James McOran-Campbell is regularly acclaimed in the press both for his vocal quality and his attractive and compelling stage presence. He is acknowledged by colleagues, critics and public alike as both a remarkable operatic talent and a popular and accomplished recital artist.

Biography

London-born, he read French and Russian at Exeter then qualified as a Management Accountant working at British Airways. He began his operatic training in Milan, before attending the Guildhall School of Music and Drama whilst making early professional appearances as Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Achillas in Julius Caesar, Argante in Rinaldo, Proteo/Marte in Il Parnasso in Festa, Marco in Gianni Schicchi at St. John’s Smith Square, and Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro at the Royal Festival Hall. He studies with Robert Dean and is represented by Athole Still International.

Going on to study at the National Opera Studio, he came to the attention of a wider public as Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore and his critically-acclaimed Figaro in Il Barbiere de Siviglia, both for Grange Park Young Artists. This led to engagements for Grange Park Opera as Bello in La Fanciulla del West and Hajny/Lovec in Rusalka. He made his debut for Opera North in the title role of Don Giovanni and has since returned to Opera North as Count in The Marriage of Figaro and Pastore/Spirito in Orfeo.

Further highlights have included Dandini in La Cenerentola under Carlo Rizzi for Welsh National Opera and the creation of the central baritone role in the world première of The Ground beneath her Feet with the Hallé, conducted by Mark Elder at the Manchester International Festival. At the same time he understudied for English National Opera in Death in Venice, and he recently sang Rolf Gruber in The Sound of Music at Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris. For English Touring Opera he has sung roles in The Cunning Little Vixen, La Traviata and Don Giovanni, while significant appearances elsewhere include Pelléas, Tarquinius, Hamlet, Marcello and Guglielmo.

An experienced concert artist, oratorio performances have included Mozart’s Requiem at the Royal Albert Hall, Mendelssohn’s Elijah at Arundel Cathedral and gala concerts at venues such as the Symphony Hall in Birmingham and the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester for Raymond Gubbay. His European concert engagements have included Rossini’s Messe in Milan and Savona with the Complesso Cameristico Internazionale and in London with the Philharmonia Chorus, Brahms’ Ein Deutches Requiem at the Chiesa San Carlo in Milan and a televised concert of Zarzuela in Spain.

Much in demand as a recitalist, with accompanists including Mark Packwood and Iain Burnside, James’ recent performances have included the world premiere of Tarik O’Regan’s settings of Three Andrew Motion Songs at King’s Place in London, and three recital programmes at the Crush Room, Royal Opera House.

Recent appearances include Falke for Castleward Opera, The Coronation of Poppea for the Early Opera Company, Nardo in La Finta Giardiniera for Opéra de Baugé. Upcoming engagements include title role in Il Barbiere di Siviglia for Zomer Opera in Belgium, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte for Opéra de Baugé, a return to Opera North for The Merry Widow, Yamadori in Madam Butterfly at the Royal Albert Hall, and the reprise of Hajny/Lovec in Rusalka for Grange Park Opera.

Together with tenor Alexander Anderson-Hall, he regularly performs a selection of eclectic recital programmes which they have devised under the name of Opera Galleria.

Recordings include Songs of the Phoenix, a programme of Italian arias, songs and duets for baritone and tenor recorded at Champs Hill, Surrey, with Alexander Anderson-Hall. Also settings of English songs by Harold Craxton.

CDs can also be made available of the Crush Room recital Le Travail du Peintre with Mark Packwood and the Opera and Song concert given in June with Alexander Anderson-Hall (tenor) and Gareth Owen (piano).

James McOran-Campbell

Baritone

Biography