Wynne's world ranges from opera heroes, to Wales' answer to the New Zealand's rugby team's Haka, to the most famous tenor in advertising.
One of the busiest classical singers in Britain, Wynne Evans has an enviable combination of talents. His fine lyric tenor voice makes him a favourite for romantic leads including Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème, Alfredo in Verdi's La traviata and Nemorino in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, but he also shows a flair for comedy in roles such as Pedrillo in Mozart's The Abduction from the Seraglio.
Wynne's biggest audience is for his flamboyant moustachioed character Gio Compario, on TV screens across Britain in adverts for an insurance comparison website. He also sings to very large audiences with his many performances at rugby internationals at the Millennium Stadium. In 2007 he sang the national anthem at the Calzaghe/Manfredo boxing match, also at the Millennium Stadium and to a TV audience of 150 million.
He was born in Carmarthen, into a musical family - his mother, Elizabeth, set up the very successful Carmarthen Youth Opera and was instrumental in the saving the Lyric Theatre in the town. Wynne's brother Mark is also a singer, presenting together , a ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Radio Wales series in which they talk to other pairs of siblings who are in the same business.
Wynne studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the National Opera Studio before joining Welsh National Opera in 1997, where his first role was Liberto in David Alden's acclaimed production of Monteverdi's L'incoronazione di Poppea. He has appeared for the company in many leading roles since, as well as on all the major operatic stages in the UK.
In 2009, he made his debuts at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and at Glyndebourne. He appeared in Mark-Anthony Turnage's new hit opera, Anna Nicole, based on the life of Anna Nicole Smith, at the Royal Opera House in March 2011.
In 2011, he signed a six-album deal with Warners, and the first album, A Song In My Heart, reintroduces many Mario Lanza classics.
He also appears in concert on a regular basis, both with orchestras and in recital. Highlights include the Verdi Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall, Karl Jenkins' Mass for Peace - The Armed Man and Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music on the opening night of the 2001 ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ Proms.
Wynne lives in Cardiff with his family and is a trustee of the , established in 2005 in memory of his mother. The trust provides scholarships to support young people wanting to train in the performing arts. He is also an ambassador for St Johns Cymru Wales, and teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
