A GRAPEVINE trustee recently followed his passion for singing by featuring in a critically acclaimed opera version of Shakespeare’s tragedy Othello.
John McGowan, from Longford, sang in a ground-breaking production of Verdi’s Othello staged in the unusual surroundings of a decaying factory in Birmingham.
Digbeth’s Argyle works was transformed by the Birmingham Opera Company into a fitting stage where the Bard’s story of lust, jealousy and betrayal was put to music and song.
He said: “This has been an incredible production to be part of and I am interested in singing in an opera again. Although I have never sung before in a factory the atmosphere in there was amazing.”
John is no stranger to singing as he is a member of Coventry’s Singing City Choir and he said one of his proudest moments was being part of the 2009 Holocaust Memorial Day national commemorative event at the Belgrade.J
ohn sang in Benjamin Till’s production for BBC Coventry & Warwickshire of the musical inspired by the 50th anniversary of Coventry’s Market in 2008.