Wynne Evans: Gio Compario

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-Wynne Evans.

-Enfant terrible. The mention of his

-name puts a smile on anyone's face.

-A sensational voice

-by anyone's standards.

-# What a wonderful thing

-# A sunny day #

-Gio Compario has changed my life.

-The character Gio Compario

-is an extension of Wynne himself...

-..and what he has been

-over the years.

-He has this fantastically

-vibrant really Italian sound.

-Terrific power at the top.

-Rock sure wonderful top notes.

-# But another sun

-# That's brighter still #

-I think he's quite idiomatic,

-singing the big show tunes.

-He doesn't sound

-like an opera singer slumming.

-What's nice about him

-is that he hasn't forgotten.

-He hasn't become too big

-for his boots.

-I hope that continues.

-# It's before you #

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-Wynne Evans was born

-in Carmarthen in 1972.

-From the day he was born, he was

-clearly a very unique character.

-Wynne was a very mischievous

-young boy.

-He got up to all sorts!

-His mother was a hairdresser

-near the house.

-Every night, he'd come home and ask

-for pocket money to buy pencils.

-That went on until someone

-caught him one night in Wimpy...

-..eating a large

-knickerbocker glory!

-That's the kind of trick

-he'd play on his mother.

-If I'm honest,

-he was quite lazy at school.

-But having said that,

-I was happy to have him in my class.

-We had a lot of fun with Wynne!

-You only have to take one look at

-him. We've all seen Gio Compario!

-That's the character that was

-at school too. Everything was fun!

-Wynne was also determined...

-..to enjoy being a member

-of the choir at St Peter's Church.

-# I'll walk with God

-from this day on

-# His helping hand... #

-I was a member of the choir here

-for some years.

-My best friend, Peter,

-was also in the choir...

-..and I think we were quite naughty!

-Midnight mass

-was my favourite service.

-At Christmas...

-..I'd sing the first verse of

-Once in Royal St David's City...

-..while leading the choir

-into the church.

-My typical Sunday was singing

-with the choir in the morning...

-..Sunday dinner at home...

-..and a rehearsal with the

-Youth Opera in the afternoon.

-# He'll understand

-# I'll pray to him

-# Each day to him

-# And he'll hear the words

-that I say

-# His hand will guide

-my throne and rod

-# And I'll never walk alone

-# While I walk with God #

-But Wynne's Mecca was the theatre.

-That was mainly

-down to his mother's influence.

-Elizabeth Evans' continuous work

-with the Carmarthen Youth Opera...

-..was remarkable.

-The crowd we had would come up

-behind you with a cigarette...

-..and stub it out on your hand.

-Elizabeth decided she had to do

-something with those children.

-You all know

-where your positions are.

-We started off by doing a pantomime.

-We had St Peter's Civic Hall

-for one night...

-..and there were queues

-all the way down the road!

-So Elizabeth turned and said,

-"That's it, no more, Lyric Theatre."

-The Youth Opera took up every

-free second of the Evans' household.

-Wynne had ample opportunities

-to perform.

-Every Saturday morning,

-my brother, Mark, and I...

-..would be on the Lyric stage

-for Junior Showtime.

-At the time, I was helping out in

-the theatre and in the community.

-On a personal level, this is when

-I realized how difficult it is...

-..to maintain children's interest.

-Hiya, viewers. Alright?

-You get to know the children

-far better away from school.

-We were on a bus once and there was

-a microphone next to the driver.

-That's all Wynne kept saying was...

-.."Please, Miss, please, Miss,

-give me a go on the mic?"

-Hiya, fans.

-Here I am again, Mr Wynne Evans.

-He loved it.

-He got everyone singing.

-He was also a fantastic

-communicator...

-..not just with children

-but with adults too.

-He has a big personality

-but he always has time for you.

-I think a lot of that.

-# Listen to that howling mob

-of blockheads in the street!

-# A trick or two with lepers,

-and the whole town's on its feet

-# He is dangerous #

-I developed my performance skills

-with the Carmarthen Youth Opera.

