A famous opera singer and an equally famous comedian helped determine Chris Elliott’s career choice, as the singer explains to DAVID WHETSTONE

TENOR Chris Elliott has sung in far-off places including Sri Lanka and Singapore but never in the North East, which he agrees seems odd for a former head chorister at Durham Cathedral who was born and brought up in Northumberland.

But he says he jumped at the chance to perform on Saturday at the North East Last Night of the Proms at Newcastle City Hall, following in some distinguished footsteps.

“I’ve had some friends who’ve done it but I’ve never been in town for it. I know there have been some big names who have taken part over the years so I’m chuffed to be doing it.”

Chris took an unconventional route to becoming a professional singer. A former headhunter, seeking the right people for top jobs, he attributes his career change to Pavarotti and Billy Connolly, unlikely as that might seem.

But first the background. Chris says he was born in Hexham but also lived in Haltwhistle and Fourstones. He became head chorister at Durham Cathedral and earned a music scholarship to Durham School.

“I was then the first person in the North East ever to get into the National Youth Choir of Great Britain,” he says with pride.

After graduating from Glasgow University with a degree in English, he fell into the headhunting business. “I’d always wanted to have singing as a part of my life but obviously you have to earn your living and pay the bills,” he explains.

That work took him to London and Sydney but despite its allure he knew it wasn’t what he really wanted to do in life.

He recalls a key moment in 1990 when he was in the car with his father.

“He was a great Radio 2 fan and I remember the DJ said, ‘I don’t normally play this kind of music but you have to listen to this. It’s the most extraordinary thing I’ve ever heard’.

“It was Pavarotti singing Nessun Dorma. My dad pulled over to the side of the A69 – not to be recommended – and turned the engine off. We sat there and listened, and at the end of it I said, ‘That’s what I want to do with my life’. My dad said, ‘That’s fine by me, son’.”

Chris recalls that his dad, David Elliott, who taught 3D design at Newcastle College, was rather upset when he went off to be a headhunter.

The fact that he has since passed away adds poignancy to the story and maybe strengthened Chris’s resolve to act – one day – on that memorable Pavarotti moment in Northumberland.

The second spur was provided, somewhat inadvertently, by the comedian Billy Connolly.

Chris says he was reading the book about him by his wife, Pamela Stephenson, and there was a passage relating to Billy’s early years in a Govan shipyard in Glasgow.

An older colleague asked him how his band was going and Billy replied that he was thinking of going professional in six months’ time. “The old man said, ‘But in six months’ time you’ll have another excuse and then another’. Billy handed in his notice straight away.”

The story struck home with Chris. He packed in the headhunting and went back to Glasgow to audition for the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, from where he subsequently graduated with glowing reports.

The postscript to the Connolly story is that Chris spotted him not so long ago, signing books in a Glasgow shopping centre. “I know it sounds cheesy as hell but I went up to say thank you. He put his arm around me and walked up the street with me. It was great. He took a real interest.”

Chris, who clearly has the attributes for his chosen career, says: “It’s a tough time in the arts at the moment and training to be an opera singer takes a long time.

“I’m at a reasonably early stage in my career and obviously everything is being cut back.

“But you have to make do with what you’ve got. I’ve had some interest in the States and I’ve also got a very well-known composer in America (Lorri Laitman) who has written a song cycle that I’m going to premiere in Italy next month.

“I don’t have any regrets at all about the career change.”

Chris will perform some popular arias at the Proms concert on Saturday and in the audience will be a large group of friends and relations, including mum Eileen who used to manage the folk group Hedgehog Pie.

Alongside Chris on stage will be another Proms newcomer and North Easterner, baritone Andrew Ashwin, who has sung operatic roles around the world.

Chris says: “I think he’s originally from Fenham but he moved to Haydon Bridge because his father was vicar there. He sang in the Hexham Abbey choir, took lessons and went professional. He’s now based in Leicestershire.”

It all augurs well for Saturday’s concert which will also feature Janice Cairns, Suzanne Manuell, Rachel Dyson, the English Philharmonic Orchestra and four North East choral groups. The proceeds will help to fund cancer research and patient care throughout the region.

Tickets cost from £14 to £28 (£2 off for concessions) from the City Hall box office: 0191 261 2606.

I know there have been some big names who have taken part over the years so I’m chuffed to be doing it