“It was uplifting to hear this masterpiece given with such evident belief and commitment – not least from the admirable baritone Christopher Cull, who was wholly exceptional.” – Robert Matthew-Walker, Classical Source
Biography
Northern Irish baritone Christopher Cull is an alumnus of the National Opera Studio, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Royal Irish Academy of Music and Queen’s University Belfast.
His operatic appearances include Marcello in La bohème for Opera Holland Park; Masetto in Don Giovanni, Don Carissimo in La Dirindina, Pan in Daphnis et Chloé and Assassin/Apparition in Macbeth for Northern Ireland Opera; Theseus in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for Blackwater Valley Opera Festival; Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia and Lelio in Le donne curiose at Guildhall School of Music & Drama; Zaretsky in Eugene Onegin for Buxton Opera; Donner in Das Rheingold with Birmingham Philharmonic Orchestra; Valentin in Faust for Clonter Opera; Bank Account Billy in The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny for Opera Theatre Company; and Le Geôlier/Javelinot in Dialogues des Carmélites for Grange Park Opera.
A longstanding collaborator with composer Conor Mitchell and Belfast Ensemble, Christopher has created roles in The Headless Soldier, Abomination and MASS. These works have taken him to the Lyric Theatre Belfast, Abbey Theatre Dublin and Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre.
His concert engagements include Bach’s St John Passion with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Walton’s Belshazzar’s Feast at the Barbican, Mendelssohn’s Elijah at Truro Cathedral, Monteverdi’s Vespers of 1610 with Sheffield Oratorio Chorus, Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem with The Angmering Chorale and Handel’s Messiah at Knock Basilica.
Christopher is an Arts Council of Northern Ireland Young Musicians’ Platform winner and a former Young Artist with Opera Theatre Company. He has received support from the Girdlers’ Company, Countess of Munster Musical Trust, Simon Fletcher Charitable Trust, Arts Council of Northern Ireland and Arts Council of Ireland.
Reviews
A Midsummer Night’s Dream — Blackwater Valley Opera Festival, 2025
“Both maintained a regal demeanor and produced confident, clearly sung performances.” — OperaWire
Opera Shorts — Buxton International Festival, 2025
“His singing was clear, articulate and intelligently developed.” — OperaWire
Classical Source
“The admirable baritone Christopher Cull, who was wholly exceptional.” — Robert Matthew-Walker, Classical Source
Elijah — Truro Cathedral
“From baritone-soloist Christopher Cull’s very first vocal utterance, it was clear that he had the vocal prowess to bring the role to life. Richness in tone quality, surety in production, clarity of diction and of pitch—these were just some of his musical strengths, which never failed him throughout his long and significantly demanding contribution.” — Philip R Buttall, Seen and Heard International
Don Giovanni — Northern Ireland Opera
“Aoife Miskelly’s clearly pregnant Zerlina is sung with impeccable definition, well matched by Christopher Cull’s volatile Masetto.” — George Hall, The Guardian