BIOGRAPHY
Baritone Christopher Clayton is quickly establishing himself as a rising talent on the operatic stage. He has appeared with companies such as Utah Opera, Opera Birmingham, Portland Opera, Sacramento Opera, Chautauqua Opera, the Skylight Opera, and Opera Idaho.
Mr. Clayton is a versatile singer praised for his “golden baritone” and “dynamic” stage presence. He has had success in musical styles varying from the title role in Monteverdi’s Il ritorno d’Ulisse in Patria to Puccini’s Sharpless in Madama Butterfly and Marcello in La Boheme, to Fredrich Bhaer in Adamo’s Little Women. He has appeared in Madama Butterfly with Utah Opera, Chautauqua Opera, and the Stockton Opera; in La Boheme with Sacramento Opera, Opera Idaho and the Skylight Opera; in Il ritorno d’Ulisse in patria, Albert Herring, Carmen, Die Zauberflöte, and Faust with the Portland Opera; and in Gianni Schicchi with Chautauqua Opera. He has covered Escamillo in Carmen, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Amonasro in Aida, Gianni Schicchi, the Count in The Marriage of Figaro, and the Doctor in Vanessa.
An early love of classical music and a fascination with German Lieder led to Christopher’s desire to become a professional singer. That interest continues, and he enjoys being an active recitalist and concert singer. Most recently he has appeared as a soloist in Berlioz’s L’Enfance du Christ, Bernstein’s “Mass” and in Händel’s Messiah with the Utah Symphony, as the Baritone soloist in Carmina Burana with Utah Voices and as the soloist in Cimarosa’s Il maestro di cappella with the Walla Walla Symphony.
Mr. Clayton was a Portland Opera Studio Artist and returned to Portland Opera in 2010 for Trouble in Tahiti. He was a young artist with the Chautauqua Opera in both the apprentice and studio programs and received a Professional Studies Certificate and master’s degree from Manhattan School of Music. At Manhattan School he studied with Maitland Peters and worked closely with Warren Jones and Dona Vaughn. Prior to his studies in New York, he received bachelor’s degrees in vocal performance and mechanical engineering from the University of Utah. He has received prizes and grants from the Gerda Lissner Foundation, the Violetta Pollara DuPont Vocal Competition, the Marian Anderson Vocal Competition, the Irene Dalis Vocal Competition, the Chautauqua Opera Guild and the Oratorio Society of New York.
MEDIA
Duet: "Dite alla giovane"
La Traviata
Verdi
"Di provenza il mar, il suol"
La Traviata
Verdi
"Il balen del suo sorriso"
Il Trovatore
Verdi
Act II Finale
Il Trovatore
Verdi
REVIEWS
AL.COM
“Clayton’s portrayal of the sinister Tonio, along with his prologue and announcement that the ‘comedy is over,’ are pivotal to the opera, and were performed with vocal power and conviction.”
REICHELRECOMMENDS.COM
“As cantor, baritone Christopher Clayton gave a remarkably vibrant, heartfelt performance. He infused his singing with beautifully molded expressions and finely delineated lyricism.”
REICHELRECOMMENDS.COM
“Mezzo-soprano Kirstin Chávez and baritone Christopher Clayton are wonderful as the bickering couple Paula and Álvaro, who are able to reignite the love that brought them together in the first place. They have strong yet expressive voices that blended well together.”
COLORADO SPRINGS GAZETTE
“Equally pleasing was Christopher Clayton. As the operetta’s protagonist Dr. Falke, his rich and finely textured baritone was matched by a witty stage presence.”
THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE
“Adamo stacks the deck in Bhaer’s favor, as does Utah Opera’s casting of baritone Christopher Clayton, who brings charisma and warmth to the role of the professor.”
REICHELRECOMMENDS.COM
“Baritones Chad Sloane as John Brooke and Christopher Clayton as Professor Bhaer were exceptional, especially Clayton. He sang “Kennst dud as Land,” Adamo’s magically Schubertian setting of Goethe’s text, with beautifully crafted lyricism and expressiveness”
THE OREGONIAN
“The recognition scene between Ulysses—sung with great intensity by the wonderful baritone Christopher Clayton—and his son Telemaco wrenched our hearts.”
NORTHWEST REVERB
“Christopher Clayton created a memorable Mr. Gedge, with a golden baritone that any vicar would display proudly.”
THE OREGONIAN
“As the vicar, Christopher Clayton sang in a rich, firm baritone..”