Our Artist in Focus this week is Christian Curnyn. Christian is widely recognised as one of the UK’s leading conductors specialising in the Baroque repertoire. With an exciting year ahead for him, follow along this week to find out more about Christian.
Artist in Focus Christian Curnyn founded the Early Opera Company in 1994, and with them has given notable performances throughout the UK and abroad, along with multiple award-winning recordings. His most recent Handel recording of Acis and Galatea was the winner of the Opera Award of the 2019 BBC Music Magazine Awards.
Christian enjoys working with both period and symphony orchestras in music of the baroque and classical repertoire and has collaborated with ensembles including Academy of Ancient Music, AKAMUS, English Concert, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, and the Irish and Wroclaw Baroque orchestras as well as with the Bournemouth Symphony, Ulster, Hallé, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Stavanger Symphony, Ensemble Resonanz, Essen Philharmoniker and Budapest Festival Orchestra and a Messiah tour in Australia with the Tasmanian, West Australian and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras.
Outside of the UK, Christian has worked in houses across Europe and beyond including Opera Australia, Frankfurt Opera, Oper Berlin, Stuttgart Opera, Oper Halle, Theatro Nacional de Sao Carlos, Theatre Basel, as well as New York City Opera and Chicago Opera Theater.
Next week Christian opens Oliver Mears’ production of Handel’s Semele at the Royal Ballet and Opera, Covent Garden which premieres on the 30th June.
Christian last appeared in Covent Garden for Alcina in the 22/23 season:
“Under Christian Curnyn the ROH orchestra was transformed, fizzing and swirling in a buff, buoyant version of period style that wasn’t afraid to flaunt its curves”. Richard Bratby, The Spectator.
Next season will see Christian conducting Hendel’s Partenope at English National Opera.
