James Gilchrist  (tenor)

J S Bach B Minor Mass
Wells Cathedral
Saturday, 10th November 2007

 

JAMES GILCHRIST began his working life as a doctor, turning to a full-time career in music in 1996.

James’ concert appearances include Damon in Acis and Galatea at the Proms, Bach cantatas with the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra in their celebrated Bach Pilgrimage, Tippett’s The Knot Garden , Monteverdi Vespers and Messiah , Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance and Ralph in HMS Pinafore , the title role in Judas Maccabeus, Septimius Theodora, Israel in Egypt, B Minor Mass, Mozart Requiem, L'Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato and a televised performance of Berlioz L’enfance du Christ at the BBC Proms, Alexander’s Feast in Salzburg, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio with Ton Koopman and the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zürich, the Evangelist in the Bach/Mendelssohn St Matthew Passion with the OAE, a residency with the Nash Ensemble at Princeton University, Israel in Egypt on tour with Collegium Vocale, Mozart’s C Minor Mass with the Tonhalle Orchestra in Zürich, Bach cantatas with the Bach Collegium Japan, St Matthew Passion with North Carolina Symphony Orchestra and at Symphony Hall, Boston, St John Passion with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Britten’s Serenade at The Sage, Gateshead and The Seasons with the Handel & Haydn Society under Sir Roger Norrington at the BBC Proms.

James is a keen exponent of contemporary music and has performed in the world premieres of Knut Nystedt’s Apocalypsis Joannis (Oslo Philharmonic), John Tavener’s Total Eclipse (Academy of Ancient Music), which was also recorded, and Helen Ottaway’s new commission for the Salisbury Festival, The Echoing Green.

As a recitalist, he has appeared with Malcolm Martineau, with Stephen Varcoe and Della Jones at St John’s Smith Square, and with John Constable performing Britten Canticles, Quilter To Julia and Tippett The Heart’s Assurance for the BBC. In his partnership with the pianist Anna Tilbrook, he has performed Schumann Liederkreis (op 24), Finzi Till Earth Outwears and Poulenc Metamorphoses for BBC Radio 3. James is also partnered regularly by the harpist Alison Nicholls and recently appeared in recital with the Nash Ensemble at the Wigmore Hall, and at the Bury St Edmunds Festival in a programme featuring a new commission by Alec Roth based on Vikram Seth’s ‘All You Who Sleep Tonight’.

Engagements in 2007/2008 include War Requiem and Dream of Gerontius at the Three Choirs Festival, Mass in C Minor at the Salzburg Festival, On Wenlock Edge with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Bach Concerts on tour with the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestra, Creation at the Frauenkirche, Dresden and at Westminster Cathedral for the Bach Choir, Lechmere Owen Wingrave (concert) for CLS at Cadogan Hall, Pulcinella for Radio Svizzera in Lugano, St Matthew Passion at the Royal Festival Hall and Ugone Flavio for the Academy of Ancient Music in Birmingham and London.

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