James Stevens, tenor
"his focused, suave tenor was well-suited to the assignment"
-Opera Today
Steven’s performance is a perfect mix of pain and comedy, delivered with a clear-as-a-bell voice that fills the stage. .. he makes the complex Act I trio “Now / Later / Soon” one of many memorable moments.
-Stage Left St. Louis
Possessing a "clarion voice....
appropriately stealing every scene he was in."
-OperaWire
"As Peter Quint, James Stevens nearly stole the show. A rarity to hear...a tenor sound so beautiful. He soared in Britten's vocal writing. -Broadway World
Praised for his "focused, suave tenor [which] was well suited to the assignment" (Opera Today) and "possesing a clarion voice" and "appropriately stealing every scene he was in" (OperaWire), tenor James Stevens is rapidly establishing himself as a sought-after tenor throughout the country.
Recent appearances include singing with Union Avenue Opera as Henrik Egerman in Sondheim's A Little Night Music, with his performance praised by critics as "the perfect mix of pain and comedy...with a clear as a bell voice" (Stage Left St. Louis) and as Peter Quint in Britten's The Turn of the Screw, with his performance praised having "nearly stole the show" and having a voice "which soared in Britten's vocal writing" (Broadway World). Other recent appearances include singing with the Des Moines Metro Opera as Thespis in Rameau's Platée, and Chautauqua Opera as Léon in Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles with the composer in attendance, and covering the role of Almaviva in Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia. Other recent operatic highlights include singing Alfred in Strauss' Die Fledermaus, Tamino in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte, Tolloler in Gilbert and Sullivan's Iolanthe, and Albert Herring in Britten's Albert Herring.
Equally at home on the concert stage, his recent concert engagements include covering the tenor solo in Mendelssohn's The First Walpurgis Night with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra under Nicholas McGegan, performing the Evangelist in Charles Wood's St. Mark Passion with the Ladue Chapel Choir, and an upcoming performance as the tenor soloist in Britten's Cantata misericordium with the Webster University Choir and Orchestra. Past performances include Schubert's Die schöne Müllerin pianist Trent Patterson as part of the Webster University Concert Series multiple concerts as the tenor soloist with the American Kantorei in various Bach cantatas, singing the tenor solo in Jongen's Mass with the Choralis Choir, and appearing as the tenor soloist with renowned horn player Daniel Katzen in a recital featuring Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings. He frequently appears as the tenor soloist in Handel's Messiah, with recent performances with the Central Maryland Chorale and Landon Symphonette.
Biography
Media
"Povero Ernesto"
Donizetti: Don Pasquale
Sandra Geary, piano
"Later"
Sondheim: A Little Night Music
Sandra Geary, piano
Schedule
September 23rd at 4PM:
Eine Schumann-tiad
August 18th, 19th, 25th, 26th, 2023:
Younger Brother in Flaherty & Ahren's Ragtime
July 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 2023:
Peter Quint in Britten's The Turn of the Screw
April 30th, 2023:
Tenor soloist in Britten's Cantata misericordium
James joins pianist Trent Patterson in an all Schumann recital featuring music from his opera Genoveva, solo piano selections, and his timeless and evocative Dichterliebe, op. 48. The concert will be held at Winifred Moore Auditorium, 470 E. Lockwood Ave, Webster Groves, MO at 4 PM.
James returns to Union Avenue to make his role debut as the Younger Brother in Flaherty and Ahren's award winning musical Ragtime.
James returns to Union Avenue to make his role debut as Peter Quint in Britten's The Turn of the Screw alongside internationally acclaimed soprano Christine Brewer as Mrs. Grose.
James will make his role debut as the tenor soloist in Britten's Cantata misericordium.
James will perform the Evangelist in Charles Wood's St. Mark Passion with the Ladue Choir.
The concert will be held at 3:00 PM at 9450 Clayton Road, St. Louis, MO.
March 26th, 2023:
Evangelist in Wood's
St. Mark Passion
November 20th, 2022 at 3PM:
Bach: BWV 77, 116, 67
James will be appearing as the tenor soloist in three magnificent Bach cantatas with the American Kantorei Choir and Orchestra. The even will be held at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Des Peres, MO.
November 19th, 2022 at 4PM:
Schubert: Die schöne Müllerin
Join James with pianist Trent Patterson and musicologist Mary Beth Sheehy for Schubert's groundbreaking song cycle Die Schone Mullerin presented as part of the Webster University Concert Series. The even will be held at Winifred Moore Auditorium, Webster Groves, MO.