Byre Opera / Umsagnir

"...the many-coloured facets of Mr Pike’s voice were heard to great effect, especially in the first and third songs, and it was great to hear a proper operatic voice singing these marvellous songs, too often the domain of British choral tradition baritones. Having sung a lot in Canada myself, I can attest to the great variety of baritones coming out of that vast country, from Gerald Finley to Joshua Hopkins (who Edinburgh audiences will hear as Olivier in ‘Capriccio’ at this year’s International Festival), and David John Pike is a worthy addition to that list. A tall man, with impressive stage presence, he dominated proceedings throughout the evening, and it was only a pity that so few were there to hear him! Aisling O’Dea, Clea Friend and James Wright played their part in a delightful concert, and their encore of Beethoven’s setting of ‘Bonnie Laddie, Hielan’ Laddie with Mr Pike making a heroic stab at the Scots pronunciation, was very well received."