GREGORY Moore has worn a Royal Stewart tartan kilt for nearly half his life despite the fact he has no immediate Scottish heritage,
The Brisbane tenor, who celebrated his 40th birthday this month while performing with male pop opera trio La Forza onboard cruise ship Golden Princess, joined production Scotland the Brave as an original cast member in 1998 while in his final year at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.
He has been singing whenever the show has toured since, including concerts in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and at New York’s Lincoln Centre.
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READ NOW“It’s been seven years since we’ve last done the show and we just came back together,” Moore said.
“It was like riding a bike and felt like no time has passed at all.
“I’m very protective of the role and because I’ve been involved since the beginning, I’d feel very strange if I wasn’t in it.”
Conducted by Sean O’Boyle, the performances at Perth Concert Hall on July 22 will feature Moore, soprano Cheryl Barker and Celtic fiddler Marcus Holden with the WA Police Pipe Band, the Scottish Highland Dance Academy, the Phillips Chorale and a purpose-formed orchestra.
Moore said audiences could expect a big finale with the cast of more than 100 and a set list that included Amazing Grace, Auld Lang Syne, The Gael, Ye Banks and Braes and one of his personal favourites, Sailboat, written by O’Boyle.
“I’m just drawn to the music and the style of that music suits my voice,” he said.
“They’re such classic tunes and there’s something stirring about the bagpipes. Music can take people on a journey that brings up fond memories of their homeland or other family members but I think the power of Scottish music does that even better.”
Moore, who is also a singing teacher, said the 1998 show was the first time he had donned a kilt and the choice of tartan came from necessity.
“I wear the Royal Stewart tartan because at the time it was the only one that fit from the company we were hiring from; I was only 21, so a little bit slimmer than I am now,” he said.
“And when I decided to buy my own kilt, I continued with the Royal Stewart because it looked so great on stage.”
THE ESSENTIALS
What: Scotland the Brave
Where: Perth Concert Hall
When: 2pm and 8pm, July 22
Tickets: www.perthconcerthall.com.au
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