Professional opera singer David Heathcote is to make a cameo appearance with Huddersfield Gilbert and Sullivan Society – the company that launched his musical career – at the Lawrence Batley Theatre next month.
The former ICI chemist, who gained a doctorate from Huddersfield University, cut his operatic teeth in G&S productions before joining the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company and then touring internationally with the Carl Rosa Opera Company. He studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama; founded Opus 1 Opera, a mid-scale touring company; and now performs regularly with the Huddersfield opera quintet Serenata, as well as appearing as a soloist for choral societies.
“He started his career with us,” says Elaine Merlin, a founder member of Huddersfield G&S, “We’ve cast him in a cameo role because as a professional he doesn’t have time to take on one of the main roles.”
David’s first role with the society was as Earl Tolloller in Iolanthe, back in 1997.
“That was when I first realised that I enjoyed being in opera,” he said. “I was always interested in music and working with them made me realise that’s what I wanted to do. It gave the confidence to pursue it.”
He was poised to play one of the main parts in Pirates of Penzance a couple of years later when at the last minute he was asked to take on his first professional role as Mahatma Ghandi in the British premiere of Philip Glass’s opera Satyagraha.
Performing for the society next month, he says, is a way of saying thank you.
He added: “They gave me my first chance and it’s nice to be going back, to be part of it again. Perhaps you could say I owe them one.”
David will play John James Box in Cox & Box, a 35-minute operetta that is part of a double bill with HMS Pinafore, opening on Wednesday, May 11. The mini opera tells the story of two men who are unwittingly sharing an apartment – Mr Cox works during the day and Mr Box works at night. After a series of confusing incidents the two men learn of each other’s existence and become firm friends.
Cox & Box will be followed by one of Gilbert and Sullivan’s best-known works, the tale of nautical romance on board HMS Pinafore. This is the opera with an array of famous songs – from I’m Called Little Buttercup to A British Tar – and has the ‘ruler of the Queen’s navy’ Sir Joseph Porter (to be played by Ian Grange) battling for the hand of Captain’s daughter Josephine (Elaine Richmond) against Able Seaman Ralph Rackstraw (Paul Richmond).
Pinafore was the first major success for the operatic partnership and opened in 1878, after
Gilbert had visited the naval dockyard in Portsmouth and boarded HMS Victory to make sketches and inspect uniforms in order to lend authenticity to the production.
However, a heat wave later that summer almost put paid to the fortunes of the famous duo as it deterred audiences from going to the theatre. In the end a selection of music from the opera was played at the Promenade Concerts in Covent Garden Opera House, where Sullivan was a conductor in residence, and went down so well that 10,000 piano scores of the songs were sold in a day.
Huddersfield G&S Society, now in its 54th year, has produced Pinafore five times before. It will be performed in traditional costumes and with professional scenery.
The society aims to work its way around the G&S repertoire but financial and practical constraints mean that it is limited to operas that have smaller casts. As Elaine explains: “In some of the larger operas there’s a huge cast, which is a problem for us. Unfortunately, we’re not getting younger singers coming forward to join us. In London Gilbert & Sullivan is having a revival, but it doesn’t seem to be happening here.”
However, as the longest-serving society member and now in her 78th year, she says that singing G&S songs has a lot to recommend it, including proven health benefits. She added: ““I’m the only founder member left and I’ve been in every production. I met my husband in the society and we’ve joined the U3A Choir as well because we want to keep on singing. Singing makes you feel good.”
Elaine’s husband Bruce, is taking the part of Captain Corcoran and the show is being produced by David Fletcher, an experienced director who has worked for both Huddersfield Amateur Operatic Society and in nine productions with the G&S society. Colin Akers, another long-serving G&S member, is the musical director.
The show runs until Saturday, May 14. Tickets are from £7.50 to £14.50 from www.thelbt.org.uk or 01484 430528.
