A final déjà vu performance for Jeffrey Lawton

Jeffrey Lawton

The famous opera singer and Middletonian, Jeffrey Lawton is returning to the first production he was in, Patience, at the Middleton Arena on Sunday 22 June 2014 at 7:30pm.

The production is by Oldham Choral Society, which is one of the leading amateur choirs in North West England. They will be performing Gilbert and Sullivan double bills introduced by Donald Maxwell, presenting highlights from 'Patience' and 'The Mikado'.

Jeffrey began his singing performance in the chorus of Patience at age 16 in Woodhouses production of Patience.

At aged 19 the Director asked Jeffrey to sing the lead tenor in Patience for Long Street Gilbert & Sullivan’s Society in Middleton. At this venue, Jeffrey met his future wife, Ann. The Lawton’s have lived and raised their family in Middleton for the past 55 years.

Jeffrey was approached to sing in the latest production of Patience with the Oldham Choral Society and Jeffrey said: “To finish my long singing career performing the very first production I ever did near the very venue I performed it, when I was just 19, was just too good an opportunity to miss. Patience is where my life really started so I was thrilled to be asked and agreed to do it without hesitation. This will be my final public performance, I plan to go out on a high and I am looking forward to it. It is a fantastic production and I am sure everyone who attends will enjoy it.”

Jeffrey’s singing career took him all over the world and he appeared on TV interviewed by Sir Michael Parkinson.

Jeffrey began his singing career at the Welsh National Opera as a contract artist. At the age of 41 Jeffrey sang regularly with the Welsh National Opera company and has sung with all the major British opera houses. He has performed at Albert Hall proms, broadcasts and regular charity concerts in Middleton.

Jeffrey became more known in Middleton after taking over at 24 hours notice from Plácido Domingo as Othello at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.

He sang internationally in Canada, the United States, Argentina, Israel, France, Holland, Belgium, Czechoslovakia, Italy, Scotland and Germany. Jeffrey still teaches and mentors young singers at the Royal College of Music Manchester. Jeffrey has been awarded a Fellowship at the College, which incidentally Plácido Domingo also received.

Jeffrey is still very active in Middleton, raising money to help people by performing concerts and also as a member of the Rotary Club of Middleton. Jeffrey has been Rotary President twice and is an active member of the Rotary Club of Middleton.