THE D'OYLY CARTE OPERA COMPANY

Glyn Hale

Glyn Hale (a.m.d., 1974-76)

[Born Oakdale, Monmouthshire, South Wales 1940, died 8 Dec 2023]

Glyn Hale began his musical career at an early age, working as choir accompanist and pianist in a dance band while still in school. After winning a scholarship to the Guildhall School of Music, he became a freelance musician, working in small theatres, hotels, and concert halls. There followed work as a musician on the Cunard liners Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, then three years in television for BBC and ITV, during which he recorded over 500 programs. During this time he wrote music for such series as Detective, The Jazz Age, and Nicholas Nickelby.

Throughout this period he continued to work in theatre and cabaret, making his first of many London conducting appearances as musical director at the London Palladium for the comedy act Mike & Bernie Winters. Some West End shows he directed included The Boy Friend (Comedy), The Changeling (Aldwych), "A Patriot for Me" (Haymarket), and Aladdin (Shaftesbury). In the early 1970s he toured America as musical director for The Bee Gees.

Hale then joined the D'Oyly Carte Opera Company, serving as assistant musical director from April 1974 to July 1976. While with the Company he married D'Oyly Carte chorister Gillian Burrows.

After leaving the D'Oyly Carte, Hale spent three years as musical supervisor for a company producing pantomimes. He then resumed touring again with such artists as Tommy Steele, Frankie Howerd, Mike Yarwood, and Gladys Knight and the Pips, and served for a while as musical director for Combined Services Entertainment. He returned to London as assistant musical director and, later, musical director for the Drury Lane production of 42nd Street.

For further details on his life and career, see his web site at halefamily.net/glyn.

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