Taekwondo, Opera and the Pink Singers

Three things which you aren't likely to put together, but you would be surprised. At yesterday's rehearsal we had a surprise visit from an ex-national taekwondo champion, a chap called Gari Glaysher. The link is that he is also an up and coming operatic tenor and the Pinkies have been asked to perform as the backing chorus for him at his launch concert.

My guess is that his dropping by yesterday was a chance to scope us out in advance of the gig. He sat at the back of the room listening while we basically murdered Italian Salad and tripped over Come What May, so it doesn't surprise me that when it came to the end and he introduced himself, he didn't actually say very much. Instead his (I assume) manager managed to eke out words to the effect of "you are one of the best choirs I have heard in a long time." I know we are quite good, but methinks the man does not hear choirs much!

Anyway, although very few words actually came from Mr. Glaysher, I had already heard his voice by visiting his website and his MySpace page. He is a powerful tenor with a warm timbre which, in my view, leans more toward a Luciano rather than a Placido. And his version of Volare even has elements of Tom Jones - which just goes to show how versatile he is. One thing which I find somehat infuriating is that the song samples are all neapolitain songs or pop-ified pieces - I just think the operatic voice makes the delivery of the songs a little bit too melodramatic. Anyway, I strongly suggest you wander over there and take a listen to Mr. Glaysher, because he really is very good.

The MySpace page also has the obligatory headshot pictures (I've included one here) with him gazing into middle distance, pictures of him in Italy and with his dog. In real life, and possibly because of the great weather we have been having, he is significantly more tanned and has a few tattoos too! Not quite what you expect from an opera singer, but I guess that is the taekwondo speaking!

So, if you are interested in hearing the Pink Singers perform, both as a choir singing Dies Irae from Karl Jenkins' Requiem, and as a chorus backing up Mr. Glaysher, then now is your once chance in a lifetime to hear that one voice in a million.

Gari Glaysher (and the Pink Singers!)
Friday 20th June 2008 / doors open at 19:00 / £10.00 - 20.00

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