{{short description|English tenor (born 1990)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox person |name = Alex Banfield |image = |caption = |birth_name = Alexander James Banfield |birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|02|17|df=yes}} |birth_place = Morpeth, Northumberland, England |occupation = Tenor |years_active = 2015–present |website = {{URL|http://alexbanfield.co.uk/}} }}
'''Alex Banfield''' (born 1990) is an English opera and concert tenor.
==Early life and education== Banfield grew up in Morpeth, Northumberland, and performed in local choral<ref name="RNS">{{cite web|title=Sage Gateshead|url=http://www.sagegateshead.com/event/messiah-01-12-13/|website=Sage Gateshead}}</ref> and operatic<ref name=Samling>{{cite news|author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.-->|title=Alex takes the lead in new play|url=https://www.newspostleader.co.uk/news/alex-takes-the-lead-in-new-play-1-5940830|date= 10 August 2013|work=News Post Leader}}</ref> productions in Northern England in his early twenties, while obtaining a degree in Sociology from Leeds University. He then trained at the Royal Northern College of Music<ref name=Whetstone>{{cite news|last1=Whetstone|first1=David|title=Meet the young Morpeth tenor who is finding his feet with Opera North|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/meet-young-morpeth-tenor-who-14419322|accessdate=29 January 2019|work=Chronicle Live|date= 26 March 2018}}</ref> in Manchester, receiving a Master of Music (Voice). While a student in Manchester, he was a lay clerk at Manchester Cathedral.<ref name=lay>{{cite web |url=http://www.manchestercathedral.org/upload/event/doc//event-rad2CFE4.pdf?05/08/2014%2004:42:22 |title=Coffee Concerts Autumn 2014 |date=27 September 2014 |format=PDF |accessdate=7 March 2019}}</ref> In 2013, he was a scholar with the Samling Institute (Samling Academy Opera), and made his debut with the title role in Britten's ''Albert Herring''.<ref name=albert>{{cite web |url=http://www.samling.org.uk/content/uploads/2015/04/Samling-Newsletter-March-2013.pdf |title=Samling News Summer 2013 |date=1 March 2013 |accessdate=7 March 2019}}</ref> He returned to Samling for their 2015 production of Ravel's ''L'enfant et les sortilèges'' to sing the Teacup and the Frog.<ref name=Shuttleworth>{{cite news|last=Shurttleworth|first=Jane|date= 1 August 2015|title=A bewitching L'Enfant et les sortilèges from Samling Academy Opera|url=https://bachtrack.com/review-enfant-sortileges-samling-academy-gateshead-july-2015|accessdate=7 March 2019|work=BachTrack}}</ref>
==Career== He performed full time with Opera North<ref name="Opera North">{{cite web|title=Chorus of Opera North|url=https://www.operanorth.co.uk/about-us/chorus-of-opera-north/|website=Opera North}}</ref> in Leeds until August 2020, when he joined the ensemble at Theatre Basel,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alex Banfield {{!}} DXP|url=https://www.theater-basel.ch/en/node/14966|access-date=2020-08-30|website=www.theater-basel.ch|language=en}}</ref> Switzerland as a young artist on their OperAvenir 20/21 program. For Opera North he sang Sam Kaplan in ''Street Scene'',<ref>{{Cite web|title=Street Scene|url=https://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/street-scene/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Opera North|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Ashley|first=Tim|date=2020-01-19|title=Street Scene review – full justice for murder in Manhattan|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/jan/19/street-scene-review-opera-north-leeds-grand|access-date=2020-08-30|issn=0261-3077}}</ref> Nikolio in ''Greek Passion'' by Martinů<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Greek Passion|url=https://www.operanorth.co.uk/whats-on/the-greek-passion/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Opera North|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Greek Passion, Opera North - pertinence and power|url=https://theartsdesk.com/opera/greek-passion-opera-north-pertinence-and-power|access-date=2020-08-30|website=theartsdesk.com}}</ref> (directed by Christopher Alden), Jonathan Dale in the UK premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning opera ''Silent Night'' by Kevin Puts (directed by Tim Albery),<ref name="Hall">{{cite news|last=Hall|first=George|date= 3 December 2018|title=Christmas truce movingly remembered in Silent Night at Leeds Town