Christopher Steele
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Online singing lessons
Based in Lancaster, UK
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Tenor Singing Teacher Vocal Pedagogue
Vocal Tone Production Specialist
Biography
Christopher took a BSc in Geology before working in the choruses of Opera Australia and the Victorian State Opera. He was awarded an ABRSM International Scholarship to study at the Opera Course of the Royal College of Music and then studied at The National Opera Studio, sponsored by English National Opera and the Bowerman Charitable Trust.
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At RCM he studied with Dr Neil Mackie and sang Florville in Signor Bruschino; Tom in The Rakes Progress, and Ottavio in Don Giovanni (dir. John Copley, cond. Sir Colin Davis). He was also the recipient of the Irina Baronova prize for the year's best operatic performance for Tom Rakewell.
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Christopher also worked in masterclass with Sir Thomas Allen, Sarah Walker CBE and Richard Van Allen. He was fortunate to study roles and song cycles with many leading tenors such as Philip Langridge CBE, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Ryland Davies, Robert Tear and Denis O'Neill.
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In Opera he performed small principal roles and understudied lead roles for The Royal Opera, Welsh National Opera, English National Opera and Opera North, including several UK and world premiere contemporary opera performances for ROH2 and Music Theatre Wales.
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Christopher also sang leading roles for many UK and European operatic touring companies; notably in La Boheme, The Pearl Fishers, Die Zauberflote, La Cenerentola, The Tales of Hoffman, Eugene Onegin, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Don Giovanni, The Turn of the Screw.
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Major oratorio highlights included; Handel's Messiah in Festival Hall and Bridgewater Hall; Haydn's Creation in the Royal Albert Hall with Sir David Willcocks; Bach's St John and St Matthew Passions; Mozart's Requiem Mass, Mass in C minor and Coronation Mass; Verdi's Requiem Mass; Finzi's Dies Natalis and Intimations of Immortality, Britten's St Nicolas.He continues to sing in Oratorio around the UK is represented by Ann Ferrier Artists.
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Following advanced pedagogical studies with Kenneth L Nielsen and Manny Lujan, Christopher turned his career toward the teaching of voice and now has a busy schedule of teaching at his studio in Lancaster and at Sedbergh School and Lancaster Royal Grammar School
Christopher also enjoys performing western European song repertoire in recital, most recently recently performing a programme of Italian, French, German and English song with Peter Noke for the Sedbergh Festival and for Lancaster Priory.
He also enjoys the many golf courses of the Lancashire/Cumbria border region.
Reviews
LA BOHEME - MID WALES OPERA
One of the lasting memories of this performance will be the sense of seamless continuity by the whole cast, but particularly Christopher Steele, whose voice had power and penetration without ever appearing forced- Shrewsbury Chronicle
LETTERS OF A LOVE BETRAYED - MUSIC THEATRE WALES / ROH2 (World Premiere)
Christopher Steele as his son Luis showed a fine talent and a fine tenor Opera Now
I especially enjoyed the performance of tenor Christopher Steele, who took the role of Luis - his voice is rich, and his top notes, even when they teetered on the brink of his range, excited me. www.whatsonstage.com
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TURN OF THE SCREW - English Touring Opera / Opera Theatre Company (ROI)
Best of the Singers was Steele as Peter Quint. Opera Magazine
...ghostly Peter Quint with liquid tenor tone that can produce vocal claws when things turn nasty. The Irish Times
..the flesh and blood ghosts beautifully sung by Christopher Steele and Catherine Griffiths. Opera Now
MENDELSSOHN LOBGESANG- Norwich Philharmonic,
A stirring performance of Mendelssohn’s richly tuneful Song of Praise - Christopher Steele proclaimed progress from darkness to enlightenment in ringing tenor tone. Eastern Daily Press
VERDI REQUIEM - Eversley Choir
The four soloists, Jane Irwin, Sarah Jillian Cox, Christopher Steele and Alex Ashworth were individually powerful and collectively worked very well in the duets trios and quartets. The tenor's Italianate voice was beautiful and perfect for Verdi. Lancaster Guardian
CHILCOTT REQUIEM - WELLS CATHEDRAL
Special mention must be made of tenor, Christopher Steele. He was a late replacement when the scheduled singer (Matthew Minter) was obliged to withdraw at very short notice due to illness. On the Sunday morning he drove down to Wells - a distance of over 200 miles - to save the day. I doubt he would have had time for much, if any, rehearsal with Matthew Owens but he seemed to me to fit seamlessly into the performance. More than that, he sang extremely well and put the words over with conviction. seenandheard-international.com
THE RAPE OF LUCRETIA - British Youth Opera
The standard is set by the tenor CS as the Male Chorus delivering every word as if it mattered… with admirably even, compassionate tone. The Guardian ..and Christopher Steele (an exceptionally lucid tenor) put these crucial roles across forcefully... The Independent
EUGENE ONEGIN - OPERA NOMADE
...the tenor Christopher Steele, a marvellous lensky... he sings superbly. Le Telegramme
THE BARTERED BRIDE - MID WALES OPERA
Christopher Steele discovered in Victor a personality both strangely dignified and utterly ridiculous, so that one could be moved to both pity and laughter, as well as to pleasure in his eventual liberation from his mother's control.
