December 11, 2023 • 8 mins
In this Countdown to Carols special, Vision Australia Radio host Chris Thompson (Behind the Scenes) catches up with Australian radio presenter and baritone, Denis Walter. Denis has been a long time contributor to the Vision Australia Carols by Candlelight, performing at least 40 times, at the popular event on Christmas Eve.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
S1 (00:09):
Oh, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Everywhere
you go. Take a look at the five and ten.
Glistening once again with candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
(00:30):
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas toys in
every store. But the prettiest sight to see is the
holly that will be on your own front door. A
pair of hopalong boots in the vessel that uses the
(00:51):
wish of Bonnie and Ben. Tarzan will talk and we'll
go for a walk. As the hopeful Janice and.
UU (00:57):
Jen and Mom and dad can hardly wait.
S1 (01:11):
There's a tree in the old hotel. One in the
park as well. The sturdy kind that doesn't.
UU (01:18):
Mind the snow. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
In the bowels will start. And the thing that'll make
them break is the carol that you sing right within
your heart.
S1 (01:46):
We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a
merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas and a
happy New Year.
UU (01:54):
Good tidings we bring to you and. We wish you
a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We wish
you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas.
We wish you a merry Christmas and a.
S1 (02:08):
Happy New Year.
UU (02:10):
Good tidings. We wish. You a merry Christmas and a
happy New Year.
S2 (02:26):
Well, I'm pretty sure you recognize those Christmas songs and carols. Um,
I'm also pretty sure you recognize the voice of the singer.
It's Dennis. Walter, you couldn't really have Carols by Candlelight
without Dennis being part of the lineup, and he's right
here on the line to talk to us about this
(02:47):
year's appearance at Carols by Candlelight. Welcome to the show, Dennis.
S1 (02:50):
Thank you very much, Chris. Really looking forward to the
next few hours.
S2 (02:55):
I'll bet you are. Um, so do you. How many
times have you been on stage at the Sydney Myer
Music Bowl for Carols by Candlelight?
S3 (03:04):
Well, we can't really put a figure on it, because
I did. I did a lot of Carols by Candlelight
for Channel Zero in the Old town time. Yes. And
then I also did a lot after it had shifted
to Channel nine. I was on at least every second year.
So that's the that's the grey area of how many
(03:25):
I did for channel Zero and channel nine before I
joined channel nine, because since 1989 I've been on every
year except one. So it's it's over 40, but we
don't know whether it's 41, 42, 45 or 46. I
don't know, it's it's hard to say.
S2 (03:42):
Have you sung a different song every time?
S3 (03:45):
No. I've been a repeat offender on many occasions.
S2 (03:50):
Uh, can you remember which one that you've sung them most?
S3 (03:54):
Oh, yes. Probably song of Joy. But I haven't done
that for over a decade.
S2 (03:59):
Ah, and I can't.
S3 (04:00):
Tell you what I am singing.
S2 (04:02):
No, but you know. Is that a clue? No. We go. No. Okay.
All right. So process of elimination. We know you're not
singing a song of joy. Um, having done it so
many times. Is there still excitement in it? Do you
still have a little kind of flutter of butterflies just
before you go on stage about it?
S3 (04:22):
There's definite excitement. And the excitement starts at the music rehearsal,
which is, you know, two nights out from from the
main event, and then you're at the bowl again for
the dress rehearsal, um, last night. And then there's this
build up and the, the rehearsal, the dress rehearsal has,
(04:43):
has as many people in the audience as the actual night.
So the excitement is sort of over three, three nights
building to the, to the actual production.
S2 (04:53):
How does being such a regular on Carols by Candlelight
factor into your own Christmas celebrations? You must work around
it pretty much every year pretty well.
S3 (05:05):
Um, uh, living in Geelong, we don't get home until probably, uh,
1 or 1 30 or 2:00. It depends. Depends whether
we kick on a little bit afterwards backstage. But, um,
it's look, it's it's an honour to be on it, and,
and I, I get the same feelings now as I
got in the, in the early days.
S2 (05:25):
Yeah. Are you just mentioned, uh, backstage, um, on the
show last year, we actually did a little, um, a
little tour backstage with the Carols by Candlelight production manager,
which was pretty exciting. Um, is it festive backstage? Is
it is it really kind of energetic and lively, or
are people really concentrating and doing their warm ups?
