Alex Banfield

Last updated

Alex Banfield
Born
Alexander James Banfield

(1990-02-17) 17 February 1990 (age 34)
Morpeth, Northumberland, England
OccupationTenor
Years active2015–present
Website alexbanfield.co.uk

Alex Banfield (born 1990) is an English opera and concert tenor.

Contents

Early life and education

Banfield grew up in Morpeth, Northumberland, and performed in local choral [1] and operatic [2] productions in Northern England in his early twenties, while obtaining a degree in Sociology from Leeds University. He then trained at the Royal Northern College of Music [3] in Manchester, receiving a Master of Music (Voice). While a student in Manchester, he was a lay clerk at Manchester Cathedral. [4] In 2013, he was a scholar with the Samling Institute (Samling Academy Opera), and made his debut with the title role in Britten's Albert Herring . [5] He returned to Samling for their 2015 production of Ravel's L'enfant et les sortilèges to sing the Teacup and the Frog. [6]

Career

He performed full time with Opera North [7] in Leeds until August 2020, when he joined the ensemble at Theatre Basel, [8] Switzerland as a young artist on their OperAvenir 20/21 program. For Opera North he sang Sam Kaplan in Street Scene, [9] [10] Nikolio in Greek Passion by Martinů [11] [12] (directed by Christopher Alden), Jonathan Dale in the UK premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Silent Night by Kevin Puts (directed by Tim Albery), [13] [14] [15] St. Brioche in The Merry Widow , [16] Hrazda in Osud (Janáček) , and Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore for their Whistle Stop tour. [17] He performed regularly in Manchester, including with the Manchester Opera Ensemble, [18] Turton Consort, [19] Chetham Chamber Orchestra [20] and Manchester Baroque. [21] In 2024, for Les Talens Lyriques he performed in a recording for the label Château de Versailles Spectacles in a little known piece, L'Olimpiade by Cimarosa, [22] which culminated in a performance at the Royal Opera of Versailles. [23] He has also performed with the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia, [1] and was regular soloist for the Liverpool Bach Collective.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Sage Gateshead". Sage Gateshead.
  2. ↑ "Alex takes the lead in new play". News Post Leader. 10 August 2013.
  3. ↑ Whetstone, David (26 March 2018). "Meet the young Morpeth tenor who is finding his feet with Opera North". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  4. ↑ "Coffee Concerts Autumn 2014" (PDF). 27 September 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Samling News Summer 2013" (PDF). 1 March 2013. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  6. ↑ Shurttleworth, Jane (1 August 2015). "A bewitching L'Enfant et les sortilèges from Samling Academy Opera". BachTrack. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  7. ↑ "Chorus of Opera North". Opera North.
  8. ↑ "Alex Banfield | DXP". www.theater-basel.ch. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  9. ↑ "Street Scene". Opera North. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  10. ↑ Ashley, Tim (19 January 2020). "Street Scene review – full justice for murder in Manhattan". The Guardian. ISSN   0261-3077 . Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  11. ↑ "The Greek Passion". Opera North. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  12. ↑ "The Greek Passion, Opera North - pertinence and power". theartsdesk.com. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  13. ↑ Hall, George (3 December 2018). "Christmas truce movingly remembered in Silent Night at Leeds Town Hall". The Financial Times. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
  14. ↑ Christiansen, Rupert (1 December 2018). "Silent Night, Opera North/Town Hall, Leeds, review: this fresh and engaging take on war and peace wins battle with Britten". The Telegraph. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  15. ↑ Maddocks, Fiona (9 December 2018). "The week in classical: Silent Night; Messiah; Carmen review – anything but silent". The Guardian. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  16. ↑ Annable, Elaine (1 October 2018). "Review: The Merry Widow, Opera North, Leeds Grand Theatre". The Yorkshire Times. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  17. ↑ Wood, Aimee (18 March 2016). "Opera North flex their vocal chords at Ordsall Hall". The Lowry Blog. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  18. ↑ "Manchester Opera Ensemble: Who we are". Manchester Opera Ensemble.
  19. ↑ Callaghan, Brigid (17 April 2016). "LIVE REVIEW: Turton Consort – Monteverdi: Madrigals book IV, St Ann's Church Manchester, 7th April". Local Sound Focus. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  20. ↑ Farr, Robert J (23 November 2015). "Fine Mozart Performances from St George's Singers. Soloists and Chetham's Chamber Orchestral". Seen and Heard International. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  21. ↑ "Manchester Baroque: Handel's Messiah | Fever". feverup.com. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  22. ↑ "Cimarosa: l'Olimpiade". Presto Music. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
  23. ↑ "CIMAROSA : L'OLIMPIADE -". www.operaroyal-versailles.fr. Retrieved 19 May 2024.
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