Press Reviews

"Her Strephon was Giles Davies, an admirable portrayal with plenty of tone."

City Life, News and Reviews, Iolanthe, Buxton Opera House, 2010

"He impressed with his carefully paced dialogue and good diction."

Seen and Heard, Iolanthe, Buxton Opera House, 2010

"His rendition of Love Unrequited Robs Me of My Rest is a standout."

Camden New Journal, Iolanthe, 2008

"Giles Davies is a wonderful Lord Chancellor with the largest wig in creation and gives his virtuoso arias - like the Nightmare Song - to an enraptured audience. "

Remote Goat Online, Iolanthe, 2008

"This release represents a labour of love. The accompanying booklet is a mine of information with nine pages devoted to the composer and his music. Annotator Giles Davies often gives perceptive critical comments on the performances – honest even to the extent of including certain reservations about specific items but since some works are presented in more than one version, such comparison is useful and I tend to agree with his assessments. "

Warlock Archive CD's, Divine Art Historic Sound, Classical Source 2009

"It can’t aid anyone’s attempt at verisimilitude to know that as well as being a beautiful Arcadian shepherd who is a fairy down to the waist and who will suddenly and successfully enter politics and take over Parliament, he’s supposed to be a mere 25. Luckily Giles Davies took Strephon in his stride with just the right edge of self-awareness – it never does to undermine the internal logic of Gilbert’s plots and characters, but there’s a way of being knowing without eroding the innocent fun."

British Theatre Guide Reviews, Iolanthe, Newcastle Theatre Royal, 2007

“A Mighty Labour of Love” – Gossiana CD, 2008

International Record Review

 "Throughout, Giles Davies sings impeccably, with a fine sense of style, and is admirably accompanied by Steven Devine. The recording quality is also excellent, and performance notes and texts are included. This is a really delightful CD, which is wholeheartedly recommended". - Gossiana CD, 2008

Musical Opinion

"For Giles Davies, this is obviously a labour of love and he manages to squeeze out all the emotional and musical expressiveness of the repertoire in question. Stephen Devine and the Goss Male Quartet lend sympathetic support throughout. This is certainly a fitting tribute to one of Britain's most lovable yet astoundingly neglected artists."
Gossiana CD, 2008

Classical Net

"The ensuing Lieder are also beautifully sung, especially Schubert's Totengrabers Heimweh , in which singer and pianist build up a terrific sense of tension from the beginning, with Davies both meltingly tender and full of passion." - Gossiana CD , 2008

Albion Magazine

"Giles Davies, on the other hand, showed excellent audience rapport right from the start with his Sentry Song from Iolanthe and he enthused the willing Perth audience into taking part in A Policeman’s Lot from The Pirates of Penzance. His singing was good, accurate and well projected."

Perthshire Advertiser, G and S Gala, 2008

"Giles Davies, who fully explores the comic opportunities of Leporello, Giovanni's reluctant sidekick, and whose strong, melodic baritone voice is the most beautiful of the entire cast."
(Oxford Times, "Don Giovanni", 2006)

''Giles Davies has a very versatile baritone which is tenor-like in its secure higher reaches, but strong and powerful towards the bottom.''

Internet Review, Wigmore Hall 2005, 'Love's Labyrinth'

''The Walton is the stronger piece, and had a really vital Smirnov in Giles Davies, who threw himself into his role as debt-collector/ suitor.''

Opera Magazine, April 2005, The Bear, Minotaur Music Theatre

'' Giles Davies and Steven Gallop are outstanding.''

The Times 2004, / The Piano Tuner, Music Theatre Wales

''Giles Davies makes a smooth and richly toned Drake.''

The Stage 2004/ The Piano Tuner, Music Theatre Wales

''An excellent stab at a difficult role. He manages convincingly to relay the character's innate warmth, humility, sensitivity and openness."

Opera 2004/ The Piano Tuner, Music Theatre Wales

''Commanding central performance from Giles Davies.''

