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The Australian counter-tenor, Christopher Field, holds a Diploma of Music in piano performance. He was the recipient of the Australian Postgraduate Award for his Masters studies in voice at the University of Melbourne and is a graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London, where he obtained the DipRAM in Opera. These studies were supported by the Rae and Edith Bennett Scholarship and the Josephine Baker Trust. He has been awarded many prizes and scholarships throughout his student years in both pianoforte and singing, including the Marten Bequest in 2001-2002. His teachers have included Stephen Grant and Hartley Newnham.
Opera Tableaux with Royal Academy Opera have included: Rameau's Les Indes Galantes, George Frideric Handel's Orlando and Scipio, and Rossini's La Gazza Ladra and Aureliano in Palmira. Engagements include: Polinesso in G.F. Handel's Ariodante with Stopera, and Oberon in Benjamin Britten's A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Co*Opera. Christopher Field has also sung the role of Waki-tsure in Crispin-Cresswell’s The Nameless Dead with Stopera, John Adams’ El Nino at the Sydney Opera House and Military Governor in Judith Weir’s A Night at the Chinese Opera. Others include Rinaldo in G.F. Handel's Rinaldo with RAO (UK), and Tolomeo in G.F. Handel’s Giulio Cesare with Opera Australia for which he was nominated for a Green Room Award and a Helpmann Award. 2008 saw him as Spirit in Dido and Aeneas in the Temple Festival (London). He appeared in Jiří Kylián's ballet production of Bella Figura with The Australian Ballet and also with the late choreographer Pina Bausch in Palermo Palermo with Tanztheater Wuppertal at Sadler's Wells, London.
Christopher Field has worked as soloist in concert with orchestras including The Sydney Philharmonia, Orchestra Victoria and The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra. In 2009 he debuted with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra in Igor Stravinsky's Threni and A Sermon, A Narrative and A Prayer.
In addition to his work within early music, Christopher Field sings contemporary repertoire and has worked with various ensembles as a chorister, pianist and violist. He has performed with ensembles including The King's Consort, Gabrieli Consort, Ex Cathedra, Tenebrae, The Binchois Consort, A Capella Portuguesa, and Collegium Vocale Gent, conducted Philippe Herreweghe. He is a member of the acclaimed contemporary music ensemble EXAUDI and he appeared in recital at the Queille Festival (France) with pianist Julius Drake.
In 2009 Christopher Field made his debut with the Komische Oper Berlin in the role of Arkane in G.F. Handel's Teseo and debuted also with the Dresden Semperoper as Nireno in G.F. Handel's Giulio Cesare. In 2010, he covered the role of Oberon in Baz Luhrmann's production of A Midsummer Night's Dream for Opera Australia and returned to the Dresden Semperoper for further performances of Giulio Cesare. In 2011, he sang Armindo (Partenope) for Opera Australia. 2012 saw him returning to Opera Australia and 2012-2013 saw him in Strasbourg as Bruno in the premiere of Stefano Gervasoni's Limbus Limbo and in 2013 he returned to Opera Australia for performances of G.F. Handel's Partenope. In 2014 he participasted in concert tour as soloist in G.F. Handel's Messiah with Symphony Australia.
Christopher Field appears as countertenor soloist on a number of recordings: Jan Dismas Zelenka’s Litanies of St Francis Xavier and Tobias Hume’s A Souldier’s Resolution (Move Records) and G.F. Handel’s Messiah (ABC Classics). Other releases include G.F. Handel Cantatas with Accademia Arcadia (Tall Poppies), "The Food of Love" with Salut! Baroque, "A Noble Noyse of Musicke" with the Netherlands-based ensemble The Royal Wind Music and "Nobody Does It Better" (Fleet Records). He has recorded several discs on the Signum label with the ensemble Tenebrae, on NMC with EXAUDI and on Hyperion with the British ensemble Polyphony including "Cloudburst" which earned a Grammy nomination. He recently recorded the soundtrack for the Australian TV mini-series Cloudstreet for Showtime Foxtel. |
