Max Christie

Biography

Clarinetist Max Christie’s career is defined by excellence and versatility. As comfortable in the soloist’s role as he is in the orchestra, he is a gifted chamber musician as well an insightful experienced interpreter of the most important modern and contemporary works.

Mr. Christie has performed and toured with the National Ballet Orchestra where he holds the principal clarinet chair, as well as with the Canadian Opera Company, The Esprit Orchestra and the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. He has appeared as soloist with the TSO, the Calgary Philharmonic, The Esprit Orchestra, the Kitchener Waterloo Symphony and the Windsor Symphony. The former principal clarinet of the Esprit Orchestra, he remains a devoted champion of new music, especially by young Canadian composers.

He has recorded and performed with the most prominent contemporary music ensembles in the country, including Toca Loca, Soundstreams, Continuum Contemporary Music, Array Music and New Music Concerts. His recording of Elliot Carter’s music, including the solo work Gra, is available on the Naxos Label. The Spawn of Abe, a double concerto with Oboe by MC Maguire, was released on the Innova label. He recorded with David Occhipinti on the disc camera, and with Patricia O’Callaghan on her release of the songs of George Gershwin. He has also recorded the music of Harry Somers, Rudolph Koumorous. Contemporary solo performances include the works by Gavin Bryars, Anders Hillborg, Heather Schmidtt and Michel Gonneville.

Onstage, he has accompanied some of the finest dancers in the country with the National Ballet of Canada and with Peggy Baker Dance Projects. Recently he branched out into the world of theatre, in a workshop production of Charlotte Salomon: Life? or Theatre? with Canadian Stage.