Dream Team

Nearly 20 years ago I sang Bottom in a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. It was directed by the then Head of Vocal Studies Joseph Ward, who was the original Starveling at the world premier in 1960. He told me that it would be a very useful opera to know and indeed it has been. I have sung ‘Quince’ in five different productions all over Europe but I am so pleased that I am back in the north of England for my professional debut in the roll of ‘Bottom’.

The last four weeks have been full of laughter and a lot of hard work with a “Dream Team” that are all a pleasure to work with. Martin Duncan has been a joy and full of ideas and fun. One of the dreads of anyone playing one of the ‘mechanicals’ is the bergamask dance performed in Duke Theseus’ court at the end of the play. We are very lucky to be working with Ben Wright a well established choreographer and a wonderful dancer himself, without giving too much away, yes it does hurt, yes it is hard to keep a straight face and yes my daughters will be proud that their dad can dance like that considering he is so old!!!!!

Yes last week, much to my daughters delight, I hit the big 40 but with the fun that we are having in rehearsals it feels like the new 18!

This is our last week in the Linacre Studio so we are starting to run acts and have a full run at the end of the week. At the beginning of next week we work with the Orchestra for the first time and then we move on stage!

Opera North, as I am sure you are aware, are having a mini-Shakespeare season and as Macbeth moves on stage this week, Roméo et Juliette moves into the studio. Many of the singers this season are singing in more than one opera, Peter Wedd is in all three! I am singing Frère Laurent in Roméo et Juliette too so the next few weeks is going to be pretty busy.

I’m sharing a flat with my old friend Colin Judson (singing Flute) our flat is down by the Canal where half of the casts seem to be staying, so a jolly time is had by all. Yvonne Howard is a great baker, Colin is a great cook and I mix a mean Gin and Tonic, so our wives will be happy to know that we won’t starve.