-I discovered what works

-and what doesn't work on stage.

-When I went to university, I felt

-I was ahead of the other students.

-That was down to my mother

-and the Carmarthen Youth Opera.

-Wynne followed

-in his brother's footsteps...

-..and went on to study singing

-at the Guildhall in London.

-I didn't have any money

-at university!

-I got a job working in the shop

-of the English National Opera.

-I could slip into the back

-and watch the operas for nothing!

-I enjoyed my time at the Guildhall

-but I'm not sure how much I learned!

-But I had time to grow up and learn

-a classical repertoire.

-After graduating, Wynne tried his

-luck in the competition...

-..that picks a Welsh representative

-for the Singer of the World.

-# This girl or that girl

-are just the same to me

-# To all the others around me

-# I won't give away my heart

-# To this beauty nor to the others #

-I learned how to sing properly

-when I went to see Dennis O'Neill.

-At the time, I felt like I was going

-right back to the start...

-..because my technique wasn't right.

-He was harsh but a fantastic person

-and teacher.

-# Different #

-Two years later, he was back...

-..but his voice was not

-the only thing to have changed.

-I used to weigh 23 stone. I've lost

-six stone and I feel much better.

-Some people eat to live.

-I live to eat.

-I could never give up food.

-The only way I can lose weight

-is by going to the gym.

-I'm never going to be

-Linford Christie...

-..but exercising helps me

-to become a little fitter.

-# Drink #

-Gradually,

-Wynne was given opportunities...

-..to sing in concerts and operas.

-After leaving university, I sang

-with the WNO in Scotland and London.

-But my wife and I decided that

-London wasn't the place for us...

-..so we moved to Cardiff.

-I was very lucky and landed my dream

-job of house principal with the WNO.

-I stayed with the WNO on and off

-for eight years.

-I've worked with Wynne Evans

-many times.

-Of all the Welsh tenors...

-..he's the one with the most

-Italian sounding voice.

-# Do not fear the truth,

-do not fear the truth

-# Drink with me

-# Drink with me

-

-# Do not fear the truth

-# Drink, drink, drink #

-When I was with the WNO...

-..I was invited to perform

-during half-time...

-..of an international rugby game.

-Fortunately,

-Rupert Moon enjoyed my singing...

-..and invited me back the following

-week to respond to the haka.

-I turned up in a suit...

-..but they told me I had to wear

-a lycra shirt - in this body!

-The following morning,

-the headline in the paper read...

-.."New Zealand gave us the haka -

-we gave them a fat boy with a flag."

-# Let's go, let's go,

-let's go to the top

-# Let's go, let's go,

-let's go to the top #

-Another happy time for me was the

-seven months I spent in Sweden...

-..with pianist Robert Wells.

-Being on tour with Robert

-was like being a pop star.

-Massive tour buses

-and a different hotel every night!

-# Funiculi, funicula

-funiculi, funicula

-# Let's go to the top

-# Funiculi, funicula #

-Mr Evans!

-But a call for an audition was about

-to change Wynne's life forever.

-# Yes, you'll thank your stars

-that you went to Go Compare #

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-I was over the moon to find out...

-..that Go Compare

-is a company based in Newport.

-They gave me a big welcome and

-I've become a part of their company.

-I take an interest in their sales

-and figures of the adverts.

-I now do a lot of PR work for them.

-How are you?

-How are you?

-

-Hello, my dear.

-We launched Go Compare in 2006.

-What started happening

-in the comparison market...

-..was that we all had adverts

-which pretty much looked the same.

-We got to the point where we thought

-we had to come up with something...

-..that nobody else could copy

-and actually, it's our name!

-Hayley turned to one of the most

-successful teams in advertising...

-..the duo behind the Smash Martians,

-Direct Line Insurance...

-..and Sheila's Wheels -

-Chris and Sian Wilkins.

-We thought we wanted a jingle

-straight away.

-When we write jingles...

