About the Director

Musical director Michael Law was born in Tanganyka, East Africa, where his father was a judge. Donated a wind-up gramophone and stacks of 78rpm records, Michael spent his childhood incogruously listening to the music of the 1920's and 1930's, while the rest of the world twisted and shouted to the Beatles. Educated at King's Canterbury, Gonville and Caius College, Cambridge and the Royal College of Music, Michael always followed his passion for the film and theatre music of the jazz flavoured "Art Deco" era.

Encouraged by Alan S. Bennett, Michael Law has developed as a solo Cabaret Artist. He has performed on the QE2 (six times since 1995), at Pizza On The Park, the Purcell Room, Regent's Park Open Air Theatre late night cabaret and a tour with Sheridan Morley of the Far East which included performances at Raffles Hotel in Singapore and the Bangkok Oriental. Michael was invited to perform Mad Dogs And Englishmen live on Channel 5 for Sir John Mill's Birthday in April 2000 and performed Coward songs for Radio 2's "Blithe Spirit - A Centenary Celebration of Sir Noël Coward" in 1999. He accompanied Judy Campbell in A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square for the BBC's Esther programme. Michael can be heard as a solo artist on The Piccadilly Dance Orchestra's album A Marvellous Party, as well as on his CD with Sheridan Morley, recorded "live" at London's celebrated cabaret venue, Pizza on The Park.

 

MICHAEL LAW - REVIEWS

 

 

 

 

(Noel Coward’s) “songs were all flawlessly performed by singer-pianist

Michael Law”

London Evening Standard

 

“Michael Law is a singer and pianist with a deep understanding of the

Music of the 1920s and 30s, from Cole to Noel, Gershwin to Kern"

Sheridan Morley

 

“Wonderful diction and sophistication - the quintessence of Coward"

Windsor Observer

 

"… better than the original"

Russell Davies, on BBC Radio 2

 

"the highest ratings of any performer - a tremendous

success with the passengers"

Cruise Director, Caronia (Cunard). August 2004

 

“Your CD is marvellous – you sound a dream -

so precisely and charmingly sung.”

Steve Ross

 

“…even Noël Coward would have joined the ovation for Nina (from Argentina ) .”

The Stage

 

“We cannot recommend this artist highly enough, for straightforward verbal clarity without histrionics, pleasing vocal quality brought to bear in the "singer's" songs, and neatly stylish self-accompaniments.”

Noel Coward Society Web Site

 

"I had high hopes for this show, and it surpassed all my expectations - an extraordinarily polished and enjoyable evening."
Bournemouth Echo

“…this particular show would have been nothing without Michael Law. Coward wrote 400 songs and it was Michael's impeccable interpretations which brought these songs to life. With wonderful diction and sophistication, Michael is the quintessence of Coward; it's not surprising that on Radio 2 recently Russell Davies said he sang 'Nina from Argentina ' better than the original!” Windsor and Maidenhead Observer

“Pianist / vocalist Michael Law provided class and talent” The Kentish Gazette

“Musical director and soloist, Michael Law, trained as a baritone opera singer but it was obvious from his interpretations of music and lyrics that he is completely at one with the composers of the 1930's. His superbly mellow voice and seemingly effortless style, reminiscent of Astaire, was ideally suited to the material. As was the voice of elegant, vivacious Helen Goldwyn, who delighted the audience with her excellent solos. The two soloists sang together in perfect harmony for duets which they performed with sophistication and panache; their lyrical phrasing exploring the nuances of each song. The Lowestoft Journal

(Michael Law’s) “musical fluency and masterly interpretation of Noel Coward's humorous lyrics brought a freshness to familiar songs such as Don't Put Your Daughter on the Stage, Mrs Worthington which had the audience laughing out loud. Other less familiar and slightly 'shocking' songs by Tom Lehrer contrasted with the sometimes sad lyrics of Novello and Gershwin and the more serious side of Coward in songs such as London Pride and Someday I'll Find You , all performed with great sensitivity.”

The Kentish Gazette

“Michael adds that note of class and fun that makes the QE2 magic happen” Mary Thomas , Manager of Enrichment Programs, Cunard Line

 

 

REVIEW from “Newbury Today”. May 7 th 2006

Michael Law in “Cocktails and Laughter”

at The Corn Exchange, Newbury

for Newbury Spring Festival

 

Singer /pianist Michael Law was advised by Judy Campbell not to imitate Noel Coward, though there was inevitably a faint echo of the master in Sunday’s performance. Nevertheless, Michael Law is a man with his own style and a creamy voice which caressed the words of Poor Little Rich Girl , turned in a husky, eyebrow-raising version of Mad About The Boy and gave a fillip to Miss Worthington’s theatrical ambitions and the glorious Bar on the Piccola Marina – all Coward songs which will last as long as people have ears.

 

But this was not only a Coward evening and among the others, that wizard word-manipulator Cole Porter was well represented. Michael Law interspersed the songs with anecdotes and we heard that Porter, from a wealthy background, had to wait until he was 34 before his first hit, Let’s Do It , although it is Michael’s singing of Porter’s heart-rending Miss Otis Regrets which remains in my head.

 

Songs poured on from “those who wrote the songs that make the whole world sing” and the spiky humour of Tom Lehrer’s Vatican Rag (“ Ave Maria! Gee it’s good to see ya! ”) contrasted well with numbers like Maschwitz and Sherwin’s story of that Nightingale singing in Berkeley Square .

 

In an ideal world, this was a performance which deserved a more intimate venue. Nevertheless, the excellent Mr Law and those nostalgically glorious songs overcame it.

 

 

Review from the Kentish Gazette (June 2005)