Barrie Law [[File:Law 1975.jpg|thumb|Barrie Law in 1975]]
Barrie Law
 | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 July 1944 |
| 🏳️ Nationality | British |
| 💼 Occupation | Singer and Actor |
| Known for | Opera Singing |
| 👩 Spouse(s) | Lynda Law |
Barrie Law, Singer and Actor (born 22nd July 1944 in Halifax), is an English Singer and Actor.
Early life
Law was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire and raised in Elland near Halifax. He began singing at the age of ten when he joined the Church of St Mary, Elland, where the choir master soon recognised he had an outstanding singing voice for someone of his age. He was with the choir for around six years. He attended C of E School in Westgate, Elland, until July 1959. In April 1965, he married Miss Lynda Hellowell, age 21. In 1971, Law sang with Halifax Opera Society, taking on a tenor role. A year later, he sang for Halifax Gilbert & Sullivan Opera Society in a tenor role. In 1973, he started singing in Northern Clubs to help pay for his private voice coaching lessons, which he was taking daily for opera work with a teacher from London College of Music. He also raised funds with his singing skills for nine-year-old Tracy Brown to send her to Switzerland for treatment for Retinitis pigmentosa, known as tunnel vision. A few days later, Law was involved in an accident and lost the sight in both eyes. At the time, it wasn't known if he would ever see again, but with treatment from Halifax Hospital, his sight returned within six months. Law and his wife Lynda are now retired and live in York. They have four children, Mark, Andrew, Richard and Louise, and seven grandchildren.
Career
James Corrigan gave Law his first break at Batley Variety Club in the mid 1970s after hearing him sing at the local club in Batley, West Yorkshire. Law entered a talent show in Wakefield and sang an aria from La-Boheme opera, Che gelida manina. London agent John Bannerman signed him to a five-year contract, with the condition he would finish singing in working men’s clubs. In 1976, Law was made a member of Actors' Equity Association[1], and later went on tour with Sadler's Wells Theatre. In 1981, Law was offered a tenor role with The Black and White Minstrel Show after a voice test, but later said no to the offer. In the mid-eighties, he faced his biggest challenge when he was booked for ten days to sing opera in New York City [2].
Opera Career
Law was with the Halifax Light Opera from 1973 to 1975 while he lived in Halifax. In 1975, he went to live in York. In 1976, Law was studying for 18 months on all opera works with Karl Lazenby, a London opera coach. In the early 1980s, Law sang his first tenor role at The Royal Opera House [3]. In July 1987, Law was invited for ten days to sing opera in New York City, and for several days he worked under the baton of Leonard Bernstein[4], conductor & composer. Over the next twenty years, Law worked on tenor roles in various operas in the UK and USA.
Television
Several weeks after returning from New York City to the UK, Yorkshire Television offered him acting work on a police drama called Identerkill, followed by a film part in Edge of Darkness. Over the years, Law appeared in 37 episodes of Emmerdale. BBC Television signed him for filming at Victoria Theatre, Halifax in The Bluebell series. He also worked on several of Jimmy Cricket shows, and with Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes. Over 29 years, Law acted for National Television in between his singing work.
In 1993, Law received a letter from Queen Elizabeth II regarding his work.[5]
In 1999, Tyne Tees Television approached Law to make a program about his work. Veteran broadcaster Luke Casey[6] interviewed Law for the programme The Dales Diary, which was screened in late 1999.
Law's part-time hobby was writing books about the History of York, and the horse-drawn Irish Travellers.
References
External Links
- Readers Digest - Barrie Law
- Vents Magazine - Barrie Law
- Law, Barrie, "Mr", Ref: 80-39, Calderdale Companion. Malcolm Bull
- Erin Magazine - Barrie Law Article
- Book Depository - Barrie Law
- Barrie Law - Newspaper Archive - Own Website
- Barrie Law - Entertainer - Website
- Jason Brown Doric Music Express
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