Christopher Goldsack

Biography

A physics graduate of Cambridge University, Christopher Goldsack studied voice at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and then at the Lyon Opera Studio. Awards included first prize at the Toulouse International Singing Competition, the Concours de Paris and numerous prizes for French song the Concours Triptyque in Paris. He has been acting Head of Voice at the London College of Music and given classes on French song at most of the London conservatoires and has been on the jury for the numerous singing competitions.

Christopher had very extensive experience as a performer of opera. He worked for all the major British opera companies and in Lyon sang in Ravel’s L’Enfant et les Sortilèges in a production which was then filmed and won the Fipa d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival.  He was also much in demand as an oratorio singer, and as an experienced recital singer, Christopher had a special affinity for French song. In Lyon he appeared with the orchestra of the Opéra singing Poulenc’s cantata Le bal masqué.  He performed widely with his wife, mezzo-soprano Janet Shell, with whom he toured major venues throughout South America.  They were the first singers to sing live on Classic FM radio and he also recorded a solo BBC Radio 3 recital of French songs and another of South American songs.

He now has an extensive private teaching practice and directs several choirs. He enjoys creating high quality resources for singing teachers and students, and has published several anthologies of French songs with guides to style and interpretation. He has recently completed a series on anthologies of oratorio repertoire.