Christopher Richardson

bass-baritone

“Christopher Richardson….. his rich bass baritone a secure anchor…strong and sonorous for solos such as the Tuba mirum….. he gave a commanding performance”

- Heather Leviston, Classic Melbourne

Sydney-based Christopher Richardson studied piano at the Tasmanian Conservatorium of Music, before graduating with a Bachelor of Music majoring in Classical Vocal Performance. He received ‘The Frances MacEachron Award for Outstanding Vocal Achievement’ at The Oratorio Society of New York’s Solo Competition at Carnegie Hall.

His 2022-2023 engagements included Manoah (Samson), Haydn’s Nelson Mass and Bach’s Christmas Oratorio for Sydney Philharmonia, Messiah for the Melbourne Symphony, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 for the Adelaide Symphony, Haydn’s The Seasons for Victoria Chorale, Bach’s St. Matthew Passion for St. David’s Cathedral, Hobart and a major recital at the Blackheath Chamber Music Festival.

Christopher returns to Sydney Philharmonia and the Queensland and Tasmanian Symphonies in 2024 for Messiah, to the TSO in Mozart’s Requiem and to the MSO as Christus in St. John’s Passion.

Other recent concert engagements include those with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra in J.S. Bach’s Magnificat; the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra (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 J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion; and with the Sydney Philharmonia Choirs (Handel’s Israel In Egypt and J.S. Bach’s St Matthew Passion). 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 (Jephtha) with Handel in the Theatre, Canberra.

For Pinchgut Opera, he has sung Thoas (Iphigénie en Tauride) and Idreno (Armida). Christopher has premiered many new works by Australian composers, including Barry Conyngham’s, The Apology of Bony Anderson at the Melbourne Recital Centre, KURSK: An Oratorio Requiem by David Chisholm at The Melbourne Festival, Constantine Koukias’ Tesla - Lightning in his Hand and Christopher Bowen’s An Australian Requiem.

Recent appearances include his debut with Sydney Symphony in the role of Mr. Swallow (Peter Grimes) and The Enchanted Island (10 Days on the Island Festival, Tasmania); Christopher also features on a CD of Calvin Bowman art songs Real and Right and True released on the Decca label, in 2018.

Representation: Worldwide

Christopher’s Personal Site