Described by critics as “tremendous,” “entertaining,” and “strong-voiced,” baritone James Wright is being lauded for his charismatic presence and warm baritone. Last season, James appeared as Larry in Masquerade with Shreveport Opera, Silvio in Pagliacci with Opera Orlando and Savannah Opera, Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Gulf Coast Symphony, and Dancaïro in Carmen with the Buffalo
Philharmonic. On the concert stage, Mr. Wright joined The Riverside Orchestra for Mahler’s Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen. This season’s engagements include performances as a soloist in Maryland Opera’s Viva Verismo concert, as Cecil in Benjamin Britten’s Gloriana, and as a soloist in Buffalo Philharmonic’s Mozart’s Requiem.
Other roles in his repertoire include Guglielmo in Cosi fan tutte, Count Almaviva in le nozze di Figaro, Malatesta in Don Pasquale, Sir Lancelot in Camelot, Ravenal in Showboat, and Richard White in the world premiere of Alice Ryley by Michael Ching with Sherrill Milnes and the Savannah Voice Festival. Other performances have included Jabez Stone in The Devil and Daniel Webster, The Pilot in Rachel Portman’s The Little Prince, John Sorel in The Consul, Valentin in Gounod’s Faust, and Schaunard in La Bohéme.
He has appeared with Nickel City Opera, Amarillo Opera, Mobile Opera, Hillman Opera, Shreveport Opera, El Paso Opera, Nickel City Opera, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Divaria Productions, Rochester Lyric Opera, the Natchez Festival of Music, The Amherst Symphony Orchestra and more. Of his performance at City Lyric Opera, critics raved, “how a gifted artist can perform a work we’ve heard hundreds of times and bring a freshness to it. From Rossini’s charming comedy Il barbiere di Siviglia, we heard the ‘Largo al factotum’ and also saw Figaro weaving through the audience combing people’s hair, without missing a beat. The patter part was perfectly performed.” (Voce di Meche)
Mr. Wright received his Bachelor of Education in Music Education and Master of Music in Vocal Performance from SUNY Fredonia. He received his professional training as both an Apprentice and Studio Artist with Sarasota Opera and as an Apprentice Artist with Palm Beach Opera for the 2017-18 season. He also spent three seasons as a Festival Artist with the Savannah Voice Festival under the tutelage of baritone, Sherrill Milnes, and will be returning for a fourth the Summer of 2020.