We're delighted to announce that James Way has joined the Rayfield Allied roster for general management.
Described as “a magnetic presence” (Opera Magazine) and “a consistent scene stealer” (The New York Times), tenor, James Way is fast gaining international recognition for the versatility of his voice and commanding stage presence. His recording of Purcell King Arthur with the Gabrieli Consort was named recording of the year by BBC Music Magazine as well as winning the Opera category. James was winner of the 2nd Prize in the 62nd Kathleen Ferrier Awards at Wigmore Hall. He is a former Britten-Pears Young Artist, a laureate of both the Les Arts Florissants ‘Jardin des Voix’ and the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment’s Rising Stars young artist programmes, and was awarded an Independent Opera Voice Fellowship. Listen to James perform "Comfort Ye" From Handel's Messiah with the Academy of Ancient Music here.
A highly versatile performer, James is increasingly in demand on the concert platform in appearances spanning the breadth of the repertoire from the baroque to the present day. James’ love of baroque music has seen him appear with many of the finest early music ensembles across Europe, with highlights including Handel Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (Tempo) with the Freiburger Barockorchester under René Jacobs; Handel Samson (title role) with John Butt and the Dunedin Consort; Monteverdi Vespers with Laurence Cummings and the English Concert for Garsington Opera; and Acis & Galatea (Acis) with Les Arts Florissants; as well as Messiah tours with Trevor Pinnock and the FBO, and with William Christie and Les Arts Florissants.
Opera credits include his debuts with Staatsoper Berlin in Purcell King Arthur (AKAMUS and René Jacobs) and with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Jakub Hrůša as the Holy Fool Boris Godunov at the Royal Festival Hall; Lechmere Owen Wingrave for Grange Park Opera, Sellem in a worldwide tour of The Rake’s Progress under the baton of Barbara Hannigan; Il Trionfo del Tempo e del Disinganno (Tempo) for Opéra national de Montpellier under Thibault Noally; the Young King in George Benjamin’s Lessons in Love and Violence at St Petersburg's Mariinsky Theatre; the Ballad Singer Owen Wingrave for the Aldeburgh and Edinburgh International Festivals c. Mark Wigglesworth and Davy in Roxanna Panufnik’s new opera Silver Birch for Garsington Opera.
Future engagements include a return to Berlin Staatsoper and his house debut for Zurich Opera. A Messiah with the Handel and Haydn Society Boston, conducted by Harry Christophers; Stravinsky Pulcinella with the Fondazione Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano and Alpesh Chauhan and a European tour of Handel L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato with Les Arts Florissants and William Christie.
We are thrilled to welcome James to the Rayfield Allied roster, where he will be managed by Nicki Wenham and Sophie Richardson.