S3 (05:47):
No, no, some people sort of stay in their dressing rooms,
but others, the majority are up and about, um, uh,
in sort of a green room area that we have
where everyone sort of chats and we have a lot
of the theatre show casts on. So they all know
each other, and some of them are in other shows
and they've catch up on Christmas Eve. So it's it's
(06:09):
really it's festive. It's genuinely festive.
S2 (06:13):
I guess for some people that must be a kind
of almost regular catch up that people see each other
at this event. Um, maybe the only time they see
each other in the year?
S3 (06:26):
Yes. Uh, often, uh, I'll see Marina Prior or maybe
Sylvie at different shows during the year. This year. I've
spoken to both of them on on three, but I haven't, um,
haven't caught up with them. So, uh, the music rehearsal
night was the first time that we've caught up this year.
Other than talking on air.
S2 (06:45):
Fantastic. Uh, did you ever go to Carols by Candlelight
as a punter?
S3 (06:51):
No. Uh, I went to ones, uh, in Geelong, but, um,
pretty well. Not. No, I reckon I only ever went
to one before my career took off, which I was,
you know, 15. So. Wow. That's a long time ago, Chris.
S2 (07:06):
Yeah, but, you know, it's continued at a pace, uh,
hasn't it.
S3 (07:11):
It's 52 years. So coming into my 53rd year of, uh,
being involved in, in. Entertainment media.
S2 (07:20):
Wow. That's that's fantastic. Um, I note that when we
listen to a little medley of Christmas songs from your
Magic of Christmas album, it's not the only not the
only Christmas album you've put out. Um, are they fun
to do? Are they are they kind of an opportunity
(07:40):
for you to go, I love this Christmas song or
this makes me feel that way, or I remember this
from my childhood. Are they that kind of process for
you when you're putting a Christmas album together.
S3 (07:50):
Particularly that album The Magic of Christmas? Chris Elves is
an English musical director, and he just created that sort
of feeling of. Some of those arrangements were so nostalgic
and you could almost imagine wandering in snow in London. Uh,
at Christmas time. It he's really caught that, um, that
(08:11):
old world sort of Christmas feel.
S2 (08:15):
I think the last Christmas recording you might have done
was 2020. Is that right? That's a single recording.
S3 (08:23):
Oh, yeah. That was with I did a duet with, uh,
Marussia who toured with Andre every year, uh, of We
Need a Little Christmas and we took we took a
song that's always been done like a, um, papa type
song and made it into a ballad, and it worked
a treat.
S2 (08:37):
Well, it's funny, I was listening to it, um, uh, yesterday,
and it really struck me. I think I was kind of,
you know, a good, um, 30s or so into the
song before I went. I, I do know this song
because I thought I knew the title. And then it
started and I went, oh, I'm not sure I know it,
but I'm always fascinated when you hear a song that,
(09:01):
as you say, exists in a sort of, um, papa style,
and you suddenly hear a kind of beauty in the
song that you haven't really kind of come across before.
Was that something that was that came from you or
from another arranger?
S3 (09:16):
Uh, that was from Michael Christiano, who's these days involved
with the original seekers? The boys. That's what they started
before Judith joined. Yeah, but Mike, Michael's produced albums from
Arusha and for myself. And this year he did the
the re the rebirth of Russell Morris all his hits.
(09:37):
But with the Melbourne Symphony he did the actual recording
and the mixing of all that. He's very talented.
S2 (09:42):
Oh, fantastic. Well, uh, I shouldn't hold you up too
long because, you know, you've got a show to do. Dennis. Um.
I hope it's a great night.
S3 (09:52):
Um, I'll go and do warm ups.
S2 (09:53):
Yeah.
S3 (09:54):
He should have done warm ups in my life, but
I will tonight.
S4 (10:00):
Uh, a little.
S2 (10:00):
Bit of red leather. Yellow leather to get you going.
S4 (10:03):
Yes.
S2 (10:05):
Um, thanks so much for taking the time out. Uh, Dennis,
been lovely to talk to you and took us, uh,
for whatever you reveal your singing tonight?
S3 (10:15):
Yes. I just hope I remember the lyrics.
