James Birchall

Genre: Baritone/Bass

Artist Reviews

‘Quoniam introduced the very fine bass voice of James Birchall and horn-player Anneke Scott.... The result was exhilarating!’

J.S. Bach, Mass in B Minor, Oxford Early Music Festival

"The five Gospel excerpts, with organ accompaniment and occasional choir contributions, are all magnificently sung by Simon Wall (tenor) as the Evangelist; James Birchall (baritone) as Christ and Edward Grint (bass) in the roles of the High Priest, Judas and Pilate."

Charles Wood St. Mark Passion recording, St. John's Cambridge - Michael Cookson.

‘Bass-Baritone James Birchall had many splendid moments and successfully plumbed the depths to find the worm! He gave a very creditable account of his taxing role throughout’ –

The Creation, Haydn - Lichfield Cathedral

"Bass-Baritone James Birchall was the welcome newer voice"

Messiah, Usher Hall Edinburgh - The Herald

"James Birchall produced a variety of appropriate timbres for his solos. These displayed wonderful breath control, articulation and dynamics."

Messiah, Pershore Abbey - Worcester News

"A commanding stage presence and a good sense of style"

Hampshire Singer of the Year Competition - Dame Janet Baker

Biography

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:

Oratorio and concert rep 
Composer Work
Bach, C.P.E. Magnificat
Bach, J.S. Cantatas 29, 82, 140
Christmas Oratorio
Magnificat
Mass in B Minor
Mass in G Minor
St Matthew Passion
St John Passion
Beethoven Choral Symphony
Mass in C
Missa Solemnis
Brahms German Requiem
Boyle A Book of Angels
Buxtehude Membra Jesu Nostri
Charpentier Te Deum
Durufle Requiem
Elgar Coronation Ode
The Dream of Gerontius
Faure Requiem
Finzi In Terra Pax
Gounod Messe Solennelle
Handel Dettingen Te Deum
Dixit Dominus
Israel in Egypt
Messiah
My Heart is Inditing
O Praise the Lord
Haydn, J The Creation
Great Organ Mass
Nelson Mass
Paukenmesse
St Nicholas Mass
Haydn, M Requiem in C Minor
Jenkins The Armed Man
Mendelssohn Elijah
St Paul
Monteverdi Vespers
Mozart Coronation Mass
Credo Mass
Mass in C Minor
Regina Coeli
Requiem
Vespers
Parry Ode on St Cecila’s Day
Purcell Come Ye sons of Art
Hail Bright Cecilia
Welcome to All the Pleasures
Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle
Schubert Mass in A Flat
Mass in E Flat
Mass in G
Schutz Christmas Story
Musicalische Exequien
Stanford Songs of the Fleet
Stravinsky Pulcinella
Vaughan Williams Dona Nobis Pacem
Fantasia on Christmas Carols
Five Mystical Songs
Serenade to Music
Vivaldi Dixit
Wood St Mark Passion
Artist: James Birchall
Label: Ann Ferrier Artists
Genre: Baritone/Bass