Gary Griffiths

OPERA REVIEWS

British Youth Opera - Rossini: 'La Scala di Seta' - September 2009

"Gary Griffiths as Germano was required by the plot to undergo all sorts of comic business, and Griffiths impressed not only by the way he sang but with the deft way he undertook the comedy."
Robert Hugill, Classical Music, September 2009

Guilhall School of Music and Drama - 'Childsplay' - November 2007

"An astonishingly mature voice."
Opera, December 2007

CONCERT REVIEWS

Guildhall School of Music and Drama - Gold Medal Competition - May 2009

"It was immediately evident that Gary Griffiths has a voice of operatic dimensions. The declamatory phrases in 'An die Leier' were thrown out confidently and he paralleled them with smooth phrasing of the lyrical passages. With 'Billy in the Darbies' he engaged the audience with an interpretation which avoided sentimentality, emphasising his perceptiveness as well as his naïveté."
Richard Nicholson, Classical Source

St David's Hall - Wales Festival of Remembrance - November 2009

"Welsh baritone Gary Griffiths gave a moving performance which set the tone for the rest of the festival."
Tim Lewis, Western Mail, November 2009

Huddersfield Town Hall - October 2009

"Rising star Gary Griffiths, last year's winner of the Young Welsh Singer of the Year, included an impressive Toreador from Bizet's 'Carmen'."
Andrew Flynn

RECITAL REVIEWS

King's Place - Butterworth: 'A Shropshire Lad' - February 2009

"Another potentially world-class Welsh talent."
Yehuda Shapiro, Opera Now Magazine

Oxford Lieder Festival / Nico de Villiers - October 2009

"Gary Griffiths is an imposing figure with a full bodied warm toned voice; the repertoire suited his wonderful stage presence. His biography states that he originally trained as an actor at Mountview, and this was evident in his performance of Poulenc's 'Chansons Gaillardes' ('Bawdy songs'). I don't think anyone could experience a finer interpretation of these very naughty worded songs, Gary's voice was perfect for the lusty drinking songs and his facial expressions conveyed every nuance of innuendo."
Vanessa Woodward, Oxford Lieder Review

King's Place / Iain Burnside - October 2008

"Gary Griffiths' performance of Wandrers Nachtlied II was touching."
Anna Picard, The Independent

Caradog Williams

Caradog Williams is 25 years old and a native of Burry Port, near Llanelli. Whilst a pupil at Strade Welsh Comprehensive School, Llanelli, Caradog was taught piano by D.Hugh Jones, FRCO, gaining his L.T.C.L. at the age of 17.

After graduating in Music from Oxford University, he obtained a full scholarship to study Piano Accompaniment at the Royal College of Music, where he gained a Postgraduate Diploma in 2005.

Caradog has since been in high demand as an accompanist, working with many choirs and winning the Accompanist Prize at the 2006 Royal National Eisteddfod, Swansea. He has also worked with the Cardiff International Academy of Voice organized by the internationally renowned tenor, Denis O'Neill, alongside the prestigious accompanists, Brian Davies and Ingrid Surgenor.

Caradog gained his first experience of choral conducting in 2006 with Mynydd Mawr Male Voice Choir on their tour to Ireland. His tutors in choral conducting were Marios Papadopoulos at Oxford University, Neil Thompson at the RCM and Peter Stark