Biography
The Welsh bass-baritone opera singer, Gavin Davies, was born in Cardiff and educated at the University of Wales.
Gavin has an extensive oratorio repertoire, having appeared as soloist with many choirs and choral societies both throughout the UK and abroad; Gavin was the soloist at the 61st American-Welsh National Gymanfa Ganu in Kansas City, USA and has also performed elsewhere in the USA, Malta and Israel. Gavin’s oratorio performances include: Messiah, Judas Mpaccabæus, Creation, Imperial 'Nelson' Mass, St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion (with the National Chamber Orchestra of Wales at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea), Christmas Oratorio, Tippett A Child of Our Time, Jakub Jan Ryba Czech. Christmas Mass, Caldara Missa Dolorosa, Puccini Messa di Gloria, CPE Bach and JS Bach Magnificat, Mozart, Duruflé & Brahms Requiem, Faure Requiem (with the Cathedral Choir, Llandaff), Verdi Requiem (with massed choirs and the Rhondda Symphony Orchestra – twice!), Rossini Petite Messe Solonnelle, Dvorak and Rossini Stabat Mater, Beethoven's 9th Symphony (at The Hawth, Crawley) & Mass in C, Stainer Crucifixion, Maunder Olivet to Calvary, Vaughan Williams Fantasia on Christmas Carols and the Premiere of Morfydd Owen's Pro Patria at Llandaff Cathedral.
In recital he has performed Beethoven's An Die Ferne Gelibte, Brahms’ Vier ernste Gesänge (Op. 121) and Vaughan Williams' The Songs of Travel. On the concert platform he has been a guest artist at a Celebrity Concert with the pianist, Ingrid Surgenor, and the 1997 Winner of Cardiff Singer of the World, Chinese mezzo-soprano, Guang Yang, and has shared the platform with Chris Needs MBE (BBC Radio Wales).
Gavin also has an extensive operatic repertoire from Britten to Verdi has been invited to perform with all the UK national companies; Scottish Opera, English National Opera and Welsh National Opera (including Die Fliegende Hollander with Bryn Terfel).
He has also worked with Mid Wales Opera, Opera Box, Opera Lirica (Holland Park, London), Duchy Opera, Burry Port Opera and Opera D’Amici at Covent Garden, London, in operatic roles including: Figaro (The Marriage of Figaro), Angelotti (Tosca), Huascar (Les Indes Galantes), Crespel, Luther & Schlemil (The Tales of Hoffmann), Speaker & Papageno (Magic Flute), Grand Sacerdote (Nabucco), Frank (Die Fledermaus), Dr Caius (The Merry Wives of Windsor), Marco (Gianni Schicchi) and Zuniga (Carmen), Samuel (A Masked Ball), Pharaoh (Moses & Pharaoh), Orpheus (Orpheus in the Underworld), Raimondo (Lucia di Lammermoor), Banquo (Macbeth), Valentine (Faust), Escamillo (Carmen), Silvio (Il Pagliacci) and Giorgio Germont (La Traviata).
Recent performances have included Turandot and Tristan und Isolde (Edinburgh International Festival) with Welsh National Opera and Oroveso (Norma) with Burry Port Opera. Future performances include Lohengrin with Welsh National Opera.
Reviews
- "Your rich tones admirably suited the role of Christus - many thanks!" Musical Director, North Devon Choral Society
- "Quonian tu solus sanctus was magnificent! The audience showed its appreciation in no uncertain fashion" Musical Director, South Devon Choral Society
- The young but wonderfully resonant bass-baritone Gavin Davies made a strong debut as Angelotti and Sciarrone, Opera
- Gavin Davies gave a splendid performance with a repertoire of famous music which included the Toreador's Song from Carmen and a duet with Guang Yang, La ci darem la mano from Don Giovanni, South Wales Evening Post
- A Night at the Opera feast was rounded off in rare, dramatic style with guest baritone Gavin Davies, Llanelli Star
- Gavin Davies was in his element in a dramatic contribution to underline his versatility, Llanelli Star