Corona Serenades: Christopher Dunham, baritone (Canada)

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This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)

Meet Christopher Dunham, baritone (Canada), singer for Corona Serenades


A native of Niagara Falls, Ontario, Christopher Dunham has captivated audiences with his lyric baritone voice across Canada and as far away as the Adriatic coast of Italy. His roles include Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette, Escamillo in Carmen, Don Giovanni, Eisenstein in Die Fledermaus, Dandini in La Cenerentola and Schaunard and Marcello in La Bohème. This graduate from the Atelier lyrique of the Opéra de Montréal has won the Desmarais Development Bursary two years in a row and the Jeunesses Musicales Canada Touring Mentorship. Christopher has sung with Pacific Opera Victoria (Argante in Handel’s Rinaldo) and the Atlanta Opera (the Corporal in Donizetti’s La fille du régiment). His Escamillo in June 2019 for the Opéra de Montréal was “dashingly played” and revealed “a baritone of admirable focus” (Montreal Gazette).

How has the crisis affected you?

The virus has, in effect, canceled all work I had planned for the next four months. Which is to say, four back-to-back operas: Carmen, Die Fledermaus, a new Canadian piece and Don Giovanni. With that comes a huge financial loss. But I do this because I love it! I feel sad because I can’t perform in a way that satisfies my soul.

What are your five favorite operas?

Le nozze di Figaro, The Flying Dutchman, Don Giovanni, Wozzeck, Salome.

As for performers, I’m low-key obsessed with Jorma Hynninen singing literally anything. Wozzeck is at the top of my list because of the story and how intense the music is. I guess it’s a self-induced pleasure rather than a shared one!

It goes without saying that theses operas are, in their own right, masterpieces. I think it can be said of all of them that I love them because of the story. The sense of high drama, the tension, the larger-than-life personalities. I love a good story.

What movies, television shows and books do you recommend?

Right now, I’m watching the series Babylon Berlin. It’s delicious. And currently I’m reading The Hobbit but I’m turning that into an audio book and putting it up on my website. A chapter a day – free!

Why did you join Corona Serenades?

I joined this initiative because I believe in connecting people. This initiative connects people through the power of music and our shared love of opera. Additionally, I personally know how devastating the financial loss has been and the shock of how quickly this all unfolded. I want to support my fellow singers where I can.

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This page is also available in / Cette page est également disponible en: Francais (French)

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