From The Royal Opera House to The Royal Albert Hall, Alexander Wall is no stranger to large audiences. The operatic tenor – formerly a chorister at Westminster Abbey – has performed for royalty, heads of state and live audiences, but has since swapped the intensity of a chapel for the buzz of the sports field. His pioneering company Opera4Sport is an industry leader that provides national anthems for major sporting events, with Wall’s musical talents now being used in a far less stereotypical – but equally as important – context. With the tenor set to perform the national anthems at the inaugural Anglo-American Padel Cup, Cage 91’s exclusive interview with Wall delves into his early years as a chorister, his transition into the sports industry and, finally, what he hopes to achieve from performing at one of padel’s most exciting upcoming events.
Intertwining Sport and Music – An Unconventional Path
Despite Alexander describing sport as a “massive part of my life,” his move into the sporting world has been far from conventional. A student at Westminster Abbey Choir School, a close-knit environment with just 40 boys per year group, the opportunities for sport to play a leading influence in school life were limited. Yet, outside the classroom, Wall’s involvement in tennis kept his interest in sport anchored as a key part of childhood. Having picked up a tennis racquet at the age of five, his competitive spirit was fueled by matches with his brother, who was also an avid racquet-sports player. These memories convey Alexander’s persisting involvement in sport. Still, one could be forgiven for asking how this led to a full-time career where the tenor is a consistent performer at sports events.
Alexander Wall’s transition into the sporting sphere can be characterised by a chance encounter, followed by a meaningful dive into the intersection of sport and music. On a musical level, Alexander had already informed his knowledge of opera’s vocality by studying at the Royal Northern College of Music to a postgraduate level, but – having been invited to perform the national anthems at a small number of events – he discovered that sport and opera shared a sense of emotional intensity. His first event in sport, a Masters tennis event at the Northern Lawn Tennis Club in Manchester, was a lesson on how unexpected events like operatic singing could strongly impact sports audiences. Wall’s operatic voice could elevate the atmosphere in unique ways, and its scale and emotional power mirrored the drama of the matches he would perform before. Following this, he jumped on an opportunity to perform at the England vs. Rest of the World squash tournament at St. George’s Hill, which was streamed on YouTube and supported by BBC Sport; this success led to a further role at the ATP Champions Tennis at the Royal Albert Hall, and by this time, the die was cast. Alexander’s belief in merging opera with sport was solidified, and in 2017, he founded Opera4Sport, a dedicated platform for operatic performances at major sports events, through which he continues to operate today.
On a musical level, Alexander had already informed his knowledge of opera’s vocality by studying at the Royal Northern College of Music to a postgraduate level.
The Anglo-American Cup – A New Chapter
Alexander is now preparing to perform at the inaugural Anglo-American Padel Cup, marking his first foray into padel’s professional scene. His keenness for racquet sports has seen him become a consistent padel player when he isn’t performing, with Wall noting that it “merged elements of the sports I already loved.” The competition aims to continue the passion and verve that have characterised the UK-US sporting rivalry over the years, and Wall hopes that his performance, while elegant, will only add to what is already a charged sporting atmosphere. Despite the tournament’s inaugural nature, Wall mentions that his prior experience of performing at a ‘UK vs US’ sporting event will help him to energise both sides of the crowd, as well as adding a personal touch. Having been a chorister at the Whiteman Cup, held at the Royal Albert Hall with the late Queen in attendance, the parallels between that and the Anglo-American Padel Cup create the sense of a ‘full circle’ moment for someone whose journey has transcended the typical route of a chorister.
The competition aims to continue the passion and verve that have characterised the UK-US sporting rivalry over the years, and Wall hopes that his performance, while elegant, will only add to what is already a charged sporting atmosphere.
Looking Forward – What to Expect
With Opera4Sport ever-growing in its sporting repertoire, Wall hopes that his future is characterised by further involvement in padel, with the Hexagon Cup and other major tournaments potential avenues to further consolidate his position as padel’s ‘first-mover’ in the operatic performance department. Alexander also composes his own works and hopes to build on the success of a piece at the Canary Wharf Squash Classic by introducing his own anthems at future events.
Alexander Wall’s professional journey has led him from tennis to squash and, now, finally, to padel. The anthems of the Anglo-American Padel Cup look to be in safe hands, and his performances will undoubtedly create a memorable, emotionally charged opening to this new tournament.
