Biography
Sydney-based lyric bass-baritone Christopher Richardson has received critical acclaim for his fine vocal timbre and delivery in performances of oratorio, concert repertoire, art song and opera..
He has been an awarded finalist in the Oratorio Society of New York's Solo Competition held at Carnegie Hall, receiving the 2018 Frances MacEachron Award for vocal excellence and attaining the highest ranking of any baritone or bass voice in the competition that year.
Christopher is a featured solo artist on a landmark recording of Art Songs by Australian composer Calvin Bowman (entitled 'Real and Right and True'), which has been released commercially worldwide by Universal Music Australia under the Decca label.
An accomplished pianist and cellist prior to studying voice, he is a graduate of the University of Tasmania, the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School, and works under the tutelage of Guildhall School of Music Principal Study Professor Robert Dean.
Christopher has appeared as a featured bass baritone soloist on the concert platform with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in Bach’s Magnificat; the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes in Concert, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven's Symphony No 9, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Mozart’s Mass in C, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s Requiem; the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in Bach’s St Matthew Passion; and with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs in Handel’s Messiah, Israel In Egypt, Coronation Anthems, Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
On the Opera stage, he has appeared with Pinchgut Opera, as Thoas (Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride), and as Idreno in Haydn’s Armida. Also, in an initiative between Opera Queensland and DanceNorth, he sang the featured bass role in Abandon (Handel arr. Crabb) which premiered in Townsville at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in 2013, and then featured at the Brisbane World Theatre Festival in 2014.
Christopher has also frequently appeared as concert soloist with Bach Akademie Australia, The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, FOV - Festival of Voices, Ten Days On The Island, The Perth Symphonic Chorus, The Song Company, The Victoria Chorale, The Choir of St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney, The Choir of St James’ King Street, Sydney, The Choir of Christ Church St Laurence, The Sydney University Graduate Choir, Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, The Llewellyn Choir (Canberra), Central Coast Chorale, and Newcastle University Choir. Christopher has also appeared in various staged productions of Handel’s Oratorios, performing the role of Ptolemy in Alexander Balus, and the title role in Hercules, with the Canberra Choral Society; and the role of Zebul in 'The Vow' (Jephtha) with Handel in the Theatre, Canberra.
He has premiered many new works by Australian composers, including Barry Conyngham’s, The Apology of Bony Anderson with Syzygy Ensemble at the Melbourne Recital Centre; KURSK: An Oratorio Requiem by David Chisholm with Melbourne’s Arcko Symphonic Project at the Melbourne Festival; and in the world premieres of Constantine Koukias’ Tesla - Lightning in his Hand and Christopher Bowen’s An Australian Requiem.
Recent performance hi lights include appearing as bass soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Manoa in Handel’s Samson, and the and Pater Profundus in Mahler Symphony No 8 ('Symphony of a Thousand'), as part of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' 2023 season at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Christopher was also a featured artist in the 2023 Blackheath Chamber Music Festival featuring in the world premiere performance of Justin Williams’ Three Pieces for String Quartet and Voice, as well as a program of Art Song with concert pianist Simon Tedeschi.
Forthcoming engagements include performing the role of the role of Christus in Bach’s St John Passion with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah with both Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and bass soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Mozart's Requiem with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
He has been an awarded finalist in the Oratorio Society of New York's Solo Competition held at Carnegie Hall, receiving the 2018 Frances MacEachron Award for vocal excellence and attaining the highest ranking of any baritone or bass voice in the competition that year.
Christopher is a featured solo artist on a landmark recording of Art Songs by Australian composer Calvin Bowman (entitled 'Real and Right and True'), which has been released commercially worldwide by Universal Music Australia under the Decca label.
An accomplished pianist and cellist prior to studying voice, he is a graduate of the University of Tasmania, the Lisa Gasteen National Opera School, and works under the tutelage of Guildhall School of Music Principal Study Professor Robert Dean.
Christopher has appeared as a featured bass baritone soloist on the concert platform with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in Bach’s Magnificat; the Sydney Symphony Orchestra in Benjamin Britten’s Peter Grimes in Concert, the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra in Beethoven's Symphony No 9, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra in Handel’s Messiah, Mozart’s Requiem and Mozart’s Mass in C, the Queensland Symphony Orchestra in Mozart’s Requiem; the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in Bach’s St Matthew Passion; and with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs in Handel’s Messiah, Israel In Egypt, Coronation Anthems, Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Bach’s St Matthew Passion.
On the Opera stage, he has appeared with Pinchgut Opera, as Thoas (Gluck’s Iphigénie en Tauride), and as Idreno in Haydn’s Armida. Also, in an initiative between Opera Queensland and DanceNorth, he sang the featured bass role in Abandon (Handel arr. Crabb) which premiered in Townsville at the Australian Festival of Chamber Music in 2013, and then featured at the Brisbane World Theatre Festival in 2014.
Christopher has also frequently appeared as concert soloist with Bach Akademie Australia, The Royal Melbourne Philharmonic Choir and Orchestra, FOV - Festival of Voices, Ten Days On The Island, The Perth Symphonic Chorus, The Song Company, The Victoria Chorale, The Choir of St Andrew’s Cathedral Sydney, The Choir of St James’ King Street, Sydney, The Choir of Christ Church St Laurence, The Sydney University Graduate Choir, Willoughby Symphony Orchestra, The Llewellyn Choir (Canberra), Central Coast Chorale, and Newcastle University Choir. Christopher has also appeared in various staged productions of Handel’s Oratorios, performing the role of Ptolemy in Alexander Balus, and the title role in Hercules, with the Canberra Choral Society; and the role of Zebul in 'The Vow' (Jephtha) with Handel in the Theatre, Canberra.
He has premiered many new works by Australian composers, including Barry Conyngham’s, The Apology of Bony Anderson with Syzygy Ensemble at the Melbourne Recital Centre; KURSK: An Oratorio Requiem by David Chisholm with Melbourne’s Arcko Symphonic Project at the Melbourne Festival; and in the world premieres of Constantine Koukias’ Tesla - Lightning in his Hand and Christopher Bowen’s An Australian Requiem.
Recent performance hi lights include appearing as bass soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio, Manoa in Handel’s Samson, and the and Pater Profundus in Mahler Symphony No 8 ('Symphony of a Thousand'), as part of the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs' 2023 season at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Christopher was also a featured artist in the 2023 Blackheath Chamber Music Festival featuring in the world premiere performance of Justin Williams’ Three Pieces for String Quartet and Voice, as well as a program of Art Song with concert pianist Simon Tedeschi.
Forthcoming engagements include performing the role of the role of Christus in Bach’s St John Passion with Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, bass soloist in Handel’s Messiah with both Queensland Symphony Orchestra and Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, and bass soloist in Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Mozart's Requiem with the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra.
This biography is for general information purposes only and not for publication.
Christopher Richardson is represented by Patrick Togher Artist Management
Please contact Patrick Togher Artist Management for an up-to-date biography to suit your needs.
Christopher Richardson is represented by Patrick Togher Artist Management
Please contact Patrick Togher Artist Management for an up-to-date biography to suit your needs.