Ana James - Soprano

Lyric coloratura soprano Ana James was born in Dunedin, New Zealand. A recent graduate of the Benjamin Britten International Opera School, Royal College of Music London, she studies with Lillian Watson. A winner of several scholarships and competitions, she is the inaugural recipient of the Dame Kiri Te Kanawa Foundation Scholarship. Ana is also a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, New York, where she studied with Marlena Kleinmann Malas. Student roles included Governess/The Turn of the Screw directed by John Copley, Der Konigin die Nacht/Die Zauberflote for both British Youth Opera and BBIOS, Miss Wordsworth/Albert Herring(cover) directed by Sir Thomas Allen for BBIOS, Lucia/The Rape of Lucretia, Mistress Ford/Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, Baroness/Der Wildschutz, and Despina/Cosi Fan Tutte, Silberklang/DerSchauspieldirektor. Scenes performed include Philine/Mignon, Violetta/La Traviata, Aspasia/Mitridate and Sophie/Der Rosenkavalier. Ana James has participated in master classes with artists such as John Copley, Phillip Langridge, Sherrill Milnes, Antony Rolfe Johnson, Sarah Walker, Warren Jones, Martin Katz, Regine Crespin, George Shirley and Martina Arroyo. Ms James’ concert repertoire includes: Handel’s Messiah, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Exsultate Jubilate, C Minor Mass, Requiem, Mahler’s 4th Symphony, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Fauré’s Requiem, Bach’s St Matthew Passion, St John Passion. She has performed in concert all over New Zealand and in such venues as Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Usher Hall and Barbican Hall. A member of the Jette Parker Young Artist Programme at the Royal Opera Covent Garden since September 2005, she made her Royal Opera debut as Barbarina/Le Nozze di Figaro. She reprises this role in revival in July. Other roles this season include Elisa/Il Re Pastore, Une Soeur/Cyrano de Bergerac, Woodbird(cover)/Siegfried, Susanna(cover)/Le Nozze di Figaro, Tytania(cover)/A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Norina(cover)/Don Pasquale. Engagements in 2006/2007 include; Croyble/Thais, Frasquita/Carmen, Serpina/La Serva Padrona, Marzelline/Fidelio(cover), Dalinda/Orlando(cover), and Serpetta/La Finta Giardiniera(cover) all for ROH.