A Policeman’s Lot

Michael Rayner Studied at the Birmingham School of Music under Frederick Sharpe and Gordon Clinton before joining the Welsh National Opera for All group where he sang the roles of Figaro in the Barber of Seville, Sharpless in Madam Butterfly Frank in Die Fledermaus.

He joined the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company in 1971 as a Principal Baritone initially singing the roles of Guiseppe (Gondoliers) Captain Corcoran (Pinafore) Strephon (Iolanthe) Counsel (Trail By Jury) Samuel (Pirates) and Cox in Cox and Box. He later added the roles of Sergeant of Police (Pirates), Arac (Princess Ida), Lieutenant of the Tower (Yeomen of the Guard), Pish Tush (Mikado) and he swapped the role of Cox to play Bouncer (Cox and Box). He recreated the role of Mr Goldbury in the company’s 1975 centenary season production of Utopia Ltd and sang the Notary in the concert performance of The Grand Duke.

Since leaving the company Michael has worked freelance with several Gilbert and Sullivan companies, playing the roles of Mikado and Pooh Bah (Mikado), Sergeant Meryll (Yeomen of the Guard), Dick Deadeye (HMS Pinafore), Private Willis (Iolanthe), Major Murgatroyd (Patience), Major General (Pirates of Penzance), Usher and Judge (Trial by Jury), Doctor Daly (Sorcerer) and Sir Roderic Murgatroyd (Ruddigore).

Michael has been a regular visitor to the Buxton International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival since 1996.

Michael is also casting director of Grims Dyke Opera and with the company will be performing twice monthly throughout 2004. Grims Dyke Opera will also be involved in the Harrow Arts Festival in July with performances of Pirates Of Penzance and The Gondoliers from July 12^th to 15^th.

For more information contact Michael on:

Phone: +44(0)1332 873712

e-mail mikado@beeb.net