Christopher Purves

English baritone Christopher Purves was born in Cambridge and studied English at King’s College, Cambridge. He made his Royal Opera debut in 2007 as Marco (Gianni Schicchi) and has returned for Beckmesser (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg), the Protector (Written on Skin), a role he created, The Father-in-Law (Innocence) and Alberich (Das Rheingold). Recent highlights include Wotan (Das Rheingold) at Opera de Monte-Carlo, the title role in Sweeney Todd for Komische Oper Berlin, the title role in Falstaff  for Staatsoper Hamburg, Aix-en-Provence Festival and Opéra National de Lyon, Alberich (Das Rheingold, Siegfried) for Zurich Opera, the title role in Saul for Glyndebourne, Royal Danish Theatre, Théâtre du Châtelet and Houston Grand Opera, Méphistophélès (La Damnation de Faust) and Golaud (Pelléas et Mélisande) for Glyndebourne, Forester (The Cunning Little Vixen) for Canadian Opera Company and Creon (Ensecu Oedipe) for Dutch National Opera. His work in contemporary opera includes creating the role of Walt Disney (Glass’s The Perfect American) and MacMillan’s The Sacrifice, Inés de Castro and Parthenogenesis. Engagements for 2025/26 include Tsagro (Adriana Mater) for Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, the recording of which won a Grammy Award, and the title role in Saul for Koln Oper.