Christopher Ventris portrait by Matthias Baus

©Photo: Matthias Baus

Christopher Ventris

Tenor

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“Christopher Ventris produces a fresh, blossoming tenor, a Siegmund at the height of his vocal powers.”
(Die Presse)

Renowned British tenor Christopher Ventris has been strongly associated with the major Heldentenor repertoire across a career that has now spanned over three decades and was universally known as the pre-eminent Siegmund and Parsifal of his generation. While Wagner’s music remains the bedrock of his enduring international success, reinforced by his recent outstanding debut as Loge in Das Rheingold, Ventris’ repertoire versatility is demonstrated by acclaimed performances in roles such as Peter Grimes, Tambour’ Major in Berg’s Wozzeck, Jimmy Mahoney in Kurt Weill’s Aufstieg und Fall der Stadt Mahagonny and Laca in Janacek’s Jenůfa.

Highlights of an enviably high-profile career include Ventris’ debut in the role of Prince Andrey Khovansky (Khovanshchina) at Wiener Staatsoper under Semyon Bychkov, his first performances at Teatro alla Scala as Max (Der Freischütz), many productions as Sergei (Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk) including in Geneva, Madrid, London and Brussels, and unanimously acclaimed portrayals of Peter Grimes at both Opernhaus Zürich and Deutsche Oper Berlin. One of Ventris’ many productions at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden was Martinů’s The Greek Passion in which he sang the role of Manolios, he portrayed the title role of Pfitzner’s Palestrina at Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper and sang Jimmy Mahoney in new productions at Berliner Staatsoper, Opernhaus Zürich and Wiener Staatsoper.

His debut at the Metropolitan Opera was as Steva in Janáček’s Jenůfa, recently singing Laca in the same piece in Dmitri Tcherniakov’s production at Opernhaus Zürich, and he returned to New York in the 2019/20 season in his role debut as Tambour’ Major (Wozzeck), conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin in William Kentridge’s acclaimed production. Wozzeck has since become a regular feature of his seasons with further performances at Palau de les Arts Reina Sofia under James Gaffigan, in concert with Boston Symphony Orchestra and Andris Nelsons in Boston and at Carnegie Hall and at the Verbier Festival under Lahav Shani, broadcast on Medici.tv.

Following his acclaimed Bayreuther Festspiele debut as Parsifal in Stefan Herheim’s new production (Daniele Gatti), Christopher Ventris gave innumerable performances in the role including at Wiener Staatsoper (under both Franz Welser-Möst and Semyon Bychkov), Bayerische Staatsoper (Kent Nagano), Royal Opera House, Covent Garden (Bernard Haitink), Opéra national de Paris (Hartmut Haenchen), San Francisco Opera (Donald Runnicles) and at Opernhaus Zürich (Haitink), the latter portrayal immortalised on DVD. As Siegmund (Die Walküre), Ventris appeared at Wiener Staatsoper (Sir Simon Rattle), Bayreuther Festspiele, (Marek Janowski), Semperoper Dresden (Christian Thielemann), Washington National Opera (Philippe Auguin), Dutch National Opera (Marc Albrecht); he reprises the role for Dallas Symphony Orchestra under Fabio Luisi in the current season and features on a live recording from Wiener Staatsoper (Thielemann).

Christopher Ventris sang the title role of Rienzi under Philippe Jordan at Salzburger Festspiele, made his role debut as Tannhäuser under Sir Mark Elder at Opéra national de Paris, appeared as Lohengrin at Grand Théâtre de Genève, Teatro Real Madrid and The Dallas Opera and made an acclaimed debut in Tristan und Isolde at Théâtre de la Monnaie under Music Director Alain Altinoglu. In 2023, Ventris further expanded his Wagnerian repertoire in concert performances of Das Rheingold with Guangzhou Symphony Orchestra under conductor Yifan Sun when he brought a highly-anticipated Loge to life to unanimous critical acclaim.

Gallery

Weill and Brecht- Mahagonny Trailer © Opernhaus Zurich

Der Freischütz - Trailer © Opernhaus Zürich

Britten: Peter Grimes - Deutsche Oper Berlin trailer © Deutsche Oper Berlin

Wagner: Lohengrin Act 3 (extract) © Teatro Real, Madrid

Wagner: Die Walküre (excerpt)

“The voice is of a beautiful projection.”

(Forum Opera, Charles Sigel, July 2023)

“Beautiful lyric tenor.”

(Ludwig Van, Joseph So, October 2022)

“…a dazzling and diabolical Tambour Major…”

(Scherzo, May 2022)

“…Christopher Ventris sang with sinister robustness as the Drum Major…”

(The New York Times, March 2022)

“Clear and ductile voice.”

(Diapason, Emmanuel Dupey, May 2019)

“Christopher Ventris’ Parsifal remains a confident and accomplished piece of dramatic vocalism, convincing on every level.”

