James Birchall

Bass-baritone James Birchall began his musical education as a chorister at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle and later studied at St John’s College, Cambridge, the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He has sung many of the major oratorio roles, notably Handel’s Messiah and Beethoven’s Choral Symphony, both with the CBSO in Symphony Hall, Birmingham, Bach’s St Matthew Passion in the Royal Festival Hall with the Bach Choir and in Symphony Hall with Ex Cathedra, St John Passion with the London Mozart Players in St Paul’s Cathedral and Christmas Oratorio and Messiah in Kristiansund, Norway. He has also performed Messiah in Gloucester, Worcester and Hereford Cathedrals and in the Usher Hall, Edinburgh, St John Passion in Chichester Cathedral with the Hanover Band and Charles Wood’s St Mark Passion in Cambridge for BBC Radio 3, which he subsequently recorded. In 2010 he made his solo debut at the BBC Proms, performing Vaughan Williams’ Serenade to Music, and has twice appeared as a soloist at the Three Choirs Festival, performing Serenade to Music and Purcell’s Hail Bright Cecilia.

On the opera stage, James has sung Superintendent Budd Albert Herring, Harasta Cunning Little Vixen, Dolokhov War and Peace and Earl Stanhope in Rory Boyle’s Kasper Hauser (RSAMD), Messenger Belshazzar at the Theatre du Capitole, Toulouse, Morales (cover) Carmen for Raymond Gubbay Ltd at the Royal Albert Hall and the O2 Arena, London, and Masetto/Commendatore Don Giovanni for Opera della Luna at the Iford Festival. His other roles include Sarastro Die Zauberflöte, Mephistopheles Faust, Zuniga Carmen and Swallow Peter Grimes. Recent/forthcoming engagements include Noye Noye’s Fludde in the Thaxted Festival, Messiah in The Usher Hall and in Poland and Norway, Christmas Oratorio at King’s Place and Gloucester Cathedral, Mass in B Minor at Cadogan Hall, Brahms’ German Requiem and Mendelssohn’s St Paul at Eton College and St John Passion with the AAM at St John’s, Smith Square.

Photo Credit: Gorlitz Photography

Please scroll down for Oratorio and Concert Repertoire: