Christopher Diffey - Tenor
Media Quotes
Orpheus in the Underworld - Scottish Opera, September-December 2011
“The rest of the cast was nicely balanced...Mercury is wittily turned into the cocktail waiter for the deities and is sung by Christopher Diffey whose portrayal left one wanting more.”
http://www.opera-britannia.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=565:orpheus-in-the-underworld-scottish-opera-10th-september-2011&catid=8:opera-reviews&Itemid=16 - Kelvin Holdsworth
Love Songs - Tête à Tête Opera Festival, August 2011
“Christopher Diffey, in Robert Folden’s Love Songs, provided a model of how to put a song across, bring it to life.” Opera, Andrew Porter October 2011
Falstaff - Opera Project at Longborough Festival , July 2011
“Christopher Diffey brought a distinctively pure English tenor sound to the role of Fenton.”
www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/REVIEW-Falstaff-Longborough-Festival-Opera/story-12891326-detail/story.html - Colin Davison
La Traviata - Garden Opera at the Purcell Room, London, April 2nd 2011
“Christopher Diffey was suitably gauche as Alfredo, awkward and impetuous by turns. His light tenor copes well with the demands Verdi places on it, although he wisely didn’t take the high note to end his single verse cabaletta “O mio rimorso’. Willy Decker, in his Vienna staging, had Alfredo sing ‘De miei bollenti spiriti’ with Violetta present, as director Saffron van Zwanenberg has her here, dozing on a sun lounger. I wasn’t convinced by Decker’s tactic, where Alfredo sings it to Violetta, but it worked rather well here. Diffey sang as Rodolfo in OperaUpClose’s Bohème, so is well used to losing girls to consumption!”
www.opera-britannia.com/index.php? - Mark Pullinger
Troy Boy - Merry Opera Company, Feb-Jun 2011
“There is certainly much here to enjoy, not least the casting of Rosalind Coad and Christopher Diffey as Helen and Paris (the Troy Boy himself). They are splendid songsters and make a delightfully attractive couple however much the trilling Spartan Queen may pretend it is against her will.”
www.britishtheatreguide.info/reviews/troyboy-rev.htm - Howard Loxton
“But the best moment for many of the audience was when Paris, played by Christopher Diffey, failed to fasten his towel after the bed scene with Helen.”
http://londonersdiary.standard.co.uk/2011/02/flash-of-brilliance-from-paris.html
“...the singing is almost flawless, drawing from London’s deep pool of assured and well developed young voices. Christopher Diffey inhabits the Troy-boy-toy Paris superbly with bright, vaulting, almost over-sung high notes”
http://londonist.com/2011/02/opera-review-troy-boy-upstairs-at-the-gatehouse.php - Johnny Fox, February 12
“Christopher Diffey’s Paris provides a consistent and solid vocal performance, and brings a balanced subtlety to a role that could easily be overplayed.”
www.extraextra.org/Review_0_Troy_Boy_2011.html - Carmen Nasr
“...in their leading roles, the charming Coad and Diffey prove why the helped make OperaUpClose’s production of La Boheme and unabashed success.”
www.gaydarnation.com/UserPortal/Article/Detail.aspx?ID=28892&sid= - Joseph Cattell
“Christopher Diffey shows great charm and vocal stamina as Paris”
www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/review.php/31268/troy-boy - Edward Bhesania, 14th February 2011
“It is a very jolly show and the singing throughout is excellent...Christopher Diffey is a personable Paris...”
www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=6589 - Aline Waites, 14th February 2011
“...Christopher Diffey was a winning Paris”
www.whatsonstage.com/index.php?pg=207&story=E8831297763636&ref=london&preview=Y
“Christopher Diffey is simply gorgeous as the Greek waiter who takes on the mantle of Paris in Helen’s reverie, his lyric tenor voice transporting one to the summit of Mount Olympus.”
www.broadwaybaby.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7966:troy-boy&catid=49:london
“The Australian tenor Christopher Diffey soared effortlessly to the stratosphere while conveying just the right amount of Paris’s conceit.”
http://listserv.bccls.org/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind1102D&L=OPERA-L&T=0&F=&S=&P=64340
“The cast of Troy Boy includes Christopher Diffey...Christopher Diffey does an amazing job playing Paris, the charismatic and handsome prince of Troy; he too is one of the strongest performers of the cast and certainly entices the audience with his voice and good looks.”
http://issuu.com/armlocker/docs/laissezfairelondonissue03 - Ricci Bryson, page 13
“It is sexy stuff, as it should be, and the singing of a youthful cast is generally of high quality. In particular, Christopher Diffey’s caressing of a lyrical melody as Paris is in itself enough to explain why Helen has the hots for him.”
www.portsmouth.co.uk/lifestyle/the-guide/stage/troy_boy_at_the_new_theatre_royal_1_2499058
Cinderella - OperaUpClose, The King’s Head Theatre, Dec/Jan 2010-11
“...and Tom Bullard and Christopher Diffey did a spirited, personable double act as Dandini and Ramiro.”
