Born in Essex, James Edwards began singing as a chorister at St Paul’s Cathedral, continuing his studies at the Royal Northern College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music. He made his Royal Opera, Covent Garden, debut as an Apprentice Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in 2002 later joining the Young Artists Programme singing roles including Nikolios The Greek Passion, Pong Turandot, Albazar Il turco in Italia, Messenger Aïda, Roderigo Otello and Gaston La traviata.
Other roles have included the title role in Albert Herring at the Salzburg Landestheater, Novice Billy Budd for English National Opera, Push by David Bruce for Tête-à-Tête, Sempronio Lo speziale in Tel Aviv, Mr Erlanson A Little Night Music at the Théâtre du Châtelet, Pirelli Sweeney Todd for the the Gothenburg Opera, Lensky Eugene Onegin for opera by definition, Roderigo Otello for the Opéra Royal de Wallonie, Mas de Daumas Gassac The Lovely Ladies at the Buxton Festival and First Brother The Seven Deadly Sins for the Royal Ballet. Recordings and broadcasts include The Carmelites for Chandos and Friday Night is Music Night for BBC Radio 2.
He made his BBC Proms debut in 2006, and his concert engagements have included Beethoven Choral Symphony with the Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra, Mozart Requiem with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Szymanowski Love Songs of Hafiz with the BBC Philharmonic, Verdi Requiem at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea,and the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Opera Galas for Longborough Festival Opera, the Mikkeli City Orchestra, the Orion Symphony Orchestra and the Sussex Symphony Orchestra, Proms in the Park with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and Christmas Galas and Last Night of the Spring Proms for Raymond Gubbay Ltd and The Battle Proms 2009 at Althorp Park.
Last season, he enjoyed a personal success as Tom Rakewell The Rake’s Progress at the Gothenburg Opera, and his current diary includes Don José Carmen at London’s Royal Albert Hall, Casta Diva – The Life and Loves of Maria Callas at the National Concert Hall, Dublin, Beethoven Choral Symphony with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Gounod St Cecilia Mass with the Huddersfield Choral Society, Handel Saul on tour with the Israel Camerata, The Creation with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra, Mozart Litaniae de Venerabili Altaris Sacramento at Mozartiana 2012 in Gdansk, Last Night of the Christmas Proms for Raymond Gubbay Ltd, an Opera Gala at Hampton Court and Viennese Galas with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.
In 2011, James Edwards was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music by the Governing body of the RAM for distinguishing himself in the field of Opera.
Please note that this biography is not to be used for programmes. Current information is available on request.