Christopher White is one of the most respected musicians in European operatic life. Over the past fifteen years he has worked as repetiteur, coach, assistant conductor and language coach with some of the world’s leading companies including the Royal Opera, English National Opera, Glyndebourne, Bavarian State Opera, Opernhaus Zürich and Israeli Opera. Festival work includes Bayreuth (2016-17) on the Ring and Parsifal and the Salzburg Festival with Strauss operas (from 2018).
From 2016-23 he served as Head of Music at Deutsche Oper Berlin, overseeing musical preparation of all operas at one of Europe's busiest and most prestigious houses, including the complete stage works of Richard Wagner, and operas by Mozart, Strauss and Puccini alongside multiple world premieres. He has worked with the foremost opera conductors in the world including Edward Gardner, Jakub Hrůša, Marek Janowski, Vladimir Jurowski, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Donald Runnicles and Franz Welser-Möst.
Royal Academy Opera has produced some of the world’s leading singers including David Butt Philip, Lucy Crowe, Freddie De Tommaso, Helena Dix and Dame Felicity Lott. As Head of Opera, Christopher will lead the Academy’s postgraduate programme which prepares the next generation of exceptionally talented opera singers for careers on the world's most prestigious stages.
Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Principal of the Royal Academy of Music commented:
‘I’m delighted that Christopher will be continuing the outstanding work of Brenda Hurley. Christopher is a hugely capable and wide-ranging musician who will bring exceptional qualities to this important role. Apart from his credentials as an inspiring coach and leader, his knowledge of the international opera scene will be invaluable for our students and provide added ballast to Brenda’s next role as Visiting Professor, helping shape the Academy’s work into our third century.’
Christopher added:
‘Having recently “come home” to the Royal Academy of Music after building my career internationally, I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead Royal Academy Opera in its mission to provide world-class training for young singers at the outset of their careers. I took my first steps as an opera musician with Royal Academy Opera, and I know first-hand how much the institution has to offer its young artists. As such, I am honoured to have been given the chance to continue and build upon that work. I look forward to bringing my experience of the European opera scene to bear as we seek to provide a platform for the best young singers to fulfil their potential.’