Christina Birchall-Sampson - The Exon Singers The Exon Singers

Christina Birchall-Sampson studied at Emmanuel College Cambridge, and Guildhall School of Music and Drama (MMus with distinction). In 2008, she made her solo debut at Staatsoper Berlin, Aix-en-Provence and Innsbruck festivals in a staged production of Handel Belshazzar, conducted by René Jacobs, and released on DVD by Harmonia Mundi; she recently resumed the role at Opera du Capitôle, Toulouse. Other roles include: Violetta, Verdi La Traviata; Bastienne, Mozart Bastien und Bastienne; Madam Silberklang, Mozart Der Schauspieldirektor; Musetta, Puccini La Bohème, Gretel, Humperdinck Hansel and Gretel and Juliette, Gounod Roméo et Juliette. In opera scenes, Christina has played Fiordiligi Così fan tutte, Contessa Le Nozze di Figaro, Cleopatra Giulio Cesare and Helena A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Christina has performed a wide range of solo oratorio repertoire, including Handel Judas Maccabeus (Stephen Cleobury/King’s College Cambridge), Beethoven Mass in C (Tim Brown/King’s College Cambridge), Bach Cantatas (London Bachfest/Steinitz Baroque), Bach Magnificat and Vivaldi Dixit Dominus (Neil Ferris/Southwark Cathedral), Goodall Eternal Light, Handel Gloria and Dixit Dominus (David Ogden/City of Bristol Choir) and Handel Israel in Egypt (Louth Choral Society). Other engagements have included Bach B minor Mass, Handel Messiah, Haydn Die Jahreszeiten and Nelson Mass as well as Requiem masses by Mozart, Brahms, Fauré, Duruflé and Bruneau.

Christina is a passionate recitalist: she has performed at the Wigmore Hall (Voiceworks project) and throughout the UK, in Aix-en-Provence and Copenhagen, and for Graham Johnson’s song series at GSMD. She has recently collaborated with pianists John Reid, Chris Hopkins and Eva Maria Doroszkowska. Prizes include an MBF award, Hampshire Singing Competition second prize, Lilian Baylis bursary and the John Sim Prize for contemporary song. She was also a finalist in the 2011 Emmy Destinn singing competition.

Future projects include: Daisy, Toby Young The Daisy Chain (LSO Soundhub Showcase Concert accompanied by LSO players, LSO St Luke’s); Tatiana, Eugene Onegin (cover, Ryedale Festival Opera); Clorinda, La Cenerentola (Opera Loki); Mendelssohn Elijah (St John’s Waterloo); Haydn Creation (Bury St Edmunds); Handel Messiah (St James’ Piccadilly); Mozart Requiem (St Paul’s Wimbledon Park); and a Burnaby Recital with pianist Chris Hopkins (Emmanuel College Cambridge, March 2013).