-..we look for an existing tune,

-write words to it...

-..and then don't tell the composer

-what the tune is.

-Chris was running through iTunes

-and he came across Over There.

-Of course, as soon as he played it,

-the tune got stuck in our heads.

-# Over there, over there

-# Send the word, send the word,

-over there #

-Having heard Caruso doing it...

-..we suddenly thought it'd be funny

-to have a mad Italian tenor...

-..the sort of person who interrupts

-you while you are eating!

-The kind that comes on and insists

-that you listen to him!

-I recorded my voice for

-Gary Lineker's crisps advert.

-Go Compare used

-the same musical team...

-..but luckily,

-they didn't know too many tenors!

-Wynne Evans.

-The audition was for voice only.

-They already had an actor

-for the advert.

-We had a number of tenors

-coming in one day.

-Wynne sang it in full voice

-in this tiny little room.

-We were forced back

-against the wall...

-..by the power

-of this extraordinary tenor voice.

-# Go Compare, Go Compare #

-When I began singing, I was asked

-to go into character more.

-So I began waving my arms about.

-I was offered the role of Gio

-on the spot.

-The director turned 'round to us.

-It was 9.30am.

-He said,

-"I think we can all go to lunch."

-# Go Compare, Go Compare

-# To be sure when you insure,

-first Go Compare #

-Anything

-which is sufficiently powerful...

-..will polarise people to an extent.

-I think what's happened is that

-there's been a vociferous group...

-..who simply can't bear it.

-It's largely because

-they don't like opera.

-There is however a huge fan base.

-It's something

-you have to live with.

-You cannot please all of the people

-all of the time.

-Annoying is another word

-for effective.

-As soon as the first ad went live,

-we saw a 20% uplift in quote volume.

-We've seen a 60% year on year

-increase in quote volume.

-We've seen a 450% increase

-in brand awareness.

-The one that makes me laugh

-the most...

-..is when he's knitting

-and says "Mummy".

-Mummy!

-# Go Compare! #

-If his mother saw him doing that,

-he'd have had such a smack!

-I don't think

-he'd have woken from it!

-Gio Compario has changed my life.

-Professionally, it means I can just

-do the work I really want to do.

-But there's a price to pay.

-The kids find it odd that people

-want their photos taken with me.

-I'd like to think I'm careful...

-..in protecting my family

-from the spotlight.

-Doing the Christmas single with

-Ysgol y Wern's choir was a big help.

-Even my kids thought I was cool.

-# He sees you when you're sleeping

-# He knows when you're awake

-# He knows

-if you've been bad or good

-# So be good for goodness sake! #

-According to The Sun, Gio is the

-second most-hated person in Britain.

-The tabloids see the character as

-an easy way to fill column inches.

-Once you've been called a so and so,

-you have to become thick-skinned.

-I'll tell you some of the stories

-that are nothing but lies.

-Apparently,

-I receive 450,000 to stay fat.

-I wish!

-I'm making an album

-with Led Zeppelin.

-I'm singing at the royal wedding

-and I'm a multi-millionaire.

-I've learned not to react to them.

-Someone once told me, "It's hard to

-find a copy of yesterday's paper."

-If I don't react,

-the story won't last long.

-But there's a positive side to all

-the attention that Gio's received.

-Many record companies wanted him

-to release a CD on their own label.

-Soon, the lad from Carmarthen...

-..emulated some of the world's

-best musicians by going to Prague.

-Warner Music contacted me in 2010.

-They had no idea at the time

-what kind of artist I was.

-They sent a copy of a demo

-to Bill Holland...

-..who'd recorded The Three Tenors.

-I hadn't heard of Wynne Evans, but

-I knew about the Go Compare ads...

-..which I found the most irritating

-ads ever on television.

-I said, "No, I'm not interested.

-It's just an opportunist thing.

-"Can he sing anyway?"

-He wasn't very interested.

-But one day, his wife put the CD on

-and Bill phoned ten minutes later.

