Flanders and Swann
Come to Edgton Village Hall
Saturday, 3rd October 7:30pm £15
Michael Flanders and Donald Swann were the biggest musical reviews stars of London’s West End in the 1950 and 60’s, with hits including “The Hippopotamus” and “The Gas Man Cometh”.
International Tenor Kim Begley and Pianist/composer David Gaukroger join forces to recreate some of Flanders and Swann’s most memorable songs .
Tickets available on the door or for advanced booking call Liz Begley 01588 680179
KIM BEGLEY – TENOR.
Kim Begley began his career in 1970 as an actor working in rep including Liverpool Playhouse, Everyman Theatres, and Birmingham Rep. Throughout 1977 / 1978 he was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company
In 1979 Kim attended the Guildhall Scholl of Music and drama and joined Covent Garden as principal Tenor in 1981 where he sang over forty principal roles; He sang regularly with the Metropolitan Opera New York, Lyric Opera Chicago, San Francisco, Bayreuth, Vienna Staatsoper, Berlin, Munich, Frankfurt, Geneva, La Scala, Bastille and Chatelet Paris, Florence, Glyndebourne and English National Opera, he has also enjoyed a busy international concert career.
Kim made many recordings and in 2003 was the recipient of a Grammy Award for his performance as Mefistofeles in Busoni’s Dr. Faustus .He was nominated for an Olivier for his performance as Parsifal for English National Opera.
Alongside his performance schedule, Kim has directed and designed productions and has inaugurated Arts Festivals and Community Projects in the U.K.
He founded and ran the International Opera course “Broomhill” alongside Jonathan Miller and Nicholas Cleobury which provided a platform for young International Opera Singers.
After thirty five years, Kim retired from singing in 2018 following the highly acclaimed premier of Brett Deans Opera “Hamlet” at the Glyndebourne Festival .
In 2021 Kim was involved in the development of a unique and exciting project i.e. a staged performance of Shakespeare’s “King Lear” the unique staging famously featured an all star cast of opera singers who swapped singing for the spoken word this received critical acclaim at Grange Opera .
Kim continues to mentor young singers in masterclass situations and conservatoires.
DAVID GAUKROGER
David Gaukroger has enjoyed a long and varied music career, dividing his time and his talents between Composition, Performance and Teaching. He has engaged in Solo recitals in Asia and South America as well as festivals throughout the UK. David is in demand as an accompanist most notably for Radio three, at the Albert Hall and Usher Hall Edinburgh. He has made regular appearances as both Pianist and Harpsichordist with City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, BBC Welsh, Scottish Baroque Ensemble and the English Symphony Orchestra.
His works for the theatre include “A Gentleman of Rome “ ( Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Malvern Theatre )and “Blue Remembered Hills”( Malvern Theatre and Assembly Rooms Ludlow).
Most notable amongst David’s many compositions is a full scale orchestral piece for children’s voices and narrator entitled “Romany Wood” which received its premier at Theatre Severn in 2009. There have since been many collaborations of this piece most notably in Birmingham Symphony Hall, as part of Classic F.Ms evening Concert series as well as in Cathedrals and festivals throughout the UK with narrators such as Sir Timothy West and John Nettles . There is also a ballet performance of Romany Wood which was performed for Queen Camilla by Birmingham City Ballet . During his theatre career David has collaborated with actors such as Robert Powell, Sylvia Sims, Jasper Carrot and Richard Stilgoe amongst others.
As well as performing, David has enjoyed an interesting and varied teaching life. He wrote and introduced the First National Diploma in Rock, Jazz and Recording Studies, appointing Robert Plant ( lead vocalist with Led Zeppelin) as Musician in Residence. Alongside this David was senior Examiner and examiner trainer at Trinity College London 1992/2020.
David was Chairman of both the Honk Kong and the Bangkok National Piano Competitions 1994/9996 and 2010 respectively.
In his spare time David is a very active local Councillor though he is still very much in demand as both an accompanist and as an organist.
Kim and David met when they retired to live in Shropshire where they collaborated on many projects and where they reignited a passion for Flanders and Swann.