S4 (10:17):
Merry Christmas. Good on you. Thanks, Dennis. Walter.
S3 (10:20):
Take care.
Oh, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Everywhere
you go. Take a look at the five and ten.
Glistening once again with candy canes and silver lanes aglow.
(00:30):
It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas toys in
every store. But the prettiest sight to see is the
holly that will be on your own front door. A
pair of hopalong boots in the vessel that uses the
(00:51):
wish of Bonnie and Ben. Tarzan will talk and we'll
go for a walk. As the hopeful Janice and.
UU (00:57):
Jen and Mom and dad can hardly wait.
S1 (01:11):
There's a tree in the old hotel. One in the
park as well. The sturdy kind that doesn't.
UU (01:18):
Mind the snow. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.
In the bowels will start. And the thing that'll make
them break is the carol that you sing right within
your heart.
S1 (01:46):
We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a
merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas and a
happy New Year.
UU (01:54):
Good tidings we bring to you and. We wish you
a merry Christmas and a happy New Year. We wish
you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas.
We wish you a merry Christmas and a.
S1 (02:08):
Happy New Year.
UU (02:10):
Good tidings. We wish. You a merry Christmas and a
happy New Year.
S2 (02:26):
Well, I'm pretty sure you recognize those Christmas songs and carols. Um,
I'm also pretty sure you recognize the voice of the singer.
It's Dennis. Walter, you couldn't really have Carols by Candlelight
without Dennis being part of the lineup, and he's right
here on the line to talk to us about this
(02:47):
year's appearance at Carols by Candlelight. Welcome to the show, Dennis.
S1 (02:50):
Thank you very much, Chris. Really looking forward to the
next few hours.
S2 (02:55):
I'll bet you are. Um, so do you. How many
times have you been on stage at the Sydney Myer
Music Bowl for Carols by Candlelight?
S3 (03:04):
Well, we can't really put a figure on it, because
I did. I did a lot of Carols by Candlelight
for Channel Zero in the Old town time. Yes. And
then I also did a lot after it had shifted
to Channel nine. I was on at least every second year.
So that's the that's the grey area of how many
(03:25):
I did for channel Zero and channel nine before I
joined channel nine, because since 1989 I've been on every
year except one. So it's it's over 40, but we
don't know whether it's 41, 42, 45 or 46. I
don't know, it's it's hard to say.
S2 (03:42):
Have you sung a different song every time?
S3 (03:45):
No. I've been a repeat offender on many occasions.
S2 (03:50):
Uh, can you remember which one that you've sung them most?
S3 (03:54):
Oh, yes. Probably song of Joy. But I haven't done
that for over a decade.
S2 (03:59):
Ah, and I can't.
S3 (04:00):
Tell you what I am singing.
S2 (04:02):
No, but you know. Is that a clue? No. We go. No. Okay.
All right. So process of elimination. We know you're not
singing a song of joy. Um, having done it so
many times. Is there still excitement in it? Do you
still have a little kind of flutter of butterflies just
before you go on stage about it?
S3 (04:22):
There's definite excitement. And the excitement starts at the music rehearsal,
which is, you know, two nights out from from the
main event, and then you're at the bowl again for
the dress rehearsal, um, last night. And then there's this
build up and the, the rehearsal, the dress rehearsal has,
(04:43):
has as many people in the audience as the actual night.
So the excitement is sort of over three, three nights
building to the, to the actual production.
S2 (04:53):
How does being such a regular on Carols by Candlelight
factor into your own Christmas celebrations? You must work around
it pretty much every year pretty well.
S3 (05:05):
Um, uh, living in Geelong, we don't get home until probably, uh,
1 or 1 30 or 2:00. It depends. Depends whether
we kick on a little bit afterwards backstage. But, um,
it's look, it's it's an honour to be on it, and,
and I, I get the same feelings now as I
got in the, in the early days.
S2 (05:25):
Yeah. Are you just mentioned, uh, backstage, um, on the
show last year, we actually did a little, um, a
little tour backstage with the Carols by Candlelight production manager,
which was pretty exciting. Um, is it festive backstage? Is
it is it really kind of energetic and lively, or
are people really concentrating and doing their warm ups?