(George Hall, Opera Magazine, February 2018)

“Jimmy’s aria (the night song) sung by the impressive Christopher Ventris is a highlight of the evening”

(Zürichsee Zeitung, November 2017)

“Christopher Ventris was best in the cast in dealing with the change between singing and speaking and the demands of [Mahagonny. As Jimmy Mahoney] he demonstrated his tenor’s powerful, steadfast core, and always succeeded in carrying his melodies over the large orchestra.”

(Musik & Theater, November 2017)

“The vocal star, above all, [was] Christopher Ventris with his burnished Wagner/Britten tenor”

(Seen and Heard, November 2017)

“Christopher Ventris sang the rugged lumberjack Jimmy Mahoney with confidence and conviction. His silvery tone around lyrics at his simply-staged trial were as heart-breaking as they were perfectly paced.”

(Bachtrack, November 2017)

“Christopher Ventris’ magnificent Wagnerian tenor makes the haunting night song of Jimmy Mahoney [a highlight of the opera].”

(Neue Zürcher Zeitung, November 2017)

“Christopher Ventris demonstrated great vocal and dramatic mastery of the role [of Jimmy Mahoney], requiring his Heldentenor strength but without showing any heroism or evoking pity…Ventris maintained a slender tone whilst skilfully placing flashes of vocal colour in just the right places.”

(Oper Akutell, November 2017)

“Christopher Ventris’ passionately confused Andrey”

(Opera Magazine, October 2017)

“Christopher Ventris’ brilliantly resonant Prince Andrey”

(Anna Picard, The Times, August 2017)

“Ventris too – and bravely – achieves a perfect unmannered neutrality [as Parsifal], never rushing in voice or face the revelations that come to him from the Act 2 duet onwards.”

(Gramophone Magazine, August 2017)

“Christopher Ventris, one of the most experienced Wagner singers of our time, enchants with his clear tenor.”

(News.at, March 2017)

“Christopher Ventris repeated his convincing portrayal of Parsifal and sang with secure tone.”

(Opera Magazine, April 2017)

“It is easy to understand why Christopher Ventris has become a much sought-after Parsifal: his handsome timbre is both youthful and heroic, and the ease with which he appears to project his voice is admirable.”

(Bachtrack, December 2016)

“Christopher Ventris excelled in the title role.”

(Place de L’Opera, December 2016)

“Ventris has sung the title role all over the world, and remains one of its finest exponents. Never one to shout or bark, he phrases intelligently and still packs a mighty punch vocally, and matched Lang in their second act confrontation splendidly. His redemption of Amfortas brought a lump to the throat.”

(Music OMH, December 2016)

“Christopher Ventris is a passionate Parsifal and probably the best there currently is. With his range of colours he approaches perfection.”

(Opera Gazet, December 2016)

“Christopher Ventris snag an imposing Max, [with] his radiant, brilliantly secure, and powerful heroic tenor”

(Oper Akutell, September 2016)

“Christopher Ventris was the impressive Siegmund, achieving considerable eloquence in Act 2.”

(Opera Magazine, Tim Smith, September 2016)

“Christopher Ventris brought earnest, well-schooled Heldentenor tone to Max”

(Opera Magazine, August 2016)

“Ventris sang with grave elegance and a heroic sound.”

(Anna Picard, The Times, June 2016)

“He sang the role with plenty of lovely, bright tone and sensitivity.”

(Opera Magazine, June 2016)

“Christopher Ventris, highly experienced in the title role, sang vividly and with pure tone”

(Opera Magazine, March 2016)

“Christopher Ventris brings a clear character, and a lyrical interpretation [to the role of Peter Grimes]”

(Altamusica, February 2016)

“Christopher Ventris as Siegmund was vocally impeccable”

(Die Presse, February 2016)

“Christopher Ventris, who gave an exciting performance as Peter Grimes in Berlin two days earlier, is a great actor and sings Siegmund with a bright tone, precise diction, demonstrating great ease with the score”

(Altamusica, February 2016)

“Christopher Ventris is a particularly attractive Siegmund. His voice is beautifully coloured, and he conducted himself with ease”

(Forum Opéra, February 2016)

“Peter Grimes was played by British tenor Christopher Ventris, who gave a remarkable interpretation of this tormented, violent character. His voice suits the role, and he overcame the difficulties of the score”

(Seen & Heard, February 2016)

“The central focus of the soloists was Christopher Ventris’ lyrical, almost bel canto-like Parsifal. He brought a youthful voice and passionate interpretation to the role.”

(Opernwelt, February 2016)

“Christopher Ventris gave an admirable performance as Parsifal: convincing acting, remarkable projection and vocal beauty.”

(Mundo Clásico, December 2015)

“As for Christopher Ventris , who has sung the role of Siegmund in Munich before in 2006, he is still at the peak of his art…his voice had emotional character and made it an amazing evening.”

(ResMusica, March 2015)