Christopher’s background and interest in classical music means he is increasingly in demand for collaborative projects as narrator, reader and presenter for concerts and recitals. His concert appearances range from regular recital partnerships with the pianist Gamal Khamis and the Bridge String Quartet, to full scale orchestral and choral presentations and narrations.

Contact

Forthcoming Appearances 2024

Good Friday 29th March, 4pm - Haydn’s Seven Last Words with the Bridge Quartet. St Mary’s Church, Perivale, UB6 8SS. Free with retiring collection - also live-streamed at www.st-marys-perivale.org.uk

Friday 12th April, 7pm - Dear Father (Mozart quartets & readings) with the Bridge Quartet. St Mary’s Church, Boyton, Wilts, BA12 0SS Tickets £15/£10 via boyton7lw@gmail.com

Saturday 13th April, 7pm - Dear Father (Mozart quartets & readings) with the Bridge Quartet. Kennett, Lincombe Drive, Torquay, TQ1 2LP. Free with retiring collection - Seat reservations: deborah@kearneybrewer.com

Sunday 14th April, 4.30pm - Dear Father (Mozart quartets & readings) with the Bridge Quartet. Barkham Gallery, South Molton, Devon EX36 3LU. Tickets £12/£5 (students/U18 free) - www.barkham-exmoor.co.uk

Wednesday 22nd May, 7.30pm - Enoch Arden by Tennyson/Strauss with Gamal Khamis. OSO Arts Centre, 49 Station Road, Barnes, London, SW13 0LF. Tickets £17/£15 - www.osoarts.org.uk

Tuesday 4th June, 4pm - An Exquisite Harmony with Gamal Khamis & Fenella Norman. Georgian Theatre Royal, Richmond, N Yorks, DL10 4DW (part of the Swaledale Festival). Tickets £15/£2 (under-25) - www.swalefest.org

Sunday 3rd November, 3pm St Mary’s Church, Perivale, UB6 8SS - Programme TBC with Gamal Khamis

RECENT PROJECTS

AN EXQUISITE HARMONY with Gamal Khamis (piano) and Fenella Norman, 2022-23

The moving and fascinating story of the relationship between Robert and Clara Schumann and the young Johannes Brahms, drawing on their letters and diaries and including piano repertoire by all three artists.

Audience comments from the premiere at St Mary's Perivale in November 2022:

"absolutely brilliant… an amazing performance"

"an unforgettable afternoon"

"wonderfully life and love-affirming… will live long in the memory"

"an intriguing story with terrific piano playing"

"the script is brilliant... a magnificent triumph"

NEVER SUCH INNOCENCE with Gamal Khamis, piano, 2016-24

The acclaimed narrative recital of words and music from the First World War seen in London and on tour nationally in the UK.

“An incredibly moving performance” Katie Derham, BBC Radio 3

SEVEN LAST WORDS with The Bridge Quartet, 2019-24

The Bridge String Quartet is an internationally famous chamber ensemble with a discography of over fifty recordings. In this performance programme of Haydn’s timeless Seven Last Words they are joined by actor Christopher Kent who reads selections of classic and contemporary poetry between the movements in a recreation of the work’s 1786 premiere.

The Voice of God in NOYE’S FLUDDE at ECC Theatre London, conducted by Lee Marchant, 2017

Conductor Lee Marchant’s production of Benjamin Britten’s Noye’s Fludde featured full orchestra and a cast of professional soloists, including actor Christopher Kent as the Voice of God, joined by a chorus of several hundred local school children.

ODYSSEY with Gamal Khamis, piano, 2020-21

Odyssey - Words and Music of Finding Home tells the story of the aftermath of war, with the legend of Odysseus’s epic journey home from Troy to Ithaca interwoven with themes of journey, diaspora and migration explored through words and music, including specially commissioned works by six award-winning contemporary poets and composers.

“Extraordinary - exceptionally beautiful and moving” Refugee Hosts

THE COMPOSER IS DEAD with West London Sinfonia, conducted by Philip Hesketh, Ealing Music & Film Festival, 2019

Based on the children’s book by Lemony Snicket this highly entertaining work for Narrator and orchestra by US composer Nathaniel Stookey is a kind of musical whodunnit in which an Inspector is called in to solve the mystery of the composer’s death.

“Christopher Kent, the WLS and Philip Hesketh were all FABULOUS - thank you all so much for a wonderful event!” Ealing Music & Film Festival

MEMBRA JESU NOSTRI with the Orlando Chamber Choir, conducted by Will Dawes, 2016

London’s celebrated Orlando Choir decided to intersperse this rare performance of the exquisite cycle of renaissance cantatas by Dietrich Buxtehude with readings by Christopher Kent of secular poetry on related themes by writers including Philip Larkin, Simon Armitage, Emily Dickinson and others.

ENOCH ARDEN with Gamal Khamis, piano, 2020-24

Alfred, Lord Tennyson’s 1864 epic poem as set to music by Richard Strauss in 1897 was performed to acclaim by Christopher Kent and Gamal Khamis to live and live-streamed audiences at venues including London’s Jermyn Street Theatre the Three Choirs Festival in Worcester. In September 2021 they recorded it for CD release by SOMM Recordings.

“The performance by Gamal Khamis and Christopher Kent had me totally transfixed.” Alexis Paterson, CEO Three Choirs Festival

“A truly wonderful performance… poignant and enthralling” Andy Smith

MYTH, HOPE & TRAGEDY with River of Music, 2017

To commemorate the centenary of the Russian Revolution, piano trio Yoriko Wakabayashi, Michiko Gibbs and Simon Trentham were joined by actor Christopher Kent who read from writers including Yevgeny Yevtushenko, Svetlana Alexievich and John Reed