Christian Curnyn

He founded the Early Opera Company in 1994 and the last 22 years have seen notable performances throughout the UK, along with award-winning recordings.

For English National Opera, Christian has conducted Handel Partenope, After Dido, Katie Mitchell’s realization of Purcell Dido and Aeneas, Rameau Castor and Pollux, Handel Giulio Cesare, Charpentier Medée and Handel Rodelinda.

Other appearances include Purcell Dido and Aeneas in Aldeburgh, Partenope (Opera Australia), Vivaldi Farnace and Handel Ariodante (Salzburg Landestheater), Rameau Platée, Handel’s Alcina and Purcell’s The Fairy Queen (Oper Stuttgart), Handel Semele (Scottish Opera), Handel Saul (Opera North), Britten The Beggar’s Opera, Rossi’s Orfeo and Cavalli L’Ormindo (The Royal Opera, Covent Garden), Le nozze di Figaro, Semele and Cavalli’s Eliogabalo (Grange Park Opera), as well as Handel Jephtha (Halle Handel Festival), Partenope and Cosi fan tutte (New York City Opera), Cavalli Giasone and Charpentier Medee (Chicago Opera Theater), Rameau’s Zoroastre (Komische Oper Berlin),  and Cavalli La Calisto and Gluck Ezio (Oper Frankfurt).

On the concert platform engagements have included concerts with the English Concert, The Hallé, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Essen Philharmoniker, Swedish Chamber, Bournemouth Symphony, Stavanger Symphony, and Ulster Orchestras. Alongside recordings for EOC, Christian has recorded Britten’s realisation of The Beggars Opera with the City of London Sinfonia and a disc of Italian repertoire with Nicola Benedetti for Decca.

Recent and future highlights include a revival of Rodelinda at ENO, a new production of Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse at The Roundhouse for ROH, Die Zauberflöte for Garsington Opera, and a new production at Opéra national du Rhin, as well as concerts with the Academy of Ancient Music, Philharmonie Essen, and a Messiah tour with Tasmania, West Australia, and Adelaide Symphony Orchestras.