About us

This website was born in 2005 from frustration with the lack of a truly comprehensive and up-to-date source of information about Simon Keenlyside's schedule, his recordings and his performances. It no doubt also reflects our scientific backgrounds (Janet has PhD in plant biochemistry, Jane a PhD in physics) i.e. we feel the need to categorize and understand. In 2007, elated by the popularity of this site, we launched a sister site, www.geraldfinley.info. We are both married and both live in the London area.

Dr Janet Woodall and Dr Jane Garratt

We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the many people who have contributed to the site by sending us information and photographs, translating articles and writing reviews. We would particularly like to thank Ursula Turecek for her help and her marvellous translations. We are also greatly indebted to Justin Nye of GrippleSpider (www.gripplespider.com) for all of the advice and help he gave us in setting up this website.

If you would like to contact us with information, comments or corrections, or if you could help with translations or write a review, please email webmaster@simonkeenlyside.info

 

 

Site stats

654,320 page hits since first going online on 11 June 2005

from 77 different countries

Last updated 10 March 2008

 

Guestbook

If you would like to send us a message that will be posted online, please email guestbook@simonkeenlyside.info

Although it would be good to include your name and location (city/state/county/country) this is entirely optional. Just send us exactly what you want to appear online. Your email address will not be posted.

All emails will be monitored and may be edited before going online

Photo courtesy of Gesine Menardi

 

 

9 March 2008

 

I had the great honour of seeing Simon's wonderous performance in Die Zauberflote in February at Covent Garden.  Blissful, magical, emotionally powerful and utterly compelling.  I shall never forget it.  He was Papageno personified.

Deborah


 

 

 Message left on Guestbook, 9 December 2007

 

Do people think that Simon is a worthy candidate to be added to the
site www.barihunks.blogspot.com?

 


 

I have recently discovered you tube. I have been a devotee of opera for more years than I wish to recall, but Dmitri, Tom Hampson, Terfel and the rest of the overly dramatic baritones that sing with a closed and contrived throat, cannot compare with the Brit who swaggers, smiles, and sings with an ease of delightful arrogance, much like Gable in GWTW. 

Now that Lucianno has passed, I shall follow Simon into his deserved  place  where he  steals away the strident sounds of tenors and replaces them with a soft sound, an ease that does not strain to sing notes that are foreign to the voice. The Bel Canto composers invented the high C. It succeeds in only shattering my sun glasses. Simon is the down hill and shady voice of the future that I hope steers the listener from the tenor and back to the everyman.

Phil Langworthy  


 

 

 

Hi!

After watching the videos of Simon Keenlyside on youtube, I’ve become one of his admirers. I  am impressed by not only his voice, but also his acting ability. I hope one day we can see him on the stages in Turkey.

Sehnaz Kazokoglu (Ankara, Turkey)


 

 

You've done a good job with your site on Keenlyside, he's one of my
favourite performers. I most recently heard him singing Britten in
 Edinburgh - before that I saw his wonderful BILLY BUDD at the Coliseum.
Dr. Jane Ennis
http://members.fortunecity.co.uk/leonora/billybudd.html

 

 
Hi Janet and Jane,
 
Thank you very much again for your wonderful work!
 
This Lieder index's really useful function. I already checked some songs! : ) 
It's easy to use and links to each recital page are just perfect!
I can hardly wait to see 'aria version'.
 
I'm also happy to hear that Mr Keenlyside will produce an opera aria CD
within this year. To be honest, this is one of the last things I expected to
listen to! I wonder which arias he choose...possibly including Onegin or
Germont?
 
Sami
Japan


 

Dear Janet and Jane,

Thank you so much for linking my blog to your wonderful website.


I was very surprised that I found my blog's URL on the Link Page the other day! I'm sorry I can't send my thanks to you sooner.


I'm an opera beginner who was fascinated by Mr. Keenlyside's performances in Tannhauser and Don Giovanni in Tokyo last year.


Since that time, "simonkeenlyside.info" has been my most important website. I would like to convey the respect and gratitude for your excellent works on this site.

Belle de nuit ( Japan)


Hi Janet and Jane,
 
Thank you very much for linking my blog to your wonderful site! I'm absolutely delighted, because I always use your performance page when I introduce any of Mr Keenlyside's performances on my blog.  
 
Please keep on expanding information about Mr Keenlyside. I'll check 'What's New' page everyday! 
 
Love
 
Sardanapalus
 


Hello! Janet and Jane

I was very much pleased that you had kindly proposed to link my site. It is my honour and I have no word to express my feelings.
 
Your site is wonderful and Mr.Keenlyside must be very proud to have such a detailed and affectionate site.

And to Francis, I am the one you've met in Paris last January. How nice it is to be able to talk you again on this guest book. Thank you for your all kindness to the woman from the Far-East.

It was written in the official site of Walt Disney Concert Hall that Mr.Keenlyside will return to Vienna Staatsoper to perform Eugene Onegin. I don't know when it will be, but if it is true, it would be so delightful.

Sheva (Japan)

http://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/syeva/


 

Dear Janet and Jane

The SK.info  website is really well organised, easy to use and beautifully  illustrated with so many rare photos. As well as being a definitive source of  information regarding Simon Keenlyside’s current and future performances, it is also a fascinating and comprehensive archive of Mr Keenlyside’s career so far.

Thank you for all your hard work on my favourite website – I don’t know what I’d do without it!

Gwyn   ( Kent, UK)

 

Dear Jane and Janet,

Thousand thanks, once again, for the fantastic work you made - and make - on your Simon Keenlyside's website, the most beautiful, clear and complete site dedicated to an artist I have ever seen. Thanks to you, I know actually much better this fascinating and likable personality. And also where to go to have the happiness to see (and hear) him on a stage!

It would be very surprising that Mr Keenlyside doesn't know the existence of your site, and I'm sure he is very proud to have supporters like you!

Sorry, as usual, for my poor english, and kind regards,

Francis DENIS (Brussels)

 

Dear Janet and Jane,

An informative web site that shows your true enthusiasm and dedication. Keep up the excellent work.

John, London 

 

 

Dear Janet and Jane,

 

Thank you for providing such a useful and comprehensive source of information about Simon Keenlyside and his career.   For anyone who is seeking straightforward and unopinionated facts, this is the place to be.

 

Best wishes,

Lucy Turner


Hi Janet, Hi Jane,

The initiation of the guestbook is great - so the "lot" of SK-Fans who appreciate your idea of establishing a website for him have the possibility to thank you for your quantity of work, congratulate you on the way you organize it and encourage you to go on!

"Bitte, weiter so!" or on english "please, keep at it!"

 Petra Habeth
Munich, Germany


I was flattered that you put a link on www.forum-dansomanie.net, a website that
I administrate.

Since comments about the Winterreise performances at the Palais Garnier were often not positive, I found your attitude extremely fair and courageous, and therefore deserves greatest respect.

Usually, only laudative comments are mentioned on websites, and I consider that accepting also critisism is a remakable proof of intellectual honesty and artistic maturity.

Your's sincerly

"Haydn"
www.dansomanie.net

www.forum-dansomanie.net

 

 

Hi Janet and Jane,

Congratulations once more to your wonderful idea of setting up the website and thank you so much for the huge amount of work you are doing to keep everybody informed. You clearly filled a huge hole with this source of information and especially the way you make informations accessible is invaluable. THANK YOU !

Uschi (Vienna)