 Christopher
Bengochea
The critically acclaimed and
prize winning international opera tenor, Christopher
Bengochea, is quickly being sought after by opera
houses, concert venues, and audiences alike. Mr.
Bengochea has been heralded as having "power, sure
intonation, and fine diction that come in a package
tied with a ribbon of 'natural sound.' tenor,
Christopher Bengochea has delighted audiences with
his unique combination of vocal and dramatic
interpretations in performances ranging from
oratorio to opera. It is a unique, broadly-projected
"wide" sound that can serve lyrical or heroic music
equally well.”
A most recent discovery into
Christopher’s repertoire, found Mozart’s
Idomeneo, to a enormous success. The vocally
and dramaticly demanding title role, King Idomeneo,
re di Creta, was met with vigor and ultimate
brilliance by this tenor. Jason Victor Serinus of
Opera News exclaimed, “Tenor Christopher Bengochea’s
dark-hued (voice)..conquered virtually every vocal
hurdle Mozart set out for Idomeneo...Bengochea’s
performance was exceptional. How many Puccini tenors
can also negotiate the runs of “Fuor del mar” with
something approaching ease? The cheers that
accompanied his exultant Act III aria, “Torna la
pace,” were more than justified.” Other important
engagements that occurred included Vasco da Gama in
Meyerbeer's L'Africaine for Opera Orchestra
of New York, Rodolfo in Puccini's La bohème.
The years 2005-2008, Mr. Bengochea had been a
resident artist of Opera San José where he has been
heard in a variety of roles from Reverend Samuel
Parris in The Crucible to King Gustavus in
Un ballo in maschera. Richard Scheinin of
The Mercury News described "to hear Bengochea expand
into big, lusty high notes -- Verdi specials -- were
thrilling.... Bengochea could be the tenor the
company has been waiting for." During his residency
at Opera San Jose he performed Rodolfo in La
bohème, the title role in Roméo et Juliette,
Alfredo in La traviata, Pinkerton in Madame
Butterfly, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor, the
title role of Werther, the Duke in Rigoletto, and
Tamino in Die Zauberflöte.
Bengochea’s operatic repertoire embraces a wide
range of roles, including Ruggero in La Rondine, Don
Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Turiddu in
Cavalleria Rusticana, Erik in Alva Henderson's,
Nosferatu, and Cavarodossi in Tosca.
Companies with which he has performed include: Opera
San Jose, Atlanta Opera, Opera Idaho, Opera Canada,
da Corneto Opera, Center City Opera, Opera Company
Brooklyn, Jarvis Conservatory, Intermountain Opera,
Townsend Opera, Rimrock Opera, Palm Beach Opera,
Pacific Repertory Opera, Livermore Valley Opera,
West Bay Opera, Teatro Felice, Caramoor Opera, and
the Tigulio Festival Opera, Stockton Opera
Association, Opera Santa Barbara.
At home on
both the operatic and concert stages, he was heard
as the tenor soloist in Verdi’s messa da Requiem
for the Modesto Symphony and the Symphony Silicon
Valley. Other oratorio engagements include:
Mendelssohn's Lobgesang, and Tallis's
The Lamentations of Jeremiah the Prophet and
Mozart's Great Mass in C minor, Beethoven’s
Symphony No. 9, the Evangelist in Bach's
Weihnachts Oratorium with the New York City
Chorale Society, the world premier of Alva
Henderson's "From Greater Light," performed
under world renowned Carl St. Claire and the Orange
County Symphony Orchestra.
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