James Newby

Baritone

James Newby brings vocalism of great nuance and controlled solemnity to five reflective arias of mounting intensity to texts by the poet Jacqueline Saphra.

Martin Kettle, The Guardian - March 2025

James Newby is a former BBC New Generation Artist, Rising Star for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, a Borletti Buitoni Trust Award Winner and a European Concert Hall Organisation Rising Star.

Highlights

  • Komische Oper Berlin, Norwegian National Opera – Guglielmo Così fan tutte
  • Staatsoper Hannover –Eddy in Turnage Greek; title role Eugene Onegin
  • Die Schöne Müllerin– Wigmore Hall, Simon Lepper
  • The Poet in Otto Ketting’s Ithaka Symphony for solo baritone at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam with Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Antony Hermus.
  • Theater an der Wien – Maximilian Candide
  • Garsington Opera, Opera North, Opéra de Lausanne – Demetrius A Midsummer Night’s Dream
  • Debut solo CD I Wonder as I Wander on BIS Records with Joseph Middleton wins the Diapason d’Or Découverte

Biography

He won the Richard Tauber Prize for best interpretation of a Schubert Lied at the 2015 Wigmore Hall/Kohn International Song Competition and enjoys a close relationship with the Hall. Recent appearances include Mahler Rückert-Lieder in 2023 with Mitsuko Uchida; Die…

He won the Richard Tauber Prize for best interpretation of a Schubert Lied at the 2015 Wigmore Hall/Kohn International Song Competition and enjoys a close relationship with the Hall. Recent appearances include Mahler Rückert-Lieder in 2023 with Mitsuko Uchida; Die schöne Müllerin with Simon Lepper and a mixed programme of Dowland, Schubert, Wolf and Liszt with Joseph Middleton.

James was a member of the Ensemble of the Staatsoper Hannover (2019-2022), where his roles included Eddy in Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Greek, Guglielmo Così fan tutte and the title role in Eugene Onegin.

He has since appeared at Opéra national du Rhin, Theater an der Wien, Komische Oper Berlin, Garsington Opera and Opera North in roles including Guglielmo and Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also returned to Hannover, as a guest, for Eugene Onegin.

In the current season James sings Count Almaviva Le Nozze di Figaro with the Orchestra of the 18th Century followed by a fully staged production for Opera North in Leeds and makes his Grange Park Opera and role debut as Figaro Il Barbiere di Siviglia

James has appeared with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic Orchestra and performed baroque repertoire with David Bates, Jonathan Cohen and John Butt. Other concert highlights include a new commission for baritone by Michael Zev Gordon with the Britten Sinfonia. The Poet in Otto Ketting’s Ithaka Symphony with the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra and, in addition to his regular appearances at the Wigmore Hall, gave recitals at the Oxford Song Festival, Leeds Lieder and at the Concertgebouw Amsterdam.

His 2020 debut solo album I Wonder as I Wander (BIS) with Joseph Middleton was awarded the Diapason d’Or Découverte.

FOR USE IN THE 2025/26 SEASON

This biography should not be edited without permission from Maxine Robertson Management.
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