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).