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Wynne Evans BEM
MStJ The Order of St John, short for Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (french: l'ordre très vénérable de l'Hôpital de Saint-Jean de Jérusalem) and also known as St John International, is a British royal order of c ...
(born 27 January 1972) is a Welsh singer and actor, known for his role as Gio Compario and laterly himself in the Go.compare insurance adverts on television in the United Kingdom. Evans sang the role of Ubaldo Piangi in the 25th anniversary production of
Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musicals, ...
's '' The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall'', and sang " Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur" at the last game at White Hart Lane. He reprised the song at the opening of Spurs' new stadium.


Opera singer

Born in Carmarthen, Wales, Evans studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio. In late 2011 Evans was cast as the opera singer Ubaldo Piangi, in the 25th anniversary celebratory production of
Andrew Lloyd Webber Andrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber (born 22 March 1948), is an English composer and impresario of musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 21 musicals, ...
's '' The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall'' Evans enjoys a close association with Welsh National Opera where his roles include Nemorino in ''
L'elisir d'amore ''L'elisir d'amore'' (''The Elixir of Love'', ) is a ' (opera buffa) in two acts by the Italian composer Gaetano Donizetti. Felice Romani wrote the Italian libretto, after Eugène Scribe's libretto for Daniel Auber's ' (1831). The opera premiere ...
'', Cassio in ''
Otello ''Otello'' () is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare's play ''Othello''. It was Verdi's penultimate opera, first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on 5 February 1887. Th ...
'' (S4C Broadcast),Evans on the Athole Still Opera website
The Duke in '' Rigoletto'', Rodolfo in '' La bohème'', Pedrillo in '' Die Entführung aus dem Serail'', Tamino in '' Die Zauberflöte'', Alfredo in ''
La traviata ''La traviata'' (; ''The Fallen Woman'') is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on ''La Dame aux camélias'' (1852), a play by Alexandre Dumas ''fils'' adapted from his own 18 ...
'', Jaquino in '' Leonore'' (BBC Broadcast), the Schoolmaster in '' The Cunning Little Vixen'', the Chevalier in '' Les Dialogues des Carmelites'', the Italian Tenor in '' Der Rosenkavalier'', the First Jew in ''
Salome Salome (; he, שְלוֹמִית, Shlomit, related to , "peace"; el, Σαλώμη), also known as Salome III, was a Jewish princess, the daughter of Herod II, son of Herod the Great, and princess Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great, an ...
'' (S4C and BBC Broadcast), Liberto in '' L'incoronazione di Poppea'', Brighella in '' Ariadne auf Naxos'' and Alfred in '' Die Fledermaus''. He made his debut at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden in 2009 singing Vakula in the new production of ''
Cherevichki ''Cherevichki'' (russian: Черевички , ua, Черевички, ''Cherevichki'', ''Čerevički'', ''The Slippers''; alternative renderings are ''The Little Shoes'', ''The Tsarina's Slippers'', ''The Empress's Slippers'', ''The Golden Slippe ...
'', and appeared again in 2011 as the Mayor of Mexia in Mark-Anthony Turnage's opera '' Anna Nicole'', based on the life of
Anna Nicole Smith Anna Nicole Smith (born Vickie Lynn Hogan; November 28, 1967 – February 8, 2007) was an American model, actress, and television personality. Smith started her career as a ''Playboy'' magazine centerfold in May 1992 and won the title of 1993 ...
. For Opera de Lyon he has sung '' Gianni Schicchi'', '' Il Tabarro'' and '' The Cunning Little Vixen'' For English National Opera Evans has sung Alfredo in ''
La Traviata ''La traviata'' (; ''The Fallen Woman'') is an opera in three acts by Giuseppe Verdi set to an Italian libretto by Francesco Maria Piave. It is based on ''La Dame aux camélias'' (1852), a play by Alexandre Dumas ''fils'' adapted from his own 18 ...
'', Spoletta and Cavaradossi in '' Tosca'', and Second Jew in ''
Salome Salome (; he, שְלוֹמִית, Shlomit, related to , "peace"; el, Σαλώμη), also known as Salome III, was a Jewish princess, the daughter of Herod II, son of Herod the Great, and princess Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great, an ...
''. For Opera North he has appeared as Fenton in '' Falstaff'', Prunier in ''
La Rondine ''La rondine'' (''The Swallow'') is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Giuseppe Adami, based on a libretto by Alfred Maria Willner and . It was first performed at the Grand Théâtre de Monte Carlo (or the Théâtr ...
'' and Paulino in ''
The Secret Marriage ' (''The Secret Marriage'') is a dramma giocoso in two acts, music by Domenico Cimarosa, on a libretto by Giovanni Bertati, based on the 1766 play '' The Clandestine Marriage'' by George Colman the Elder and David Garrick. It was first performe ...
''. For Scottish Opera his roles include Tamino in '' Die Zauberflöte'' and the Italian Tenor in '' Der Rosenkavalier''. For Grange Park Opera he has performed the roles of Trufaldino '' The Love for Three Oranges'' the Italian Tenor '' Capriccio'' the Schoolmaster in '' The Cunning Little Vixen'' and Harry in '' La Fanciulla del West''. For the Classical Opera Company Evans sang the role of Fracasso in '' La Finta Semplice''. Other credits include Orpheus in '' Orpheus in the underworld'' for Opera Holland Park and The Peacock in
Param Vir Param Vir is a British composer originally from India. Born in Delhi into a family life permeated with Indian classical music, Param Vir's strong interest in music developed as a teenager when attending a Catholic school, Roman Catholic secon ...
’s ''Broken Strings'' for the Almeida Theatre, which was recorded for the BBC.


