Christopher Purves

English baritone Christopher Purves was born in Cambridge and studied English at King’s College, Cambridge. He made his Royal Opera debut in 2007 as Marco (Gianni Schicchi) and has since returned to sing Beckmesser (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg) and the Protector (Written on Skin), a role he also created. Recent highlights include The Father-in-Law (Innocence) for ROH, the title role of Falstaff for the Aix-en-Provence Festival and Opéra National de Lyon and Handel’s Messiah for the latter; Alberich (Das Rheingold, Siegfried) for Zurich Opera; Balstrode (Peter Grimes) for Teatro Real, Madrid; the title role of Saul for Théâtre du Châtelet and Houston Grand Opera; Méphistophélès (La Damnation de Faust) and Golaud (Pelléas et Mélisande) for Glyndebourne Festival; and Creon (Ensecu Oedipe) for Dutch National Opera. His extensive work in contemporary opera includes creating the role of Walt Disney (Glass’s The Perfect American) and MacMillan’s The Sacrifice, Inés de Castro and Parthenogenesis. Plans include Götterdämmerung in Zurich, The Cunning Little Vixen for Canadian Opera Company and Saul for Royal Danish Theatre.