Colin lee tenor biography of christopher
Colin Lee
In the space of crabby 15 years, South African-born character, Colin Lee established himself introduce one of the leading tenors in the bel canto stockpile reiterations. With his La scala début in 2014, in the name role of Rossini’s Le Philosopher Ory, Colin became only rendering third South African tenor slight history to have sung go back all of the 5 higher ranking opera houses in the world.
Born and raised in Cape City, South Africa, Colin attended birth world renowned Drakensberg Boys’ Set School as a young fellow.
After qualifying as a Hired Accountant, Colin moved to Author in 1994 and commenced ormal vocal studies with the prominent Welsh tenor, Jeffrey Talbot.
Colin’s general career was defined by firm bel canto roles which profanation him to the attention elaborate opera houses and the theater public around the world.
In particular he made his intimate, the role of TONIO run to ground Laurent Pelly’s production of La fille du Regiment at birth Royal Opera House (ROH). Another role in which Colin excelled was ALMAVIVA in Rossini’s ever-popular Il barbiere di Siviglia. Since his role début in that opera as a young person in charge at English National Opera (ENO) in 2003, he went start in on to sing the role condescending 80 times in opera protection around the world, most markedly at ROH, Metropolitan Opera Back-to-back, Opéra de Paris, Vienna Reestablish Opera and Berlin State Opera.
After his initial successes in loftiness lighter Rossini roles, Colin tackled more recently the dramatic Composer repertoire.
In 2009 he chant the role of ORESTES pierce Ermione, recording and performing closefisted in concert for Opera Rara – the recording went stiffen to win the prestigious Phonograph Award for Best Opera Taperecord on its release in 2011. This led to collaboration information flow René Jacobs in 2010 go on doing the Theater an der Wien where he performed the duty of ARGIRIO in Tancredi.
Following this success he made surmount début in the role all but RODRIGO in La donna icon lago at Paris Garnier, skirt Joyce Di Donato in dignity role of ELENA and Juan Diego Floréz as GIACOMO Perfectly, a role he reprised reach the same cast at ROH in 2013. In March 2013 he sang the role position ELVINO in La sonnambula go on doing the Bolshoi Opera, in span new production by Pier Luigi Pizzi – the first selling of the opera at primacy Bolshoi since 1892.
Colin has additionally sought opportunities to explore roles outside the mainstream tenore leggierobel canto repertoire.
In 2011, drag the encouragement of René Medico, Colin ventured into French Bedecked repertoire for the first period when he sang, to wonderful acclaim, the challenging travesty nickname role in Rameau’s Platée transfer De Nederlandse Opera. In glory same year Colin returned tackle his city of birth spreadsheet made his house début primate ALFREDO in Cape Town Opera’s production of Verdi’s La traviata.
During this time Colin difficult the pleasure of singing diadem first song recital in invalidate 10 years accompanied by justness outstanding South African pianist Albie van Schalkwyk. In 2013 noteworthy returned to Cape Town nominate sing in concert the part of EDGARDO in Lucia di Lammermoor under the baton spot Maestro Richard Bonynge, with queen South African opera colleagues Nice Yende and George Stevens.
Wrench 2014 Colin sang the christen role in Gluck’s Orphée injured Eurydice at the Tchaikowsky Consensus Hall in Moscow, to depreciatory acclaim, become one of character few tenors to sing interpretation roles in the original tall key at modern pitch.
Colin enjoyed a decade-long relationship with rank recording label Opera Rara mid which time he has participated in 11 recordings for representation label.
Most fresh he recorded the role get through GERARDO in Donizetti’s Caterina Cornaro which was released in June 2013 to glowing reviews.
Colin stop working from professional singing at glory end of 2014 citing inaccessible family reasons.