Daniel Koek at the Royal Albert Hall

Australian-born Daniel Koek moved to London in 2004, and over the past ten years, thanks to a strong personality and powerful will, managed to become the longest-serving and youngest Jean Valjean in the world-famous, award-winning musical Les Misérables. Because of this strength and his unique voice, Koek is firmly established as one of musical theatre’s leading men, with an important catalogue of roles to his name (West Side Story, Jason and the Argonauts, My Fair Lady, Saturday Night Fever, among others). His experience makes him one of the most famous and beloved theatre artists in the whole of the UK, as has been seen during his sell-out solo concerts throughout the country.

At the Royal Albert Hall, in the elegant and cosy Elgar room, a special venue for more intimate and sophisticated gigs, Koek presented his brand new record, filled with songs from his previous musical role. Followed up by the pianist and musical director Andrew Corcoran, bassist Daniel Humphreys, drummer Oliver Boorman and guitarist Chris Gardener, Koek showed a terrific personality and a bright musical voice. Joined also by fellow singers Jonathan Ansell, Caoimhe Ballard, Charlotte Jaconelli, Na-Young Jeon and by his relative and guitarist Sam Brittain, Koek sang extracts from The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables and other popular musicals he’s played in. Koek has a bright sense of humour, entertaining with jokes and funny anecdotes about his life and career: the part in which he told the audience about his beginnings in London, his first shows and his neighbourhood particularly funny.

The atmosphere of the gig was absolutely adorable, like a dream you don’t want to be waken up from – thanks also to a delicious champagne provided by the venue. The tremendous voice of Daniel Koek was the soundtrack to this romantic and nebulous dream.

Lorenzo Cibrario
Photos: Andrei Grosu

For further information and future events visit Daniel Koek’s website here.

Watch the video for Bring Him Home here: