Christopher Turner - Tenor
Born in Birmingham, Christopher Turner read Music at the University of Hull, furthering his studies with Barbara Robotham at the Royal Northern College of Music and at the National Opera Studio, where he was sponsored by the Scottish Endowment Trust and The Friends of Covent Garden. He now continues his studies with Philip Doghan.
He has received many prizes, including The Michael and Joyce Kennedy Prize for Singing Strauss, The Frederic Cox Prize, the Elizabeth Harwood Prize, and, most recently, a Countess of Munster ‘Young Star’ Award and the Sybil Tutton Award from the Musicians Benevolent Fund. He was also a major scholar of the Sir Peter Moores’ Foundation.
At the RNCM, his roles included Prunier La rondine, Don Ramiro La cenerentola andSellem The Rake’s Progress, and he made his professional début as Dr Blind Die Fledermaus for Scottish Opera On Tour. He also sang RemendadoCarmen for Longborough Festival Opera and his recordings include Aubrey Maria di Rohan andKeeper of the Tower of Siena Pia de Tolomei for Opera Rara.
He sings regularly in concert, his repertoire including J. S. Bach Christmas Oratorio, Magnificat and St Matthew Passion, Beethoven Symphony No. 9, Handel Jephtha, Judas Maccabaeus, and Messiah, Haydn The Creation, Mozart Requiem and RossiniPetite Messe Solennelle. His performances have taken him throughout the UK, also to Europe and the Far East.
Currently, Christopher Turner is a member of the Young Singers Programme at English National Opera, where his roles have included Robert Wilson Dr Atomic, First Armed Man / First Priest The Magic Flute, Beppe Pagliacci, Simpleton Boris Godunov, Spoletta Tosca, Pong Turandot and Messenger Aida.
During 2010 / 2011, he will sing Janek The Makropulos Case and Esquire Parsifal for English National Opera and Borsa in Rigoletto for Scottish Opera.