Preview: English Touring Opera at G Live

Published on: 21 May, 2013
Updated on: 21 May, 2013

The Stage Dragon talks to tenor David de Winter (formerly Royal Grammar School) about the upcoming productions and appearances at G Live.

David de Winter speaks to The Stage Dragon about the forthcoming English Touring Opera at G Live

Stage Dragon: You’re currently on tour with English Touring Opera. What’s in your current brief?

We’re on tour with Mozart’s Così fan tutte and Verdi’s Simon Boccanegra, and in both of those I’m just in the chorus, but on the same tour we’re doing an educational show, Laika the Spacedog, to introduce the next generation to opera, and for that I sing the lead tenor role.

It’s a brilliant show with lots of interaction with the audience. We ask them questions, some of them come up and we do experiments (they think we’re Russians) – it’s all about combining science and maths with a theatrical experience. Of course, some of them have never seen theatre before so they have no preconceptions.

The show itself is quite emotional and maybe that surprises them – it’s touching and quite poignant, but without giving too much away, it all ends happily!

How did you come to be working with ETO? Did you audition, or was the contract won by your reputation?

Probably a bit of both. I had been doing a few shows like opera Holland Park, and I was also in Albert Herring for Shadwell Opera in Cambridge. Then last June, so that’s about a year ago now, I was invited to audition for ETO and here I am.

Cosi Fan Tutte – The English Touring Opera

What about other work – oratorio, concerts, etc.?

Yes, I do all sorts, the occasional solo, some chorusing, and I’m a lay clerk at Westminster Cathedral. Oh, and I did some stuff for Regents Opera, including a Magic Flute in Windsor. It will be good to take another look around Guildford, see how much has changed since my time at RGS. After this ETO tour I’m off to do Billy Budd at Glyndebourne.

Can you tell us something about your connections to Surrey?

Well, I was born in St Peter’s Hospital in Chertsey, and we lived in West Byfleet, then in Camberley. I was a chorister at Westminster Cathedral School, then I went to RGS Guildford for my secondary education. After that I read Music at Durham. The course there is fairly academic and I did some composition – it’s something I still do for my own interest.

Do you have an agent?

Not at the moment, although that is probably something I might consider in the future. I am just 24 and the voice is still developing. I did act a bit while at school, and I have a brother who is an actor, so we’re a bit of an artistic family.

Simon B The English Touring Opera

Do you have any advice for anyone aspiring to be a professional classical singer?

I suppose it’s probably the same for most professions, go to uni, have a good time, enjoy living. For a singer it’s important to let the voice develop, so do a post-graduate course, and see what happens!

Have you any advice on which of the two operas our readers might prefer to hear?

Of course, it depends on personal taste. The Mozart is perhaps more accessible, especially since being sung in English, the plot is easy to follow. The whole thing is easy to relate to. Simon Boccanegra is a something of a psychodrama, quite dark. And then, Verdi’s music is powerful and emotive and it’s a great production.

English Touring Opera at G Live
Monday 27 May 2013 – Così fan tutte
Tuesday 28 May 2013 – Simon Boccanegra