Photo: Amanda Searle

James Gower

James Gower was born in Newport, South Wales and studied at St John’s College, Cambridge and the Royal Academy of Music.  He is currently studying with Robert Lloyd.

As an associate artist with Welsh National Opera, James performed Un Moine Don Carlos and Second Armed Man Die Zauberflöte.  For Glyndebourne Festival Opera he performed Pinellino Gianni Schicchi, (broadcast on BBC TV and performed at the Proms) and Erster Priester/Zweiter geharnischter Mann Die Zauberflöte.  For Glyndebourne on Tour he sang Doctor Pelléas et Mélisande and Doctor Grenvil La Traviata.  James made his English National Opera debut performing Lord Krishna/Parsi Rustomji Satyagraha by Philip Glass. Other roles include Raimondo Lucia di Lammermoor for Iford Arts, Colline La Bohème for Opera Theatre Company, High Priest in Dvorák’s Vanda for University College Opera and Bartolo/Antonio Le Nozze di Figaro for the Classical Opera Company.   While at college James performed Commendatore Don Giovanni, Pistol Falstaff, Seneca L’Incoronazione di Poppea and Chubukov in the world première of Richard Dubugnon’s The Proposal.  Further roles included Toante Oreste for the English Bach Society and Basilio Il Barbiere di Siviglia for British Youth Opera.

James made his BBC Proms debut singing False Witness in Mendelssohn’s St Paul with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales (Richard Hickox) – also recorded for Chandos.  He has since appeared as Sir Walter Raleigh Gloriana at the St Endellion Festival, Nym Sir John in Love with Northern Sinfonia, Voice of God, Devil and Jesus in Sir John Tavener’s Fall and Resurrection with City of London Sinfonia and Horaste Troilus and Cressida with Philharmonia at Birmingham Symphony Hall and the Royal Festival Hall, London (also broadcast on BBC Radio 3).  Engagements outside the UK have included Israel in Egypt, Pagano I Lombardi and Silva Ernani at Dortmund’s Konzerthaus.

James joins the ENO Young Singers Programme in for the 2007/2008 season, where his roles will include Mercury/Lictor/3rd Seneca Friend L’Incoronazione di Poppea, Bogdanowitsch The Merry Widow and Notary Der Rosenkavalier.  Concert engagements this season include Messiah with the RSNO and Christus St John Passion at Bath Abbey.

Promoters please note: if you wish to include this biography in a concert programme etc, please contact Hazard Chase to ensure that you receive the most up to date version.
Email: Lucy Goddard