and Session II!

Richard's Replies and Comments to Jeanette's Questions

25 August 2002

Q
 Apart from opera and operetta and the classics in general, what other music do you like? What do you listen to for relaxation? Do you like pop, jazz, rock, heavy metal, hip hop, Dolly Parton (no, I'm being facetious here) - anything in those spheres?
 A. I'm proud to say my taste in music is as about as eclectic as you can get. But of course I go through phases, like everyone, when I will listen to one particular style of music more than another. At the moment I am going through a 'David Gray phase' mainly because his music and lyrics and the simplicity of them really connect with me. I am also listening a lot to Jason Rebello, a mega-talented jazz pianist who we were at The Guildhall with and who has recently teamed up with Sting on his latest album. Musical Theatre-wise I have been heavily listening to Yentl, a fantastic Michel Legrand score and incomparably sung by Barbra Streisand a particular heroine of mine. Julie and I also love Bernadette Peters as well and her no nonsense approach to singing - not only a supreme interpreter of Sondheim but more versatile than most people would imagine. Have a listen to her version of Billy Joel's 'He's Got a Way' - sublime.

I do not pay much attention to the charts these days and at the risk of sounding fuddy-duddyish, I also subscribe to the view that what goes round comes around and a lot of these faceless 'DJ's with guest artist' will not last the pace and will wash up sooner or later on the beach of one hit wonders! Having said that, there are many bands like Coldplay, Travis, The Stereophonics etc who will be around for many years to come and whom I admire.

In addition I also listen to Anastacia (extraordinary pop belter), Craig David - a fantastic performer and excellent debut album, I thought (listen to that one a lot). I think Robbie Williams is potentially one of the best around in terms of old- fashioned charisma and showmanship. Then of course there will always be 'the greats' - Stevie Wonder, magnificent songwriter, musician and consummate singer in terms of range, power and expression. David Bowie, charisma on legs. George Michael, beautiful pop voice. Clapton, Genesis, Pink Floyd, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Michael McDonald, Paul Weller, Phil Collins, Queen, Bryan Adams, U2 and Sting to list but a few!

But most important to me it must be Sinatra and Gordon Macrae. So talented and with the most incredible, beautiful and distinctive voices I have ever heard.
Q.  Do you have a favourite piece of music? An opera singer whom you greatly admire?
 A.  That would have to be The Immolation scene from Gotterdammerung or 2nd movement of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto or Lullabye by Billy Joel! Opera singer I admire is Nuccia Focile - not only a dear friend but an incredible artist.
 Q. Would you like to further your BA degree and take a Master's, or even beyond that to gain a doctorate?
Dr R. Halton, Royal Academy of Music??
 A.  No, although I am nearing the completion of my feature writing diploma at the LSJ.
 Q.  As well as performing, you also teach music. Do you perhaps have any ambitions to direct plays / musicals / opera?
 A.  I did co-direct an opera in 1998/9 with Maggie Preece for City of Birmingham Touring Opera, which was very well received, but other than that - no, none at all, I'll leave those to the professionals!
 Q.  Have you seen any other West End musicals, either currently showing or past productions? Do you have a particular favourite?
A. I must admit I haven't been out to a show for yonks!
Q. You have played a number of rôles in musical theatre, i.e. Ravenal in Showboat, Tony in West Side Story, and of course both M. André and the Phantom in Phantom of the Opera. Earlier you mentioned that you'd like to play Javert in Les Misèrables. Are there any other rôles you'd like to play / have played?
A. Roxie Hart in Chicago! Apart from that, Fred in Kiss me Kate - which of course has now closed.
Q. Has the plan for you to record a CD moved forward at all? We would all so love to have your voice on record, please!
A. Someone asked me that only yesterday and I still want to record something but it will only be for personal use and for demo purposes.
Q. Would you like to do some straight acting? The stage, TV, film etc. It's amazing how many actors from the musicals have appeared in an episode of "The Bill"!
A. No real desire. I am a singer and that is what I understand and feel comfortable with. However, I never say 'never' !
Q. Would you consider working abroad for a long spell - Europe, America, Australia? How about China now that they are opening their doors to the world in general? Les Mis has been a great success out there this summer, as was a concert in Beijing of Andrew Lloyd Webber's music that featured Elaine Paige.
A. Been there, done that - at least in the UK. My place is at home right now. Helping to raise and 'sculpt' our children into well-balanced young people with high esteem, confidence and a sense of fun. You can't begin to do that if you are not there.
Q. Would you like to stay with Phantom of the Opera or do you think you would prefer to move on once the current contract is completed?
(Please stay!!)
A. No idea just now. It is in the lap of the gods as to whether I stay. Only time will tell.
Q. When you have starred in something like Phantom for several months and worked with a group of people for that same amount of time, it must be quite sad to say goodbye to those who have almost become another 'family'. Do you feel that?
A. It depends who is in the cast!! In Opera you are faced with that every few months so you get used to saying "goodbye and see you around", after all the world is quite a small place and chances are you will see one another again sometime.
Q. The audience is always stunned by the Phantom's grief-stricken cry of "It's over now, the Music of the Night" and are often in tears. When you have finished a performance of Phantom with that highly emotional and very poignant finale, you must feel quite shattered?
A. Yes, shattered, but grateful that everything went according to plan (most of the time). There are so many technical things that could go wrong but blissfully that doesn't always happen.
Q. You are always so friendly and welcoming to people waiting at the Stage Door for your autograph. Even though you're tired and have to make the journey home it must give you a lot of joy and pleasure to receive their congratulations, perhaps see a few familiar faces waiting to thank you for a fantastic (as ever) performance?
A. The fans and audience in general are the lifeblood of any show, concert or sporting event. Without you we would all be out of work. I feel it so important to interact with the people and show willing if they make the effort to come to the stage door. Sometimes I feel embarrassed at signing because they often open the page of the programme where John Owen Jones' biog is and I have to break the news to them that it wasn't him who they have been watching for the last 2 and half hours but little ol' me!! Seriously, it is wonderful to receive such direct confirmation that what I do on stage brings pleasure to so many people.
Q. Do you have any advice for young people just starting out in the world of music, drama and singing?
A. Just keep going. Believe in yourself as a product, read around your subject. Immerse yourself in the genre. Don't be afraid to modify your ideas and over time, if necessary, reinvent yourself. Finally have faith in your instinct. Trust it and believe in it.
Q. Lastly, your hopes, plans and dreams for the future?
A. To keep working and to maintain my voice technically so that I still enjoy the process of singing. It is an extraordinary gift which some of us can, all too easily, take for granted. As I get older the focus on my career becomes less as there are so many more distractions. I now acknowledge that the 'business' is no longer the sole priority in my life as it was when I was 26 years old, but overall I think achieving the tricky balance of work and family remains the biggest challenge. Somehow I feel I am not alone there!


Once again my thanks to Richard for taking the time and trouble to send me these sublime answers to what is a fair number of questions. Maybe some time I'll be able to post up Session III!

Jeanette
25 August 2002


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