Ks. CHRISTOPHER ROBSON
Bayerischer Kammersänger
Countertenor
Christopher Robson was born in
He has worked with many of the world’s leading conductors and stage
directors, including Claudio Abbado, Gary Bertini, Sir Charles
Mackerras, Sir Roger Norrington, Nicklaus Harnoncourt, Gustav Leonhardt,
Zubin Mehta, Mark Elder, Ivor Bolton, Friedrich Haider, Alexander Joel,
Richard Hickox, Richard Jones, Nicholas Hytner, David Freeman, John
Copley, Willy Decker, Eike Gramms, Pierre Audi, David McVicar, Robert
Carsen, Leander Hausmann, Dominic Mentha, Peter Sellars, Diane Paulus,
David Alden and Martin Duncan. He has also appeared with the Berlin
Philharmonic, Vienna Symphony, Concerto Köln, English Chamber Orchestra,
Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, London
Philharmonic, BBC Philharmonic, Münchener Rundfunk and Academy of
St.Martin in the Fields orchestras at festivals in Perth, New York,
Rochester, Vienna, Salzburg, Munich, Berlin, Zurich, Geneva, London,
Barcelona, Madrid, Ravenna, Paris, Lyon, Athens, etc.
World Premieres have included the creation of the
Angel in John Tavener’s "APOCALYPSE", St Paul in
Tavener's "TOTAL ECLIPSE", Claire in John Lunn’s "THE MAIDS" (an
adaptation of Genet’s play of the same name written specially for
Christopher and his brother, the tenor Nigel Robson), Ometh in
John Casken’s "GOLEM", and the Refugee in Jonathan Dove’s "FLIGHT".
In concert he has also premiered new works by Xavier Dayer, John
Woolrich, Alfred Zimmerlin, Rene Clemencic, Hans-Jürgen von Bose and Hans Ulrich Lehmann.
Christopher Robson has broadcast extensively on radio and television ,
and his many recordings for Decca, Virgin, Chandos, Farao, EMI,
From 1994-2006 Christopher Robson was a principal guest artist with the
Bavarian State Opera (Bayerische Staatsoper) in Munich, taking part in
productions of Handel’s "GIULIO CESARE" (title role & Tolomeo),
"SERSE" (Arsamenes), "ARIODANTE" (Polinesso), RINALDO (Mago
Christiano), "RODELINDA" (Unulfo), Monteverdi's
"L’INCORONAZIONE DI POPPEA" (Arnalta) and Strauss's "DIE FLEDERMAUS"
(Orlofsky). In 2002 he played Baba the Turk in Martin Duncan's
new production of Stravinky’s "THE RAKE’S PROGRESS", and created a
plethora of roles in the World Premiere of Hans-Jürgen von Bose’s "KAFKA
PROJEKT 12/14" (an adaptation of “Metamorphoses” and letters by Kafka), a
“one-man” opera especially commissioned for him by the Bayerische
Staatsoper to open the 2002 Opernfestspiele. At the 2005 Opernfestspiele
he played the Sorceress in Andy Ammer's unique production of
Purcell's "DIDO & AENEAS" at the Prinzregententheater, and later that year
made his debut in
In 1999 with the Swiss pianist
Petra Ronner he instigated a series of annual recitals at the Munich
Opera Festival exploring the relationships between Old and New music,
bringing to many listeners ears the riches of Medieval dramatic monody
for the first time, as well as music of the Baroque & Modern eras. In
2004 he premiered a new music/theatre piece revolving around
Monteverdi's character Arianna, "CORPORALITA", in collaboration
with the director Martina Veh and choreographer & Butoh dancer Yvonne
Pouget, further strengthening his artistic ties with
In 1997 and 2002 Christopher Robson
was awarded the Opernfestspiel Preis (the only person ever to have
received the award twice in the history of the Munich Opera Festival),
and in 2003 was honoured by the Bavarian Minister for Arts & Culture
with the title of “Bayerischer Kammersänger” (Ks) in recognition of his
achievements at the Bayerische Staatsoper and his contribution generally
to music and the Arts in Munich & Bavaria.
His ties to
Christopher Robson’s engagements between 2009 and 2014
include: the role of Sir Thomas More/Raphael in the world
premiere of “UT-OP.er” (written for him by composer Alexander Strauch
and director Martina Veh) at the Dresden Semperoper; Trinculo in
the European premiere of Thomas Adés’s
“TEMPEST” with Frankfurt Oper (directed by Keith Warner); "Singer-Mephisto
Shadow" in a new production of Goethe's "FAUST" for the Badisches
Staatstheater Schauspielhaus in Karlsruhe (directed by Thomas Krupa); ;
a European tour of Purcell's "THE FAIRY QUEEN" with Philip Pickett and
the New London Consort; the world premiere at the Munich Gasteig of a
Music-Theatre piece called “GLENN GOULD vs GLENN GOULD”, a collaboration
with director Gert Pfafferodt, actor Danny Exnar, and the artist Bernd
Zimmer; the world premiere of Damon Albarn’s “DOCTOR DEE” in which
Christopher creates the role of
Edward Kelley at the Manchester International Festival and later at
the Coliseum for English National Opera; the world premiere of a new
Music-Theatre piece “PRESIDENT JEKYLL” by Christoph Reiserer and Martina
Veh at the Amerikahaus in Munich; return visits to the Frankfurt Oper
for a new production of Cavalli’s “LA CALISTO” (Satirino
& Furie) and a revival of Thomas Adés’s
“TEMPEST”.
SHORT ENGLISH BIOGRAPHY
Christopher Robson was born in
Since the early 1980’s Christopher Robson has appeared in operas and
concerts throughout the world, working with many of the opera and music
scene’s best conductors, musicians, and stage directors. He has created
many roles specially written for him in concert and on stage, championed
contemporary and new music for the countertenor voice as well as more
conventional repertoire, and has recorded extensively for radio and
television as well as for disc and DVD.
Christopher Robson’s engagements between 2009 and 2014
include: the role of Sir Thomas More/Raphael in the world
premiere of “UT-OP.er” (written for him by composer Alexander Strauch
and director Martina Veh) at the Dresden Semperoper; Trinculo in
the European premiere of Thomas Adés’s
“TEMPEST” with Frankfurt Oper (directed by Keith Warner); "Singer-Mephisto
Shadow" in a new production of Goethe's "FAUST" for the Badisches
Staatstheater Schauspielhaus in Karlsruhe (directed by Thomas Krupa); ;
a European tour of Purcell's "THE FAIRY QUEEN" with Philip Pickett and
the New London Consort; the world premiere at the Munich Gasteig of a
Music-Theatre piece called “GLENN GOULD vs GLENN GOULD”, a collaboration
with director Gert Pfafferodt, actor Danny Exnar, and the artist Bernd
Zimmer; the world premiere of Damon Albarn’s “DOCTOR DEE” in which
Christopher creates the role of
Edward Kelley at the Manchester International Festival and later at
the Coliseum for English National Opera; the world premiere of a new
Music-Theatre piece “PRESIDENT JEKYLL” by Christoph Reiserer and Martina
Veh at the Amerikahaus in Munich; return visits to the Frankfurt Oper
for a new production of Cavalli’s “LA CALISTO” (Satirino
& Furie) and a revival of Thomas Adés’s
“TEMPEST”.
SHORT GERMAN BIOGRAPHY
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