The Independant 2004/ The Piano Tuner, Music Theatre Wales

''Giles Davies was an earnest, pleasing protagonist.''

The Times Literary Supplement 2004/ The Piano Tuner, Music Theatre Wales

''Giles Davies is a sympathetic figure as Edgar Drake.''

The Daily Telegraph/ The Piano Tuner, Music Theatre Wales

''Giles Davies' Drake is very well sung.''

The Observer 2004/ The Piano Tuner, Music Theatre Wales

''All the singers, led by Giles Davies in the title role and Steven Gallop as the doctor, get the text across with exemplary clarity.''

Evening Standard 2004/ The Piano Tuner, Music Theatre Wales

''This work charts the experience of Edgar Drake in a sustained performance by Giles Davies.''
Internet Review (Wales) / The Piano Tuner, Music Theatre Wales

''Firstly, Giles Davies was quite the best Pish-Tush I've seen in a long time in what can be a thankless part - superb diction with acting to match - a delight, and a lesson in how it can be done''.

Savoy Net 2003/ The Mikado, Carl Rosa Opera

''Giles Davies gave us a fine, well sung Strephon''

Birmingham Post 2002/ Iolanthe, Carl Rosa Opera

''Figaro (Giles Davies) gave a masterful characterisation.
In possession of a finely and evenly produced baritone voice his Figaro was expressive both vocally and as an actor. His duets with Count Almaviva were witty and sung with verve.''

''The Barber of Seville'', Echo 2000, Malvern Theatre, Newsquest Online

''Giles Davies' Schaunard in particular brings a depth and conviction to his role not seen in much grander productions.''

The Times 2002/ La Boheme, Scottish Opera Tour

Giles Davies cut a dashing figure as the ardent young lover singing Purcell’s "I came I saw and was undone", with great passion, then gradually declined into an outstanding portrayal of the reeling drunken husband in "Bacchus is a Pow’r Divine", and finally realising the incapacities of old age with real regret in "The Fire of Love'' by Robert King. He performed most convincingly throughout, combining beauty of tone and impeccable vocal technique with remarkable acting skills.’’
 
Suffolk Festival, ‘Love’s Labyrinth’, Opera Restor’d 2001

“I liked the understated Figaro of Giles Davies.’’

The Telegraph, 2001,The Barber of Seville, Longborough

“The very long wait before Giles Davies (baritone) sang in the Benedictus was worth it, and it was only regrettable that this fine voice, which has won so many accolades already, was heard so little.”

(London Mozart Players - Mozart C Minor Mass, 2001)

“The strongly projected sonorous baritone of Giles Davies.”

Badische Zeitung, 1999, Britten Church Parables, Opera du Rhin, Strasbourg

“Giles Davies sang the more reflective roles of the Ferryman, Ananias and Father with conviction.”

Financial Times, 1999, Britten Church Parables, Opera du Rhin, Strasbourg

“Giles Davies’ Figaro worried away at the bones of the situational chaos with the strongest of grips, singing off words with firm, unforced tone.’’

Opera Magazine, 1999, The Marriage of Figaro, Holland Park Opera

“Giles Davies’ Figaro: a bright naughty spark with a nimble light baritone, perfect for outwitting his master and rattling through yards of recitative.”

The Times, 1999, The Marriage of Figaro, Holland Park Opera

“As Kolenaty, Giles Davies sang with colour and force”.

Opera, 1998, The Makropoulos Case, Scottish Opera Tour

“Giles Davies took the two male roles with excellent acting skills, with a voice that will surely lead to larger roles with larger companies in the future‚”

Opera Now, 1997, I Can’t Stand Wagner, Jigsaw Music Theatre

“Giles Davies’ Schaunard added lustre with notable ensemble contribution mixed with splendidly timed and delivered comedy; - Death of a Parrot is hilarious - the trumpet ploy in the Cafe scene a bit of genius, and sardonic wit overlying pragmatic philosophy.”

Belfast Newsletter, 1997, La Boheme, Castleward Opera