British baritone Christopher Purves is renowned for his commanding stage presence and impeccable musicianship, captivating audiences worldwide throughout his illustrious career. Through his celebrated interpretations of a diverse and eclectic range of roles and repertoire, Purves is in great demand with many prestigious theatres around the world, working with orchestras, conductors and directors of the highest calibre.
Highlights of Purves’ 2024/25 season include his role debut as Wotan Das Rheingold at Opera de Monte-Carlo, the title role in Sweeney Todd for the Komische Oper Berlin, the title role in Falstaff with Hamburg State Opera and the title role in Saul at Glyndebourne. On the concert platform, Purves will perform Sir James Macmillan’s St John Passion with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Belshazzar’s Feast with The Bach Choir and Lucifer La Resurrezione with Les Arts Florissants.
He recently released the solo album My Soul, What Fear You? (King’s College Recordings, 2023) in collaboration with pianist Simon Lepper. His extensive discography also includes the title role in Le nozze di Figaro for Chandos; Messiah and Saul with Harry Christophers and The Sixteen; Donizetti Maria di Rohan and Ricci La Prigione di Edimburgo for Opera Rara; Written on Skin with George Benjamin and the Mahler Chamber Orchestra and Mozart Requiem with Stephen Cleobury and the Choir of King’s College, Cambridge. Early in 2018 Purves’ second volume of Handel’s Finest Arias for Base Voice was released on Hyperion with Arcangelo and Jonathan Cohen to great critical acclaim, following the huge success of his debut solo disc in 2012.
Christopher Purves started his musical life as a choral scholar at King’s College, Cambridge, and went on to become a member of experimental rock group Harvey and the Wallbangers.
