/Cast/Show album.
Neal Peres Da Costa and Daniel Yeadon who, with Richard Tognetti, won Best Classical Album.
Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who won Best World Music Album.
Gurrumul's producer Michael Hohnen.
ARIA Fine Arts Awards host Jack Thompson.
Andrea Keller's cousin Chris, who collected her award for Best Jazz Album. |
