Ernesto Tomasini

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Ernesto Tomasini

Born	15 May 1968 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 UK, after graduating at the Arts Educational London School, he has had a varied career, working as actor/singer in West End musicals ("Chicago"), 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 Ernesto has performed in theatres, nightclubs and cultural institutes in ten countries around the world, winning two prizes in Great Britain. On radio he has sung and acted on all the BBC stations, Classic FM, Radio 3 (Spain), Radio Aligre (France) and Radio New Zealand. Among his many TV and film appearances: "Crowded Skies" (BBC2, UK), "Premio Anna Magnani" (RAI3, Italy) "Boulevard" (RTL4, Holland) and "Children of Men" (Universal Pictures). As voiceover artist and singer he has worked for directors James Ivory, Kevin Spacey, Ridley Scott and Bruce LaBruce.

In 2002 he formed his own theatre company and first attracted attention with an appearance at the Edinburgh Festival. Under the company's umbrella he has created two shows: "True or Falsetto?" (as performer/producer) and "The Veiled Screen" (as performer/playwright). The first was a sell out hit in Edinburgh, in London and on international tours (in three different languages), whilst the second production 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".

As soloist Tomasini has sung in London at the Royal Albert Hall, the Purcell Room and the National Theatre. In more recent times he has collaborated with experimental musicians who have written original material for his voice: For 3 and a half years he has been the muse of composer Othon Mataragas and has performed with him in concert halls around Europe, attracting critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase. He has also collaborated with Andrew Liles (Nurse With Wound), Fabrizio Modonese Palumbo (Larsen), Peter Christopherson (aka Sleazy of Coil, Throbbing Gristle and Psychic TV) and Current 93. Ernesto has sung for the first at the Sala Apolo in Barcelona 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 Mataragas) 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. On April 21st 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.

A lecturer on theatre history and techniques Ernesto has given master-classes to drama students in England, Spain and Mexico.

[edit] 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

[edit] Selected Work

Reunion in Genthin, stage (1995)
Grand Hotel - The Musical, stage (1995)
The Tempest, stage (1995)
Varietè, stage (1996/97)
The Other Woman, stage (1998/99)
Woman's Hour, BBC Radio 4 (1998)
The Lenny Beige Show at the Regency Rooms, cabaret (1998)
The Conquering Hero of Seville, stage (1999)
The Amazing Tomasini at the Tron Theatre, Glasgow, cabaret (2001)
COPA at the Royal Albert Hall, concert (2001)
State of the Nation at the Purcell Room, concert (2002)
Outlook, BBC World (2002)
Mr China's Son, stage (2002)
Thunderpants, Film (2002)
True or Falsetto? A Secret History of the Castrati, stage (2002-2007)
Walking the Outer Road, Radio NZ (2003)
The Englishman Sits in a Caravan at St Osyth/Singing, opera (2003)
Cabaret - The Musical, stage (2003)
Crowded Skies, TV (2003)
Chicago - The Musical, stage (2004/05)
Dream Team, TV (2004)
The Bottle Factory Outing, BBC Radio 4 (2005)
The Veiled Screen: A Secret History of Hollywood, stage (2005/06)
Stars Fall From Heaven at the Colourscape Festival, performance art (2006)
Children of Men, Film (2006)
Siglo 21, Radio 3 Spain (2007)
Nurse With Wound at the Sala Apolo, Barcelona, concert (2007)
Othon & Tomasini, European tour, concert (2007)
Otto; or, Up with Dead People, Film soundtrack (2008)
The Angelic Conversation with The Threshold HouseBoys Choir, Torino Italy, concert (2008)
Current 93 at Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, concert (2008)