BRISBANE, Australia — The Ten Tenors were handed the keys to the City of Brisbane on Wednesday evening, Dec. 17, an honor that sees the classical crossover outfit join the likes of local heroes the Bee Gees, Savage Garden and Powderfinger.
Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner presented members of TTT, past and present, and their producer D-J Wendt, with the award for “exceptional contributions” to the river city, coinciding with the ensemble’s 30th anniversary and with 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games on the horizon.
“Tonight is one of those wonderful Brisbane moments where culture, talent, and history, and a bit of magic come together,” Schrinner remarked during a special function at City Hall.
“The highest honor that a city can give is the keys to the city,” he continued. “And tonight, that’s happening, and it is so well deserved. Now, that’s not something that we do lightly. It’s reserved for individuals or groups who have made an outstanding contribution to the city.”
The tradition dates back to mediaeval times, when cities were fortified by walls and with gates. To receive the keys “was a symbol of trust that the city is yours,” explained Schrinner. “The city trusts you. The city is open to you.” In years past, that cohort has largely featured athletes and teams from the city’s deep pool of sporting talent.
Using The Three Tenors as the template, TTT was established back in 1995 with a goal to make opera accessible and entertaining, blending pop, rock, classics and more, performed by a group of fun, hunky Aussie gents.
To date, the group has sold over 3.5 million concert tickets for performances in 37 countries, covering 639 cities. Also, their 17 studio albums have sold more than 1.5 million units.
“Like the song says, we still call Australia home,” Wendt told guests at Brisbane City Hall. “But for The Ten Tenors, Brisbane is home. Always will be. Together we’ve achieved so many incredible milestones, and this means the world to us.”
With the Lord Mayor looking on, Wendt made a cheeky pitch for the services of his act to perform the national anthem during the 2032 Olympics.
And why not. Career highlights include shows at the Royal Albert Hall, Sydney Opera House, a private party celebrating the King of Jordan, Abdullah II, and 100 other dignitaries in Petra in 2007, a performance for an official FIFA World Cup event in Poland, and for Oprah Winfrey’s “Ultimate Australian Adventure” at Whitehaven Beach in the Whitsundays.
This evening’s 90-minute function was hosted by TV personality Melissa Downes; featured Q&As, covering life on the road, the origin of bandmates’ nicknames and more; navigating the challenges of the global financial crisis and the pandemic; and ended on a booming note as members of the TTT family took the stage for a rousing performance of “Nessun Dorma.”
“This business has taken us all around the world, many times,” Wendt enthused. And they’ll go again next year, for an extensive 30th anniversary run kicking off with shows in North America, then Europe, Asia, New Zealand, and Australia.
