Alex Banfield
Born
Alexander James Banfield

(1990-02-17) 17 February 1990
Morpeth, Northumberland, England
OccupationOpera singer (tenor)
Years active2015–present
Websitealexbanfield.co.uk

Alex Banfield (born 1990) is a British opera and concert tenor.

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] 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.

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.
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