Leading British countertenor Iestyn Davies remembers the best and worst performances of his career...
Concert Heaven
Handel Arias
Iestyn Davies (countertenor); Chamber Orchestra of Europe/Robin Ticciati
Elbphilharmonie, Hamburg (Jan 2025)
They always say you’re only as good as your last performance, and this is not really about me, because as a singer it’s so subjective and about the experience. I’ve just been on tour with the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and Robin Ticciati, and we did a programme of Handel and Mozart – I did some arias and at the end of the second half they did Symphony No. 35, ‘Haffner’. We started in Berlin at the Philharmonie and the next day we went to the Elbphilharmonie in Hamburg; then we went to the Salzburg Mozart Festival and finally ended up in Gstaad.
Just to stand in front of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe was incredible – modern players on modern instruments, playing Handel like no Baroque orchestra I’ve worked with. But it also was those beautiful halls in Germany, completely sold out, that made the experience so special. I’m just not used to the feeling of singing in a hall like the Elbphilharmonie and having all those people in the audience enthusiastically bring us back three times for applause – even before the interval.
'The enjoyment factor on stage was immense'
It was such a wonderful moment: I don’t know whether I deserved this huge appreciation or not, but the enjoyment factor on stage was immense and the seasoned orchestral players said it was one of their favourite programmes. It was like a dream.
I’ve known Robin since university but I’ve really only worked with him once, because we don’t often cross repertoire. But we all made this incredible performance happen – and I think that’s not to be taken for granted, because it says a lot about the intuitive nature and professionalism of the players, and the musicality of the conductor.
When I first started performing, I dreamt of doing exactly what I’ve just done this week. Then it happens, and you think, ‘Oh I’m in it now; this is it!’
Iestyn Davies - Concert Hell
Handel Arias
Iestyn Davies (countertenor), Thomas Dunford (lute); Jupiter Ensemble
Edinburgh Festival (August 2023)
I did a tour of Handel oratorio arias which was climaxing at the Edinburgh Festival with the Jupiter Ensemble led by Thomas Dunford on the lute. We did some great concerts and had done a performance two weeks previously in York. I got to Edinburgh on the Saturday, started to feel a scratch in my throat and messaged my agent. They reassured me, ‘I’m sure it’ll be fine,’ and the festival said, ‘I’m sure it’ll be fine.’ I didn’t sing at the Sunday rehearsal but went back to my room and did what all singers do, which is sing through the entire programme on my own – it was probably one of the best performances I’d ever given to my pillow. I smugly thought, ‘Great!’, got into bed and turned the light out.
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'In the morning, I had absolutely no voice!'
I woke at 5.30am and had absolutely no voice! I was meant to be on at 11am, live on Radio 3, so I sent all the smoke signals; my agent let Tom Dunford know, and Tom – who is a lovely guy, but likes to sleep in – probably didn’t wake up until about five minutes before the rehearsal. Edinburgh Festival didn’t know what to do; then Tom messaged to say, ‘Why don’t we go to rehearsal and see how it sounds?’ I sang through an aria and could wheeze out a noise. It was an hour and a half until the concert, it was going to be on the radio and there was a contract, so it had to be done.
'It was like waking up in a dream, completely naked on stage'
The audience was informed that I’d woken up with no voice (and there was a big sigh of regret) but that I’d got out of bed and I’d be there, and there was a big cheer. That helped a bit, but I don’t know how I got through it. It was like waking up in a dream, completely naked on stage. You’re wondering if you’re damaging your voice, if people who don’t know the circumstances are judging you and are listening on the radio. Sometimes, your worst concerts are the ones people most enjoy. I had a friend listen on the radio, and she’d been to the York concert; she messaged saying, ‘Listened to you on Radio 3 and it was even better than York!’ I was like wtf?!
Iestyn Davies appears with Fretwork on ‘My Days’, out 23 May on Signum Classics