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Welcome to juliangavin.com |
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 Hi! Welcome to the latest update of my website. I hope that you find it convenient and easy to find the information that you are after. Please check back from time to time as I will update this information as and when it changes. Also feel free to drop me a line. Check the contact page for detail of how you can do this. I would welcome any comments and feedback about the site or indeed, anything else connected with singing. Although I cannot promise to deal with each and every query, I will do my level best!
Latest News
2009 has proven to a hectic but rewarding year so far. As I write, I am recovering from the exertions of a well received opening night of Tim Albery's intense and masterful production of Don Carlos. We have a wonderful team together and I am sure that the real sense of ensemble that we had throughout the rehearsal period saw us through our collective first night nerves! The more time I spend with this piece the more I am convinced that a strong case can be made for this being Verdi's masterpiece. Although I can't help harbouring a small regret that we are not doing the full five act version.
During the final stage of rehearsals, I did an interview with Dominic McHugh for
Musical Criticism If you are not familiar with this excellent resource then click on the link and explore its informative mix of news, record and performance reviews and extensive interviews. There are also several photos from the Opera North production included with my interview.
Earlier this year I loved working with Cheryl Barker on Butterfly. I was in awe of her deeply moving immersion in this deeply tragic character. What a role! We had a beautiful production to work with and it turned out to be a very rewarding experience. However the whole period was tinged with sadness as we were all still reeling from the shock of Richard Hickox's untimely death. The musical world lost a truly outstanding conductor who was also a generous colleague and a warm and loveable human being.
I have recently updated the schedule to include some new engagements. I am particularly excited about the Radames. I will be singing this with a couple of different companies but, due to contractual obligation, I am unable to reveal all yet!
One of my highlights for last season was a series of performances of Hoffmann in Vienna. We had a wonderful cast and conductor and the production was outstanding. First mounted for Placido Domingo, one of the greatest Hoffmanns of all time. I had the honour of being velcroed into his costume for the second time. (the first was when I sang in the Zefirelli production of Carmen) I like to believe that it helped me to sing better. Hoffmann is always a challenge but is also a hugely rewarding role. The other major milestone, last season, was my first Calaf which turned out to be a huge success all round. Graham Murphy's production is just magnificent. So between, this, playing Cowbows and Indians and finishing the year with some Butterflys in Sydney, it turned out to be a Puccini year for me,. I was very grateful for these opportunities in Puccini's anniversay year.
Teaching Opportunities
Although I have an extremely busy schedule I do try to make some time for teaching and coaching and the main thrust of my work is with young singers on the threshold of their careers and established professionals. I don't normally take begineers because with my schedule it is difficult to provide an adequate level of supervision and nurture. If you are interested please contact me through the e-mail address on the contact page.
Further developments to the site
I have recently added in some new links to audio tracks and some recent photos from performances. This is work in progress so please be patient if it doesn't work first time. I am learning to ropes as I go!
New repertoire
One of the great adventures of a singing career is that there is a process of constant evolution and as some repertoire disappears off the screen new and exciting possibilities come into view. In Japan recently, I sang in my 11th different production of Carmen and I still found every night a fresh and exciting experience, where I discovered anew the power of this magnificent work. I can't wait to launch myself into the German repertoire with my first Florestan. I am keeping my fingers crossed that a Lohengrin and a Walter will eventually come my way! Singing continues to be a wonderful voyage of discovery!
Audio Excerpts
I just thought I would add a word or two about some of the audio material. I have included two songs from my mother's setting of some of Houseman's Shropshire Lad poems. There are 14 songs in all and it is a truly remarkable cycle. It is a cherished dream of mine to perform these songs often and help to make more widely known. There are a number of other important works including a fully complete opera. I will provide more information about this in the future
I also included a setting of Bless this House which is there more for its sentimental value as my whole family is performing together, my mother and sister who performed regularly as duo pianists, my father who was my first teacher and my brother with whom I had the honour of first singing the Pearlfishers duet. All are private recordings of live performances, warts and all! I hope you enjoy them.
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