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Camden New Journal - by DAN CARRIER
Published: 29 November 2007

Dr James Dooley outside the Royal Free Hospital

Doctor mixes opera with endoscopies

Royal Free liver specialist records Tosti album

HE is a leading liver disease doctor whose work has benefited countless lives.
But now singing surgeon James Dooley, a consultant based at the Royal Free and University College Medical School, can add another string to his bow: he has moved from the operating theatre to the opera theatre to perform and record a CD of the works by the Italian composer Francesco Paolo Tosti.
Dr Dooley’s work covers not only looking after patients at the Free – he still performs endoscopies on the liver – but also supervising young doctors in training as director of one of the foundation schools in the North Thames area.
The CD came about after Dr Dooley was introduced to Antonio Piovano, a pianist, composer and conductor who has performed across Europe and works as a music academy director.
Dr Dooley said: “I went to see Antonio Piovano and while I was there I sang some Tosti songs with him. He liked what I did and he said to me: We must record them.”
Dr Dooley returned to Italy over the May bank holiday this year. He gave a concert in Rome with Piovano and then spent a gruelling 10 hours in a recording studio, laying down 15 tracks.
He said: “Tosti lived in England for 30 years and worked as singing teacher to Queen Victoria’s children. For some of this time he lived close to Finchley Road.”
Dr Dooley, who lives in Dartmouth Park, said he is quietly pleased with the results, although he admits he finds listening to his own voice difficult.
He said: “My Italian friends have said I have a way with these songs. I know them well and perhaps as Italian is not my native language I have to study the words carefully, which adds something. I love the sound of Italian and these songs are wonderful – they are like mini-dramas.”
Dr Dooley’s singing talent was spotted at an early age. At school his teachers gave him extra musical training after he was spotted in a singing competition. He has sung throughout his adult life, and although he finds it hard to practise regularly because of his job, he still performs the occasional concert for medical charities and studies with singing coaches when time allows.
He said: “I like a wide range of music, from opera and classical songs and lieder through to popular music like Cole Porter. And I have found it links well with medicine – a lot of medics are musicians. Every one has to have a hobby and music helps me relax after a days work.”
The CD, Life and Love in Song, is due to be sold at the Royal Free Friends shop in aid of the hospital’s charity.

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