Recipient of The Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award, Christopher Allen has been featured in Opera News as “one of the fastest-rising podium stars in North America.” He has led acclaimed performances with the Los Angeles Opera, Opera Philadelphia, English National Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Washington National Opera, Detroit Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Atlanta Opera, Daegu Opera House in South Korea and China National Opera Orchestra and Chorus. As The John L. Magro Resident Conductor for Cincinnati Opera, Allen joined the company for three consecutive seasons, in addition to leading the Cincinnati Symphony in the annual Washington Park Concert each summer.

In 2021, Allen conducted the broadcast of Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Rising Stars concert and made his debut with the National Symphony Orchestra in the STARias concert at Wolf Trap. This was followed by a subscription concert with the Korean Symphony Orchestra, and his debut conducting Die Zauberflöte at Opéra de Montréal and Des Moines Metro Opera, and I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Opera Omaha. Recent projects have included Opera Philadelphia’s film and audio recording of Poulenc’s La voix humaine starring Patricia Racette and an album release for Beneath the Sky, featuring works by American composers and Allen at the piano. Most recently, Allen also conducted Carmen at Arizona Opera, Aida at Cincinnati Opera, and La Traviata at Lyric Opera of Kansas City, before returning to the Kansas City Symphony for Handel’s Messiah.

Other highlights include Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Orquestra Sinfónica do Estado de São Paulo, appearances with the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Atelier lyrique at the Opera de Montréal in a concert curated by Allen, and the West Los Angeles Symphony conducting Grammy-winning guitarist, Scott Tennant, at Royce Hall, followed by a return to Cincinnati Opera for Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

Allen’s career was launched by the Bruno Walter Conducting Award and Memorial Career Grant and has been fostered by Plácido Domingo and James Conlon, who brought him to Los Angeles Opera as Associate Conductor. At LA Opera, Allen led the musical preparation for the acclaimed The Ghosts of Versailles, which won a Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording. In addition to earning recognition as a Musical America Artist of the Month and one of their “25 Stars Still Rising,” Allen is a recipient of a Solti Foundation US Career Assistance Award and an International Opera Awards nominee. He recently received the Young Alumni Award from the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Allen’s artistic pursuits extend beyond his role as conductor. He demonstrates his commitment to education through his work with young artists at Aspen Music Festival, Los Angeles Opera, Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opéra, New England Conservatory, A.J. Fletcher Institute at University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and University of Missouri - Kansas City.