The Telegraph, 7th January 2011 - Rupert Christiansen
“...Australian tenor Christopher Diffey is a robust Prince Ramiro.”
www.express.co.uk/posts/view/221954/
Express, 9th January 2011 - Clare Colvin
“...Christopher Diffey’s Prince took some warming up but by the time we hit the first dedicated recitative the voice was operating at a premium, easy and (rather like his character’s namesake) charming. Because of the nature of the space this is the hardest role of the event, with fearsome high notes popping out. Diffey undertook them with a base-jumper’s courage, missing not a single top C.”
http://framescourer.blogspot.com/2010/12/cinderella-opera-up-close-kings-head.html
Framescourer, 23rd December 2010
La Bohème - OperaUpClose, The Cock Tavern Theatre, Dec/Feb 2009-10
“...It would be easy to wax political about this lovely little production...how the young cast heralds the long-prophesied next operatic generation...the Mimi, Charmian Bedford, was particularly lovely...Christopher Diffey was well-matched as her Rodolfo”
Opera, March 2010 - Kate Molleson
“...Amongst the seat-shaking voices were the powerfully voiced Christopher Diffey as Rudolfo (sic) and Benjamin Seifert as his closest friend Marcello, both very talented...this is a brilliant production.”
http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/review_view.php?uid=4812
remotegoat, 31st January 2010 - Peter Carrington
“...None is needed to believe in this young cast, though, who are as close to the age of the characters as you’re likely to get, and decades younger than many great artists heard at the best operatic addresses. Not only do they look good, they sing impressively, too, and there’s no avoiding the visceral impact of Puccini’s emotion-laden score in this intimate space...with Christopher Diffey’s more laidback Rodolfo fielding a clear tenor.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2010/jan/07/la-boheme-operaupclose-review
The Guardian, 7th January 2010 - George Hall
“...the characterisation is immediate and authentic, the confusion and selfishness of first love powerfully conveyed in the contemporary setting...Rodolfo (Christopher Diffey) is still a writer, insecure and petulant...as the singers adjust their voices to the muggy acoustics of the upstairs room, grow into their roles and the story turns sour, you notice a deeper layer...”
The Independent, 20th December 2009 - Anna Picard
“...All are highly trained singers, excellent actors and delightful to look at. Christopher Diffey is an attractive Rodolfo with a mellifluous tenor voice...”
Hampstead and Highgate Express, 17th December 2009 - Aline Waites
“...says Christopher Diffey, a 28-year-old tenor who is one of the three Rodolfos and whose impressive rendition of Che Gelida Manina I get to hear at the rehearsal.”
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/dec/03/operaupclose-puccini-pub
The Guardian, 3rd December 2009 - Stephen Moss
The Barber of Seville - 1st August 2009 Garden Opera, Stubbings Opera festival
“Rosina’s secret admirer, Count Almaviva, disguised as the penniless student, Lindoro, was superbly played by Christopher Diffey - who not only looked every inch an aristocrat, but brought lyrical eloquence to the role, as his clear tenor voice rose, literally, to the challenges of the score.”
http://www.stubbingsnursery.co.uk/menus/main.asp?QTopMenu=Stubbings%20Events&QSubMenu=Opera
“...support the solo roulades and spiky duets (usually involving people with entirely different agendas, a fact made as clear as I’ve heard) performed with terrific verve and every appearance of enjoyment by a doubled cast of whom I saw...Christopher Diffey (Almaviva)
http://www.ashdownpark.com/assets/The%20Tablet%20review%20of%20Barber%202009.pdf
The Tablet, 25th July 2009 - Robert Thicknesse
Princess Ida - August 2008 Buxton International Gilbert & Sullivan Festival, Buxton Opera House
“...what a find, what a glorious voice. Absolutely wonderful, he paced everything beautifully with his dialogue. Beautiful voice, excellent. The “Kiss Me” was really fun, and the most important thing is he’s young...I think it was excellent we were able to bring him into this festival.”
