Christopher Bengochea, Tenor
2005 – 2008
During the summer of 2012, former resident artist Christopher Bengochea is a featured soloist with the Midsummer Mozart Festival, performing the Great Mass in C minor and an aria from Davidde Penitente. Last season, Mr. Bengochea returned to OSJ to appear in the title role of Mozart’s Idomeneo during the 2011 – 2012 season. Last season, Mr. Bengochea performed the roles of Stiva Oblonsky (Anna Karenina), Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca) and Rodolfo (La bohème); and in the 2009 – 2010 season, performed the role of Ruggero in the company premiere of La rondine. Other recent performances include Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor) for Opera Idaho, Pinkerton (cover) in Madama Butterfly for Atlanta Opera, and the Duke (Rigoletto) for Opera Saskatoon. On the concert stage, he appeared as tenor soloist in San Juan Symphony’s performance of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Spring 2009, and was a featured soloist with the Modesto Symphony in their performance of Verdi’s Requiem in May 2010.
On the concert stage, he appeared as tenor soloist for the San Jose Chamber Orchestra’s Opera Gala Concert in August, performed the world premiere of Alva Henderson’s From Greater Light in September, and was a featured soloist in OSJ’s 25th Anniversary Gala Concert on September 20. He also appeared as the tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Great Falls Symphony in December.
During the 2007 – 2008 season, Mr. Bengochea appeared as Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor), the title role in Werther, the Duke of Mantua (Rigoletto) and Tamino (The Magic Flute.) Roles performed for Opera San José during the previous season included the title role in Roméo et Juliette, Alfredo (La traviata) and Pinkerton (Madama Butterfly). Other 2006 engagements include the title role in Poliuto for Da Corneto Opera in Chicago. On the concert stage, Mr. Bengochea was a featured soloist in the Mozart Festival in San Luis Obispo.
During OSJ’s 2005 – 2006 season, Mr. Bengochea appeared as the Reverend Parris (The Crucible), Gustavus III (Un ballo in maschera), Rodolfo (La bohème), and Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni). Other roles performed recently include Alfredo (La traviata) with Center City Opera, Episua (Poia) with the Lewis and Clark Society of Great Falls, Montana, the title role of Ernani, Eric in the world premiere of Nosferatu, Edgardo (Lucia di Lammermoor), and Mario Cavaradossi (Tosca). In the 2003 – 2004 season, Mr. Bengochea was seen as Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni), Kaspar (Amahl and the Night Visitors), Turiddu (Cavalleria Rusticana), Arturo (Lucia di Lammermoor), and Don Paco (Luis Alonso).
Mr. Bengochea has performed with Opera Company Brooklyn, MCT Theater Opera, Jarvis Conservatory, Intermountain Opera, Townsend Opera, Rimrock Opera, Pacific Repertory Opera, Livermore Valley Opera, West Bay Opera, Teatro Felice, Caramoor Opera, and the Tigulio Festival Opera. During the Tigulio Festival, Mr. Bengochea studied with the famous tenor, Gianni Raimondi.
Mr. Bengochea has won such awards as regional finalist of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, award and prize winner of the Henri and Marie Holte and Teatro Felice vocal competitions. He also was the third prize winner of the Internationale Societa Concertistica di Voce competition in Porto Fino, Italy.
For more information, please visit Mr. Bengochea’s website: www.christopherbengochea.com