a master of Lieder
- Neil Fisher, The Times
James Newby is a former BBC New Generation Artist and Rising Star for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He was nominated by the Barbican Hall for the European Concert Hall Organisation Rising Star scheme and will be presented by them in recitals throughout Europe in the 2022-23 season.
A recipient of the Richard Tauber Prize for best interpretation of a Schubert Lied at the 2015 Wigmore Hall/Kohn International Song Competition, James has since enjoyed a close relationship with the Hall, a recent highlight being a performance of Die schöne Müllerin with Simon Lepper.
He has been awarded a prestigious Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award, in recognition and support of his emerging status as one of the most outstanding young musicians of his generation, and he took part in their twentieth anniversary celebrations at Wigmore Hall singing Mahler with Mitsuko Uchida.
The release of his debut solo CD I Wonder as I Wander on BIS Records in 2020 with pianist Joseph Middleton was the winner of the Diapason d’Or Découverte and described in Gramophone Magazine as “a performance that sets the tone, announcing Newby as an impressive artist”.
In September 2019 James joined the Ensemble of the Staatsoper Hannover where in 2021 he garnered particular praise for his debut as Eddy in Mark-Anthony Turnage’s Greek. Other important role debuts in Hannover include Guglielmo Così fan tutte and the title role in Eugene Onegin.
In 2023 he made his French opera debut as Der Junker in Schreker Der Schatzgräber at Opéra National du Rhin; his debut at the Komische Oper Berlin as Guglielmo; sang Aeneas in Purcell Dido and Aeneas at The Grange Festival and further ahead made debuts at Garsington Opera, Theater an der Wien and Gran Teatre del Liceu Barcelona.
Concert performances last season included Haydn The Creation with the Slovenian Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Bart Van Reyn and Handel’s Messiah with Harry Christophers and The Sixteen. Past concert appearances include Berlioz with the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Mozart with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Handel with the Britten Sinfonia. He has also appeared in other baroque repertoire with conductors David Bates, Jonathan Cohen and John Butt, toured in Europe with the Orchestra of the Eighteenth Century singing Bach and made his US debut with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Juanjo Mena.
James studies with Robert Dean.
Reviews
Newby’s portrayal of Eddy in Turnage’s Greek at the Staatsoper Hannover was a standout, demonstrating his versatility and dramatic prowess
- The Guardian about Greek at Staatsoper Hannover
James Newby delivered a performance that was both vocally impeccable and emotionally resonant, captivating the audience at the Elbphilharmonie.
- Bachtrack (Gramophone) about Die Schöne Müllerin at Elbphilharmonie Hamburg
James Newby’s portrayal of Maximilian was a standout, bringing a unique blend of humor and vocal prowess to the role.
- The Stage about Candide at Theater an der Wien
James Newby could hardly be bettered as Demetrius in A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
- Richard Fairman, Financial Times about A Midsummer Night’s Dream at Garsington Opera
Newby’s 'Fallen to Dust' album is a poignant exploration of English song, delivered with exquisite emotional depth and precision.
- Gramophone about Newby’s 2nd CD Fallen to Dust
James Newby brought a fresh and earnest portrayal of Onegin, capturing both the character's arrogance and his later regret with compelling depth.
- Opera Journal about Eugen Onegin at Staatsoper Hannover