Just in: Welsh mourn a loyal tenor
mainFrom Welsh National Opera:
It is with the profoundest sadness that we inform you that Paul Gyton, tenor of 40 years with the Chorus, passed away in the early hours of 18 April. Only last week we celebrated his years of service with the Company, an acknowledgement which meant a tremendous amount to Paul, particularly in most recent days. Our thoughts are with Paul’s wife Alwyn, his family and friends at this saddest of times. We must also acknowledge the loss that his friends and colleagues in the WNO Chorus and wider Company will all feel at this time; they will miss him terribly….
Paul Gyton joined the tenor section of the Chorus at Welsh National Opera on 12 April 1977.
Throughout the past 40 years, Paul has contributed massively to the musical life of the Company.
His huge commitment as a Chorister, as well as being such a good colleague and a true friend to so many over that time is impossible to acknowledge easily. The sheer number of performances, places visited, miles travelled, notes and words learned and sung in languages many and varied (!) is virtually impossible to imagine.
Paul Gyton as Mosquito in Cunning Little Vixen
A colleague writes: ‘Paul was the sunniest of WNO choristers and will be missed by chorister colleagues and visiting artists alike.’
As a WNO supporter living in Cardiff I was privileged to get to know Paul and his wonderful wife, the soprano Alwyn Mellor, in recent years. I saw Paul perform many times over a great many years and he always brought that something ‘extra’ to everything he did, whether playing a small role or within the tenor ranks of the WNO chorus. He was the most modest, charming and gentlemany of people and hugely popular with his colleagues. Our hearts go out to his devoted wife Alwyn. RIP dear Paul.
This is such sad news. We all have to pass away sometime, but when it happens, and to someone in such a close community as WNO, (or CBSO as was the case with my dear Karen last year) it is even more poignant.
My heartfelt thoughts are with Alwyn, who I remember with great fondness as a rising star in the chorus of Opera North during its first ten years