Gillian Humphreys - Festival Adjudicator
Paradise Moscow - March 2008 Royal Academy Opera, Sir Jack Lyons Theatre
“...and Christopher Diffey sang and acted well as her errant boyfriend Sergei.”
Opera - Margaret Davies May 2008
“...the singing was of a high standard...Christopher Diffey’s Sergei probably wisely bucked the trend and stuck to his Australian accent.”
http://www.classicalsource.com/db_control/db_concert_review.php?id=5626 Nick Breckenfield
Le Nozze di Figaro - November 2007 Royal Academy Opera, Sir Jack Lyons Theatre
“The comic roles can be dismissed as providing purely light relief, but in this production the cameos portrayed were very strong and commanded full attention. I especially admired Emma Carrington’s Marcellina and Christopher Diffey’s Curzio...”
http://www.musicalpointers.co.uk Serena Fenwick November 16 2007
Dardanus - November 2006 Royal Academy Opera, Sir Jack Lyons Theatre
“Christopher Diffey shows promise of being a fine lyric tenor, and coped well with the severe technical demands of the title role.”
http://www.musicalpointers.co.uk Serena Fenwick November 21 2006
The Beggar’s Opera – August/September 2006 Surrey Opera, The Capitol, Horsham
“...tenor Christopher Diffey’s Macheath was so suave and agreeable a performer, with a nice if gentlish lyric tenor beautifully abreast of the note, that his attractive character held the show together admirably. We could see more of this stylish Australian, now studying at the Royal Academy.”
Opera Now - Roderic Dunnett January/February 2007
“The Australian Christopher Diffey provided a strong presence plus a pleasing tone for Macheath...”
Opera - Roderic Dunnett November 2006
“…Christopher Diffey sang and acted brilliantly as the highwayman.”
The Surrey Mirror – Derrick Graham October 5, 2006
“Christopher Diffey certainly looked the part as Macheath (and) sang with a clear, even tone…”
http://www.operatalent.co.uk Nicholas Bartlett September 30, 2006
“The principals are splendid, Christopher Diffey as the polygamous Macheath for whom the walk from the tavern at Newgate to the tree at Tyburn is all too short…”
The Cornishman – Frank Ruhrmund August 31, 2006
Israel in Egypt – March 19th 2006 Arun Choral Society
“...and most pleasing, the sensitive blend of warm voiced mezzo Lucie Spickova and the
clear tenor of Christopher Diffey.”
http://www.arunchoralsociety.co.uk/images/critmar06.pdf Duncan Robertson
Dichterliebe – December 1st 2005 Royal Academy of Music Afternoon Concert
“This was a lovely performance…the first seven songs cast a magical spell…”
Michael Dussek (Coordinator of Piano Chamber Music – RAM) December, 2005
An die ferne Geliebte – November 17th 2005 Royal Academy of Music Evening Concert
“A polished, poised and professional presentation of this cycle. It was vocally alluring and technically efficient. A beautiful lyrical tone quality was carefully sustained through the musically shaped phrases….this was musically and vocally satisfying work.”
Mark Wildman (Head of Voice – RAM) November 17, 2005
Don Pasquale – July 8-16th 2005 Lyric Opera of Melbourne, The Assembly Hall
“…Lyric Opera’s production of Don Pasquale was the funniest staging of an opera I have seen…Chris Diffey is a tall handsome young tenor, frequently compared to David Hobson...he acquitted himself well. He will be one to watch.” Stage Whispers – Graham Ford August, 2005
“…Christopher Diffey (Ernesto), show the wealth of emerging vocal talent in this city. Diffey…may well be a star of the future.” Herald Sun – Sybil Nolan July 12, 2005
“…and the work's Ernesto, Christopher Diffey, lives up to his reputation with a light, David Hobson-style head tenor.” The Age – Clive O’Connell July 12, 2005
Le Nozze di Figaro – June 11-18th 2005 Melbourne City Opera, St Martin’s Theatre
“…and newcomer Christopher Diffey makes a splash as Basilio…”
Herald Sun – Sybil Nolan June 15, 2005
“While the smaller roles of Cherubino (Martha George) and Basilio (Christopher Diffey) are well delineated, it's Diffey, who, in drag queen-style make-up, amps up the humour in this opera with obvious comic overtones.”
The Age – Joel Crotty June 14, 2005
© Christopher Diffey Tenor || Designed by Christopher Diffey