-I thought Wynne's voice

-was so unique and so special.

-It had such a lovely, lyrical sound.

-His musical line was exquisite.

-We had to pursue him.

-But which songs should be on the CD?

-Wynne was in no doubt.

-Choosing a repertoire was easy.

-As a child,

-I loved Mario Lanza's films.

-We only had two records...

-..The Student Prince

-and Christmas With Mario Lanza.

-I played those records all year.

-I enjoyed Mario Lanza,

-as did Elizabeth.

-So I think that's why

-Wynne's so fond of him...

-..because

-that's all he heard at home!

-We've come to Prague to record...

-..partly because they're

-a very fine orchestra, very quick.

-There are financial reasons as well.

-Though Wynne rehearses with the

-orchestra, his voice isn't recorded.

-That is done at home when

-there are fewer time constraints.

-I think you can use that.

-I'll take the first six bars

-from the previous one and use that.

-OK.

-OK.

-

-Excellent. Very good.

-Wales is very important to me - so

-when I was offered a record deal...

-..I was determined there'd be

-a Welsh element to the album.

-What better than a Welsh choir?

-Cor Caerdydd is my favourite choir.

-I love their attitude towards music.

-It's exciting, open-minded and

-the perfect backing for a singer.

-Good. I still think you can have a

-bit more gay abandonment about it.

-Gay abandonment, he said!

-Like we do in Carmarthen!

-Bar 108, where Wynne sings solo.

-Can you sing the "iamo"

-with him, please?

-The same music.

-It's like "iamm-o, iamm-o".

-Double M.

-At the moment, you're going "ia-moh,

-ia-moh". Really hit the double M.

-La capa gia. It's not a double P.

-So sing lots of "a" there.

-Do what you're doing with "iamm-o"

-there!

-What you were doing

-but you're not going to do any more!

-Perfect. Like natives!

-Of Tumble.

-The orchestra in Prague,

-the choir in Acapela, Pentyrch...

-..and now the voice, in a building

-that looks like a garden shed...

-..in Salisbury - the studio

-of famous producer, Nick Patrick.

-Sounds beautiful. The dynamics

-of that were really powerful.

-Let's go just one more from the top.

-Make it more tender at the front.

-# Katarin

-# Katarin #

-The really exciting thing

-about Wynne...

-..is he has incredible

-dynamic control over his tone.

-He can go from soft and intimate

-to big and heroic in a heartbeat.

-It's a very exciting sound.

-# Deserving of this #

-Sounds great.

-That's lovely at the top. Just

-one more, so we have alternatives.

-With the CD completed,

-it's time to promote the album...

-..in a press launch

-in a plush London hall.

-# With a song in my heart

-# I behold your adorable face

-# Just a song from the start

-# But it soon

-is a hymn to your grace

-# But I always knew

-# I would live life through

-# With a song in my heart

-# For you #

-These are the people

-who will get Wynne...

-..on radio and television shows

-to promote the album.

-There was a lot of interest,

-one being The Alan Titchmarsh Show.

-Try what I'm about to sing.

-# Iamo, iamo #

-Mmm.

-# Iamo, iamo #

-Not bad.

-I think you might be a baritone.

-Do you know the difference

-between a tenor and a baritone?

-It's about 15,000 a night.

-Despite the importance of promoting

-the album across Britain...

-..Wynne was determined

-of coming home to launch the CD.

-It's a bit crazy at the moment.

-That's fine because I like variety.

-I can get bored easily.

-I still sing opera with the WNO,

-Covent Garden and in Europe.

-The advert too. Gio Compario

-is like a forty-second opera.

-But more than anything...

-..it's great to come back

-to Carmarthen to launch the CD.

-It's gone straight in at No.1

-in the Classical Chart.

-Happy?

-Yay!

-# And lead us not into temptation

-# But deliver us from evil

-# For thine is the kingdom

-# The power, and the glory

-# For ever and ever

-# Amen #

-S4C Subtitles by Testun Cyf.

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