Jimi James |
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Jimi James, baritone Baritone Jimi James is making his debut with Mercury Opera Rochester with this production. He is a performer of unusual versatility and equally unusual pedigree. Having sung many years as a part time professional, the artist leapt into full time performing just five years ago. In that time, Mr. James has learned and performed fourteen roles with twelve different companies. His roles with Syracuse Opera are numerous: Escamillo, the title role in The Marriage of Figaro (both also with West Virginia Symphony), Papageno, Schaunard, Thomas Garrett (She Never Lost a Passenger), and Masetto, and this season he added Monterone in Syracuse Opera’s fall production of Rigoletto and Tonio in their spring production of Pagliacci. This season also marks his return as Escamillo to Annapolis Opera, where he previously performed the role of Dr. Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and his debut with Granite State Opera as Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor. He has performed twice with Opera Memphis, as Enrico Ashton (Lucia di Lammermoor) and Masetto. He debuted with Opera Vivente as Mustafa and returned the following season to perform the title role in Rigoletto. Tri Cities Opera engaged the artist for the role of Germont in La Traviata. Mr. James has appeared with Connecticut Concert Opera as Plunkett in the infrequently performed (Stateside) opera Martha by Flotow. He has also appeared with Annapolis Chamber Orchestra as Billy Bigelow. Mr. James’ solo concert credits are equally numerous and diverse. Performances include Carmina Burana, the Requiem settings of Brahms, Fauré, Mozart and Verdi, Bach cantatas 211, 145, 78 and 68, Songs of Love and War (Moravec), Mefistofele in Boito’s Prologue to Mefistofele, Elijah, Schubert Mass in G, Messiah and The Wolf in Peter vs. the Wolf. Mr. James is particularly fond of his roles for children’s opera, having over 600 performances to his credit. In this capacity, he has sung the roles of Peter in Hansel and Gretel, Don Giovanni Pig in The Three Little Pigs, The Wolf in both The Return of Little Red Riding Hood and Little Red’s Most Unusual Day, The Giant in Jack and the Beanstalk and Dinty in Never Tickle a Mule. Mr. James was a finalist in the Chester Ludgin American Verdi Baritone Competition, winner of the Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation Vocal Competition and recipient of the Manfred Meyer Artist of the Year award. |