Concert singer

As a concert singer Evans' appearances include Vaughan Williams' ''
Serenade to Music ''Serenade to Music'' is an orchestral concert work completed in 1938 by English composer Ralph Vaughan Williams, written as a tribute to conductor Sir Henry Wood. It features an orchestra and 16 vocal soloists, with lyrics adapted from the disc ...
'' at the televised opening night of the 2001 BBC Proms, '' Beethoven's Ninth Symphony'' for
RTÉ (RTÉ) (; Irish language, Irish for "Radio & Television of Ireland") is the Public broadcaster, national broadcaster of Republic of Ireland, Ireland headquartered in Dublin. It both produces and broadcasts programmes on RTÉ Television, telev ...
, Elgars’ '' The Dream of Gerontius'' at the
Welsh Proms The Welsh Proms Cymru is a week long series of classical music performances which take place at the national concert hall of Wales, St David's Hall, Cardiff in July each year. The Proms' Artistic Director is Owain Arwel Hughes Owain Arwel Hughe ...
, the Verdi ''
Requiem A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead ( la, Missa pro defunctis) or Mass of the dead ( la, Missa defunctorum), is a Mass of the Catholic Church offered for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, ...
'' at the
Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London. One of the UK's most treasured and distinctive buildings, it is held in trust for the nation and managed by a registered charity which receives no govern ...
and a recital at the Wigmore Hall, London. Evans sings as a soloist on three CD volumes entitled ''Here Come the Classics'' with the
Royal Philharmonic Orchestra The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) is a British symphony orchestra based in London, that performs and produces primarily classic works. The RPO was established by Thomas Beecham in 1946. In its early days, the orchestra secured profitable ...
, has recorded ''
Salome Salome (; he, שְלוֹמִית, Shlomit, related to , "peace"; el, Σαλώμη), also known as Salome III, was a Jewish princess, the daughter of Herod II, son of Herod the Great, and princess Herodias, granddaughter of Herod the Great, an ...
'' and Ariadne auf Naxos for
Chandos Records Chandos Records is a British independent classical music recording company based in Colchester. It was founded in 1979 by Brian Couzens.BBC's '' Friday Night is Music Night''. He also presents on BBC Radio Wales with his brother, Mark Evans, and was awarded the MStJ by
Queen Elizabeth II Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary; 21 April 1926 – 8 September 2022) was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 6 February 1952 until Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II, her death in 2022. She was queen ...
in 2008.


Recording artist

In 2010, Evans signed a six-album deal with Warner Music; his first album is called ''
A Song in My Heart ''A Song in My Heart'' is the first studio album from Welsh tenor Wynne Evans and was released on 21 March 2011. Evans signed a six-album deal with Warner Music Warner Music Group Corp. ( d.b.a. Warner Music Group, commonly abbreviated as WMG ...
'' and was released on 21 March 2011. The album went straight to number one in the
UK Classical Charts The UK Classical Charts are three record charts based on classical music in the United Kingdom: the Classical Artist Albums Chart, the Classical Compilation Albums Chart and the Specialist Classical Albums Chart. The charts are commercial monitor ...
in the following week. His second album, ''Wynne'', was released in 2013.


