Dunedin-born tenor Chris McRae is a graduate of the National Academy of Singing and Dramatic Art (NASDA) and holds a degree in Classical Voice from the University of Auckland. Having a passion for both musical theatre and classical music, he is experienced in a wide range of theatrical genres, from plays and cabarets to musicals and operas. He has performed and covered various roles with New Zealand Opera in productions of Sweeney Todd, Carmen, The Mikado, Don Pasquale, Tosca, La Boheme, The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, Così fan tutte, The Unruly Tourists, and most recently Rigoletto.
Since 2022, Chris has performed in the annual Marlborough Opera Festival, with roles including Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Bill in A Hand of Bridge, the Narrator in Bach’s Coffee Cantata, and Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro.
Other professional credits include Amadeus, The Mikado, The Emperor’s New Clothes, Mary Poppins and Jesus Christ Superstar (The Court Theatre); South Pacific, Oklahoma!, HMS Pinafore, and Saturday Night Fever (Ben McDonald); The Last 5 Years (Kindle Theatre); and Rock of Ages (Magnitude). His television credits include Black Hands and studio vocals for the Aotearoa musical comedy Happiness.
Chris’s directorial credits include The Last 5 Years (Three Divas and A Queen Productions)and the upcoming Opera Scenes with the University of Auckland.
Whilst maintaining a busy performing schedule, Chris is also completing his PhD in Musicology at the University of Auckland, studying performance practices in contemporary musical theatre. Chris thrives in exploring the crossovers of performance and academia. When not on the stage or in the studio, he can often be found tucked away in the stacks of the university library.