S3 (05:47):
No, no, some people sort of stay in their dressing rooms,
but others, the majority are up and about, um, uh,
in sort of a green room area that we have
where everyone sort of chats and we have a lot
of the theatre show casts on. So they all know
each other, and some of them are in other shows
and they've catch up on Christmas Eve. So it's it's
(06:09):
really it's festive. It's genuinely festive.
S2 (06:13):
I guess for some people that must be a kind
of almost regular catch up that people see each other
at this event. Um, maybe the only time they see
each other in the year?
S3 (06:26):
Yes. Uh, often, uh, I'll see Marina Prior or maybe
Sylvie at different shows during the year. This year. I've
spoken to both of them on on three, but I haven't, um,
haven't caught up with them. So, uh, the music rehearsal
night was the first time that we've caught up this year.
Other than talking on air.
S2 (06:45):
Fantastic. Uh, did you ever go to Carols by Candlelight
as a punter?
S3 (06:51):
No. Uh, I went to ones, uh, in Geelong, but, um,
pretty well. Not. No, I reckon I only ever went
to one before my career took off, which I was,
you know, 15. So. Wow. That's a long time ago, Chris.
S2 (07:06):
Yeah, but, you know, it's continued at a pace, uh,
hasn't it.
S3 (07:11):
It's 52 years. So coming into my 53rd year of, uh,
being involved in, in. Entertainment media.
S2 (07:20):
Wow. That's that's fantastic. Um, I note that when we
listen to a little medley of Christmas songs from your
Magic of Christmas album, it's not the only not the
only Christmas album you've put out. Um, are they fun
to do? Are they are they kind of an opportunity
(07:40):
for you to go, I love this Christmas song or
this makes me feel that way, or I remember this
from my childhood. Are they that kind of process for
you when you're putting a Christmas album together.
S3 (07:50):
Particularly that album The Magic of Christmas? Chris Elves is
an English musical director, and he just created that sort
of feeling of. Some of those arrangements were so nostalgic
and you could almost imagine wandering in snow in London. Uh,
at Christmas time. It he's really caught that, um, that
(08:11):
old world sort of Christmas feel.
S2 (08:15):
I think the last Christmas recording you might have done
was 2020. Is that right? That's a single recording.
S3 (08:23):
Oh, yeah. That was with I did a duet with, uh,
Marussia who toured with Andre every year, uh, of We
Need a Little Christmas and we took we took a
song that's always been done like a, um, papa type
song and made it into a ballad, and it worked
a treat.
S2 (08:37):
Well, it's funny, I was listening to it, um, uh, yesterday,
and it really struck me. I think I was kind of,
you know, a good, um, 30s or so into the
song before I went. I, I do know this song
because I thought I knew the title. And then it
started and I went, oh, I'm not sure I know it,
but I'm always fascinated when you hear a song that,
(09:01):
as you say, exists in a sort of, um, papa style,
and you suddenly hear a kind of beauty in the
song that you haven't really kind of come across before.
Was that something that was that came from you or
from another arranger?
S3 (09:16):
Uh, that was from Michael Christiano, who's these days involved
with the original seekers? The boys. That's what they started
before Judith joined. Yeah, but Mike, Michael's produced albums from
Arusha and for myself. And this year he did the
the re the rebirth of Russell Morris all his hits.
(09:37):
But with the Melbourne Symphony he did the actual recording
and the mixing of all that. He's very talented.
S2 (09:42):
Oh, fantastic. Well, uh, I shouldn't hold you up too
long because, you know, you've got a show to do. Dennis. Um.
I hope it's a great night.
S3 (09:52):
Um, I'll go and do warm ups.
S2 (09:53):
Yeah.
S3 (09:54):
He should have done warm ups in my life, but
I will tonight.
S4 (10:00):
Uh, a little.
S2 (10:00):
Bit of red leather. Yellow leather to get you going.
S4 (10:03):
Yes.
S2 (10:05):
Um, thanks so much for taking the time out. Uh, Dennis,
been lovely to talk to you and took us, uh,
for whatever you reveal your singing tonight?
S3 (10:15):
Yes. I just hope I remember the lyrics.
S4 (10:17):
Merry Christmas. Good on you. Thanks, Dennis. Walter.
S3 (10:20):
Take care.
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