James Morris

Vocalists — Bass-Baritone

• Manager: Elizabeth Crittenden
  Management Territory: Worldwide

In one of his celebrated roles, Morris projected a genuine quality as the aging, conflicted leader who, nevertheless, could still strike a commanding presence. Confrontations with his confidant Rodrigo, his son and his queen were super-charged. His great aria, “Ella giammai m’amo!” (She never loved me), was shattering. In the scene with the Grand Inquisitor that followed, the king’s feeling of powerlessness under the church was palpable. —Cincinnati Enquirier, June 26, 2009 - Filippo II in 'Don Carlo'

The great Wagnerian bass James Morris, born to sing Wotan, was perfect as one of the hermits, Pater Profundis, brooding about the rocky chasms at his feet and the anxiety of his perplexed soul. —Anthony Tommasini, The New York Times, May 2008 - Wotan in the MET's Ring Cycle

Morris was in excellent form, his voice sounding full and resonant, with a rich range of tonal colors up and down his range and phrasing that was consistently infused with feeling and nuance. While he could, of course, deliver all the force needed in the big moments, what was perhaps less expected was his ability to be so emotionally expressive in quieter, more subdued sections, such as his soft yet riveting entrance in Act 1. —Kyle MacMillan, The Denver Post, April 2008 - The Dutchman in 'Der fliegende Hollaender'

About

Legendary bass-baritone James Morris is world famous for his performances in opera, concert, recital, and recording. With a repertoire including works by Wagner, Verdi, Puccini, Offenbach, Stravinsky, Mussorgsky, Mozart, Gounod and Britten, Mr. Morris has performed in virtually every international opera house and has appeared with the major orchestras of Europe and the United States. Considered one of the greatest interpreters of the role of Wotan in Wagner's 'Der Ring des Nibelungen', Morris has appeared in this role at the Metropolitan Opera, . . . Vienna State Opera, Bavarian State Opera, Munich, Deutsche Oper, Berlin, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera and many others. He is also considered the world’s leading interpreter of the title role in Wagner's 'Der fliegende Holländer' and has appeared as Hans Sachs in 'Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg' at the major houses of the United States and Europe.

For the 2010 - 2011 season, James Morris will sing the Dutchman in 'Der fliegende Holländer' at Opéra National de Paris and then will go to Bilbao for Reverend Olin Blitch in Floyd's 'Susannah'. He will also be seen as the title role in 'The Mikado' at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, his role debut in the title role of 'Don Pasquale' at Washington National Opera, Frère Laurent in 'Roméo et Juliette' at the Metropolitan Opera and Mahler's 8th Symphony under Daniele Gatti with Orchestra National de France. He will also perform his signature role of Scarpia in 'Tosca' at the MET. Future seasons will see him at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Metropolitan Opera, and Opera Australia.

Mr. Morris opened the 2009 - 2010 Lyric Opera of Chicago season as Scarpia in Puccini’s 'Tosca' and was also a featured soloist in the “Stars of the Lyric Opera of Chicago” gala concert in Millennium Park. A favorite with New York audiences, he appeared in three Metropolitan Opera productions this season: his role debut as Dr. Schön/Jack the Ripper in Alban Berg’s 'Lulu', his first MET appearances as Fiesco in Verdi’s 'Simon Boccanegra', and another role debut as Claudius in Thomas’s 'Hamlet'. On the New York concert stage, Mr. Morris performed in the annual Richard Tucker Gala and gave a recital in honor of the George London Foundation.

In the 2008 - 2009 season, Mr. Morris appeared in his signature role of Wotan in three complete cycles of Wagner’s 'Der Ring des Nibelungen' conducted by James Levine. He also performed Gremin in Tchaikovsky’s 'Eugene Onegin' at the Metropolitan Opera and sang in the Metropolitan Opera 125th Anniversary Gala, conducted by Maestro Levine. Other opera engagements included appearances as Filippo in Verdi’s 'Don Carlo' at the Cincinnati Opera and as Scarpia in Puccini’s 'Tosca' at the Opéra National de Paris. Mr. Morris also sang in concert performances of Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg at Tanglewood, the Mahler's 8th Symphony with Michael Tilson Thomas and the San Francisco Symphony (which won a 2010 Grammy Award), and Verdi’s 'Simon Boccanegra' with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Dayton Opera featured Mr. Morris in their Star Gala Recital Series in March 2009.

(Updated June 2010)

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