Giles Davies - Lyric Baritone

Giles studied at the Purcell School of Music, and on a scholarship to the Royal College of Music with Norman Bailey, furthering his studies researching 17th Century 'bel canto' at City University, studying with David Pollard. He was a prize winner in the 1993 Overseas League, the 1994 Tillett Trust, and the 1999 English Singer's and Speakers competitions. His repertoire is extensive, from early music to works written for him by contemporary composers.

In concert he has recorded for the BBC (Schumann's Dichterliebe at the Wigmore Hall), and as a soloist he has appeared with conductors Richard Hickox (A Sea Symphony/Dido and Aeneas), Philip Pickett (Monteverdi's Vespers), Trevor Pinnock (Handel's Apollo and Dafne), Mahler's Kindertotenlieder (Ballet Rambert), and London Mozart Players (Mozart C Minor Mass). For Cunard he has appeared on the Caronia and the QE2. (World Cruise 2000)

As a young actor Giles appeared as Puck in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream at the Royal Opera House, and in the television drama series Drummonds.

Operatic roles include Figaro in Rossini's Barber of Seville (Scottish Opera, English Pocket Opera), Dr Kolenaty in Janacek's Makropoulos Case (Scottish Opera), Schaunard in La Boheme (Castleward/ Holland Park Opera/ Scottish Opera), Falke in Die Fledermaus (Crystal Clear and Carl Rosa), Figaro in Mozart's Marriage of Figaro (Holland Park Opera), Besso in Cavalli's Giasone (Megaron, Athens), Dmitri in the European Premiere of Richard Wargo's The Music Shop, (Jigsaw Music Theatre), Ferryman/ Ananias/ Father in the Church Parables of Britten (Opera du Rhin, Strasbourg), Toreador in Carmen (English Pocket Opera), Love's Labyrinth (Purcell Theatre Music) with Opera Restor'd, Pish Tush in The Mikado and Strephon in Iolanthe (Carl Rosa Opera), and Usher in Trial by Jury (D'Oyly Carte). He has also contributed to film soundtracks including Muppet Treasure Island and The Parole Officer, and has appeared in Cabaret with the Mediaeval Baebes.

In 2003 Giles appeared in the Opera Group's production of Bernstein's Candide as Maximillian, and as Florian in Princess Ida at the Buxton G and S Festival. In 2004, he toured America with the Carl Rosa Opera (Pish Tush), and created the title role in The Piano Tuner (Nigel Osbourne/ Amanda Holden) for Music Theatre Wales, receiving critical acclaim in the national press. (''commanding'', ''outstanding'', ''sympathetic'', ''rich and smooth toned'').

Engagements for 2005 included Dr Malatesta in Don Pasquale in Asia and the Emirates, Smirnov in Walton's The Bear, Junius in Britten's Rape of Lucretia, Papageno in The Magic Flute for English Pocket Opera, and Love's Labyrinth (Opera Restor'd) at the Wigmore Hall.

He also appeared as the singer John Goss in Anthony Britten's new film on the life of composer Peter Warlock. (Peter Warlock, Some Little Joy)

Other engagements in 2006 included song recitals, Papageno in Epoc's touring Magic Flute, and at the Royal Albert Hall, Leporello in Caroline Sharman’s Don Giovanni, Bach's St John Passion, Handel's Apollo and Dafne, and Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs. He also sang Kurt Weill's Mahagonny Songspiel and Hans Werne Henze's Das Wundertheater, making his Italian debut at the Cantiere di Montepulciano Festival in Italy, in a production directed by Alfred Kirchner, conducted by Jan Latham Koenig, and broadcast live by Rai Radio.

Plans for 2007 include an album of English and German song for Divine Art Records,

'Gossiana', with Steven Devine and the Goss Male Quartet, Leporello in Don Giovanni for the English Chamber Opera, Patience, Iolanthe and Yeomen of the Guard for the Carl Rosa Opera Company, and Handel's Xerxes for New Chamber Opera. In December he appears with the Mediaeval Baebes on their UK Cathedral Tour.

Plans for 2008 include a new recording of Edward German's Tom Jones (Naxos)

Giles will also be collaborating on the new album with Katherine Blake and the Mediaeval Baebes in 2008.

Performances will include Vaughan Williams' Five Mystical Songs, Faure's Requiem, Brahms German Requiem, Song Recitals, Thespis at Normansfield Theatre, London, the Lord Chancellor in Iolanthe with Charles Court Opera, and 'Love's Labyrinth' for Opera Restor'd at Richmond Theatre. In the autumn he returns to Scottish Opera in their new touring production of Lehar's The Merry Widow. He also appears at the final concert in the

London Song Festival with accompanist Nigel Foster, with songs by Vaughan Williams,

including the 'Four Last Songs'.

He currently studies with the internationally respected American teacher, Neil Semer.

Giles Davies as Edgar Drake

''.....infinite thanks for bringing this friend of mine to life in ways I couldn't have imagined, with greatest respect and affection -

Daniel Mason.'' (Author - ''The Piano Tuner'')

Printable biography available on request