Hall|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b8ce4bde-f6ea-11e8-a154-2b65ddf314e9/|accessdate=29 January 2019|work=The Financial Times}}</ref><ref name="Christiansen">{{cite news|last1=Christiansen|first1=Rupert|title=Silent Night, Opera North/Town Hall, Leeds, review: this fresh and engaging take on war and peace wins battle with Britten|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/opera/what-to-see/silent-night-opera-northtown-hall-leeds-review-fresh-engaging/|accessdate=7 March 2019|work=The Telegraph|date= 1 December 2018}}</ref><ref name="Maddocks">{{cite news|last1=Maddocks|first1=Fiona|title=The week in classical: Silent Night; Messiah; Carmen review – anything but silent|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/dec/09/silent-night-opera-north-review-first-world-war-messiah-voces8-carmen-royal-opera|accessdate=7 March 2019|work=The Guardian|date= 9 December 2018}}</ref> St. Brioche in ''The Merry Widow'',<ref name="Annable">{{cite news|last1=Annable|first1=Elaine|title=Review: The Merry Widow, Opera North, Leeds Grand Theatre|url=http://www.yorkshiretimes.co.uk/article/Review-The-Merry-Widow-Opera-North-Leeds-Grand-Theatre|accessdate=7 March 2019|work=The Yorkshire Times|date= 1 October 2018}}</ref> Hrazda in ''Osud (Janáček)'', and Nemorino in ''L'elisir d'amore'' for their Whistle Stop tour.<ref name="Wood">{{cite news|last1=Wood|first1=Aimee|title=Opera North flex their vocal chords at Ordsall Hall|url=https://thelowryblog.wordpress.com/2016/03/18/opera-north-flex-their-vocal-chords-at-ordsall-hall/|accessdate=7 March 2019|work=The Lowry Blog|date= 18 March 2016}}</ref> He performed regularly in Manchester, including with the Manchester Opera Ensemble,<ref name="MOC">{{cite web|title=Manchester Opera Ensemble: Who we are|url=https://www.manchesteroperaensemble.co.uk/our-performers|website=Manchester Opera Ensemble}}</ref> Turton Consort,<ref name="Callaghan">{{cite news|last=Callaghan|first=Brigid|title=LIVE REVIEW: Turton Consort – Monteverdi: Madrigals book IV, St Ann's Church Manchester, 7th April|url=http://localsoundfocus.com/live-review-turton-consort-monteverdi-madrigals-book-iv-st-anns-church-manchester-7th-april/|accessdate=7 March 2019|work=Local Sound Focus|date= 17 April 2016}}</ref> Chetham Chamber Orchestra<ref name="Farr">{{cite news|last=Farr|first=Robert J|title=Fine Mozart Performances from St George's Singers. Soloists and Chetham's Chamber Orchestral|url=http://seenandheard-international.com/2015/11/fine-mozart-performances-from-st-georges-singers-soloists-and-chethams-chamber-orchestra/|accessdate=7 March 2019|work=Seen and Heard International|date= 23 November 2015}}</ref> and Manchester Baroque.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Manchester Baroque: Handel's Messiah {{!}} Fever|url=https://feverup.com/m/81319|access-date=2020-08-30|website=feverup.com|language=en}}</ref> In 2024, for Les Talens Lyriques he performed in a recording for the label Château de Versailles Spectacles in a little known piece, ''L'Olimpiade'' by Cimarosa,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cimarosa: l'Olimpiade |url=https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/9612189--cimarosa-lolimpiade |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=Presto Music |language=en}}</ref> which culminated in a performance at the Royal Opera of Versailles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CIMAROSA : L'OLIMPIADE - |url=https://www.operaroyal-versailles.fr/en/event/cimarosa-lolimpiade/ |access-date=2024-05-19 |website=www.operaroyal-versailles.fr |language=en-GB}}</ref> He has also performed with the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic Orchestra, the Royal Northern Sinfonia,<ref name="RNS"/> and was regular soloist for the Liverpool Bach Collective.
== References == {{reflist}}
== External links == *[http://alexbanfield.co.uk/ Alex Banfield Official Website] *[https://www.operabase.com/a/alex-banfield/101539/en Operabase database page]
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Banfield, Alex}} Category:1990 births Category:Living people Category:21st-century English male singers Category:21st-century English singers Category:Alumni of the Royal Northern College of Music Category:English operatic tenors Category:English tenors Category:Musicians from Northumberland Category:People associated with the University of Leeds Category:People from Morpeth, Northumberland