Television and radio


Go Compare

Since 2009 Evans has starred in an advertising campaign for UK insurance comparison website Gocompare.com, playing the flamboyant, operatic tenor Gio Compario. He also appeared in a special version which was part of the 2010 Channel 4 Comedy Gala raising money for Great Ormond Street Hospital, in which comedian Jimmy Carr grabbed him by the testicles, causing him to sing in an even higher note. In 2012, GoCompare launched the 'Saving the Nation' campaign starring Evans again as Gio Compario. Evans made adverts in the series with
Sue Barker Sue or SUE may refer to: Music * Sue Records, an American record label * ''Sue'' (album), an album by Frazier Chorus * "Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)", a song by David Bowie Places * Sue Islet (Queensland), one of the Torres Straits island ...
,
Stuart Pearce Stuart Pearce (born 24 April 1962) is an English professional football manager and former player, who was most recently a first-team coach for Premier League club West Ham United. He was nicknamed "Psycho" for his unforgiving style of play. ...
, Ray Mears,
Louis Spence Louie Spence (born 6 April 1969) is an English dancer, choreographer and television personality, best known for the TV show '' Pineapple Dance Studios''. He was a professional dancer in his youth, performing in West End musicals including ''Mi ...
and most famously Professor Stephen Hawking and
Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...
with all of them trying to kill him and thus save the nation from his singing about GoCompare.


Presenting and other

In 2011, Evans began presenting. He presented a programme about the Eisteddfod for the BBC and his own TV show on
S4C S4C (, ''Sianel Pedwar Cymru'', meaning ''Channel Four Wales'') is a Welsh language free-to-air public broadcast television channel. Launched on 1 November 1982, it was the first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking ...
. In 2012 Evans became a regular presenter on BBC Radio Wales and from October 2013 Evans presented a weekly Friday afternoon show called ''Wynne Evans' Big Welsh Weekend''. Since February 2016, he has presented The Wynne Evans Show on the station from 11am to 2pm every weekday. Evans was also one of eight celebrities chosen to participate in an intense week of learning Welsh at a campsite in Pembrokeshire for the series '' cariad@iaith:love4language'', shown on S4C in May 2012. In 2012 Evans presented ''The Guide to Opera'' on Classic FM. The show was subsequently nominated for an Arqiva award. In 2013 Evans became a regular presenter on Classic FM. In August 2012 Evans appeared on the football show '' Soccer AM''. He went on the show again in August 2013. In March 2015 Evans appeared in the Sky 1 comedy drama ''
Stella Stella or STELLA may refer to: Art, entertainment, and media Comedy *Stella (comedy group), a comedy troupe consisting of Michael Showalter, Michael Ian Black and David Wain Characters *Stella (given name), including a list of characters with th ...
'', as a candidate running for council / Mexican wrestler. The episode ended with Evans singing a couple of numbers. In 2016 he hosted the BBC One programme ''Search For A*'' alongside other celebrities
Behnaz Akhgar Behnaz Akhgar ( fa, بهناز اخگر; born 21 June 1980 ) is an Iranian- Welsh weather presenter currently working for BBC's Wales Today. She broadcasts the morning and weekend bulletins with Sue Charles, and acts as a relief presenter for ...
and Omar Hamdi.


Awards

Evans was made a member of the Gorsedd of the Bards of Wales in 2012 and an Honorary Fellow of the
University of Wales Trinity Saint David , image = Crest of TSD.png , image_size = 200px , caption = Coat of armsUniversity of Wales Trinity Saint David , established = 2010 ( Saint David's College, Lampeter founded 1822 and opened 1827; royal charter 1828) ...
in 2013. He was also made a Member of the Venerable Order of Saint John by HM The Queen in 2008. Evans was awarded the
British Empire Medal The British Empire Medal (BEM; formerly British Empire Medal for Meritorious Service) is a British and Commonwealth award for meritorious civil or military service worthy of recognition by the Crown. The current honour was created in 1922 to ...
in the platinum Jubilee a honours List


Personal life

Evans is a trustee of The Elizabeth Evans Trust. Evans's mother was Elizabeth Evans MBE, who founded and ran both The Carmarthen Youth Opera and The Lyric Theatre in Carmarthen for 25 years. She died in 2004 and subsequently Evans and his two brothers founded the Trust. A Film was later made about her life called
Save The Cinema ''Save the Cinema'' is a British drama film written by Piers Ashworth and directed by Sara Sugarman, based on the true story of Liz Evans, a hairdresser and leader of a youth theatre in Carmarthen, Wales, who began a campaign in 1993 to save the L ...
, Evans plays a cameo on the film but also made the Behind the curtain programme about his life for Sky Arts. Evans is divorced and has two children Ismay and Taliesin


References


External links

* *
''Wynne Evans''
(BBC Radio Wales) {{DEFAULTSORT:Evans, Wynne 1972 births 21st-century Welsh male opera singers Alumni of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama Bards of the Gorsedd Living people Singers from Carmarthenshire Welsh television actors Welsh tenors Welsh-language singers BBC Radio Wales presenters