For the record, I have done over 1050 performances of the part in Sydney, Brisbane and London and worked with 12 different Carlottas (including understudies).
April 1994: Opening Night Reception after the Australian Opera's "Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg" in Melbourne. I had sung many roles for the AO over the past five years but this was to be my last for some time. I bump into an old friend who is co-ordinating the annual auditions for Phantom- "have you ever thought of singing for Piangi? He needs a good top C eight times a week!" Within a few days, I had sung and been signed.
May 1994: My first performance. Heavy costumes, many quick changes, a fat suit underneath to add glamour, and Top Cs, C#s, Bs and Bbs galore! Oh yes, and "please try to look less uncomfortable as you climb the elephant, Paddy".
The first three months were going to prove the hardest.
August 1995: Sixteen months and nearly 500 performances later (my only break being a five week stint in New Zealand to sing "Turandot")- I'm still here and so is the elephant. May I offer you a few statistical observations?
Patrick Togher graduated from the University of Sydney in Law and Economics and since then has built up an impressive list of credentials with Australia's leading performing companies.
He toured with the Victoria State Opera's highly successful Pirates of Penzance and subsequently performed the role of Ralph Rackstraw in their production of HMS Pinafore.
In 1988 Patrick Togher accepted a position as Young Artist with the then Lyric Opera of Queensland (now Opera Queensland) singing Remendado in Carmen, Pedrillo in The Abduction from the Seraglio, Francesco in The Gondoliers, and the Fourth Jew in Salome. Later in 1988 he became a founding member of the Sydney Metropolitan Opera Company, singing the role of Doctor Zuppamarron in The Remedy to wide acclaim. This was followed by performances as Pang in the Warringah Symphony's concert production of Turandot with Rita Hunter.
Returning from New Zealand, after singing the role of Count Boni in The Gypsy Princess for Dunedin Opera Company, Mr. Togher made his debut with the Australian Opera in 1990 singing in Tristan und Isolde and Lulu, both with with Sydney Symphony Orchestra under Stuart Challender. He also appeared that year in the National Opera Workshop production of Damscus as Old Harry.
His association with the Australian Opera ontinued with performances of Valzacchi in Der Rosenkavalier, Monostatos in Die Zauberflote, the Strolling Player/American Tourist in Death in Venice the Sailor/Shepard in Tristan und Isolde, Spoletta in Tosca, Trabuco in La Forza del Destino, Mendel in Fiddler on the Roof. During 1993 Patrick added Zorn in Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg and Lucano in L'Incoronazione di Poppea to his repertoire.
Concert appearances include Handel Messiah, Acis and Galatea; Hayden Creation, Nelson Mass, Mendelssohn Elijah, Bach St. John Passion, Carl Orff Catulli Carmina, Beethovan Ninth Symphony, the Australian premiere of Matinu Mikesh from the Hills, ABC Family Concerts, Kodaly Psalmus Hungaricus with the Sydney University Musical Society, Rachmaniov The Bells with the Sydney Youth Orchestra, Mozart Requiem with the Sydney Philharmonia.
Patrick Togher appeared as Hunter in concert performances of Dvorak Rusalka, Flute in A Midsummer Night's Dream by Benjamin Britten and Isaac in the World Premiere season of Larry Sitsky's opera, The Golem with the Australian Opera.
In 1994, Patrick Togher was invited to join the Phantom of the Opera company singing the role of Piangi in Sydney, and travelled to Brisbane for further performances. Last year he returned briefly to The Australian OPera (now Opera Australia) to sing the role of Pong in Turandot during their 1996 Adelaide and Brisbane Seasons.
Patrick Togher made his London West End debut singing Piangi in Phantom of the Opera on April 21, 1997.
Patrick Togher Artists' Management, Patrick's new enterprise.
