James Morris (opera singer)
Encyclopedia
James Morris is a leading American opera
singer with a bass-baritone
voice. He is best known for his interpretation of the taxing role of Wotan in Richard Wagner
's operatic cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen
. The Metropolitan Opera
video recording of the complete cycle with Morris as Wotan has been described as an "exceptional issue on every count."
James Morris was born in Baltimore, where he studied voice with Rosa Ponselle
and at the Peabody Conservatory . He made his debut with the Baltimore opera in 1967 as Crespel in Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann. He first appeared at the New York
Metropolitan Opera
in 1971 as the King in Verdi's Aïda
. He went on to establish himself as one of the most versatile male opera singers in the world, performing a repertoire ranging from Mozart through Verdi and Wagner to Benjamin Britten
. But of all the parts he has sung, Wotan remains his signature role. Indeed, he was considered one of the best two or three Wotans in the world during his heyday. On his 61st birthday, in January 2008, he reprised that role in a production of Die Walküre at New York's Metropolitan Opera
, the theatre with which he is most closely associated. In 2009, alongside Deborah Voigt, he played Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca.
In addition to his imposing, well-trained voice and fine musicianship, Morris (solidly built and 6 feet, 5 inches in height) had the physical stature to perform the heroic Wagnerian roles convincingly. His interpretations of them can be heard on a number of recordings which he made at the peak of his career. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, mezzo soprano, Susan Quittmeyer, and their twins, Jennifer and Daniel.
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
singer with a bass-baritone
Bass-baritone
A bass-baritone is a high-lying bass or low-lying "classical" baritone voice type which shares certain qualities with the true baritone voice. The term arose in the late 19th century to describe the particular type of voice required to sing three Wagnerian roles: the Dutchman in Der fliegende...
voice. He is best known for his interpretation of the taxing role of Wotan in Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's operatic cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen
Der Ring des Nibelungen is a cycle of four epic operas by the German composer Richard Wagner . The works are based loosely on characters from the Norse sagas and the Nibelungenlied...
. The Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
video recording of the complete cycle with Morris as Wotan has been described as an "exceptional issue on every count."
James Morris was born in Baltimore, where he studied voice with Rosa Ponselle
Rosa Ponselle
Rosa Ponselle , was an American operatic soprano with a large, opulent voice. She sang mainly at the New York Metropolitan Opera and is generally considered by music critics to have been one of the greatest sopranos of the past 100 years.-Early life:She was born Rosa Ponzillo on January 22, 1897,...
and at the Peabody Conservatory . He made his debut with the Baltimore opera in 1967 as Crespel in Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann. He first appeared at the New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
in 1971 as the King in Verdi's Aïda
Aida
Aida sometimes spelled Aïda, is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni, based on a scenario written by French Egyptologist Auguste Mariette...
. He went on to establish himself as one of the most versatile male opera singers in the world, performing a repertoire ranging from Mozart through Verdi and Wagner to Benjamin Britten
Benjamin Britten
Edward Benjamin Britten, Baron Britten, OM CH was an English composer, conductor, and pianist. He showed talent from an early age, and first came to public attention with the a cappella choral work A Boy Was Born in 1934. With the premiere of his opera Peter Grimes in 1945, he leapt to...
. But of all the parts he has sung, Wotan remains his signature role. Indeed, he was considered one of the best two or three Wotans in the world during his heyday. On his 61st birthday, in January 2008, he reprised that role in a production of Die Walküre at New York's Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, the theatre with which he is most closely associated. In 2009, alongside Deborah Voigt, he played Scarpia in Puccini's Tosca.
In addition to his imposing, well-trained voice and fine musicianship, Morris (solidly built and 6 feet, 5 inches in height) had the physical stature to perform the heroic Wagnerian roles convincingly. His interpretations of them can be heard on a number of recordings which he made at the peak of his career. He lives in New Jersey with his wife, mezzo soprano, Susan Quittmeyer, and their twins, Jennifer and Daniel.
Awards and notable recordings
- 1990 Grammy AwardGrammy Awards of 1990The 32nd Grammy Awards were held in 1990. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year.-General:*Record of the Year**Arif Mardin & Bette Midler for "Wind Beneath My Wings"*Album of the Year...
for Best Opera Recording: Richard Wagner's Die WalküreDie WalküreDie Walküre , WWV 86B, is the second of the four operas that form the cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen , by Richard Wagner...
, with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. - 1991 Grammy AwardGrammy Awards of 1991The 33rd Grammy Awards were held on February 20, 1991. They recognized accomplishments by musicians from the previous year. Quincy Jones was the night's big winner winning a total of six awards including Album of the Year.-Award winners:*Record of the Year...
for Best Opera Recording: Richard Wagner's Das RheingoldDas Rheingoldis the first of the four operas that constitute Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen . It was originally written as an introduction to the tripartite Ring, but the cycle is now generally regarded as consisting of four individual operas.Das Rheingold received its premiere at the National Theatre...
, with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra.
- Available on DVD, Die Meistersinger von NürnbergDie Meistersinger von NürnbergDie Meistersinger von Nürnberg is an opera in three acts, written and composed by Richard Wagner. It is among the longest operas still commonly performed today, usually taking around four and a half hours. It was first performed at the Königliches Hof- und National-Theater in Munich, on June 21,...
by Richard Wagner, with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, conducted by James LevineJames LevineJames Lawrence Levine is an American conductor and pianist. He is currently the music director of the Metropolitan Opera and former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine's first performance conducting the Metropolitan Opera was on June 5, 1971, and as of May 2011 he has...
. Sung by James Morris, Karita MattilaKarita MattilaKarita Marjatta Mattila is a leading opera soprano. She was born in Somero, Finland.Mattila appears regularly in the major opera houses worldwide, including the Metropolitan Opera, the Royal Opera House in London, Théâtre du Châtelet, Opéra Bastille, the Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco...
and Ben HeppnerBen HeppnerBen Heppner, CC is a Canadian tenor, specializing in opera and other classical works for voice.Heppner was born in Murrayville, British Columbia, and lived in Dawson Creek...
, etc. Produced by Deutsche GrammophonDeutsche GrammophonDeutsche Grammophon is a German classical record label which was the foundation of the future corporation to be known as PolyGram. It is now part of Universal Music Group since its acquisition and absorption of PolyGram in 1999, and it is also UMG's oldest active label...
.
- Available on DVD, OtelloOtelloOtello is an opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Arrigo Boito, based on Shakespeare's play Othello. It was Verdi's penultimate opera, and was first performed at the Teatro alla Scala, Milan, on February 5, 1887....
by Giuseppe VerdiGiuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
, with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, conducted by James Levine. Sung by Plácido DomingoPlácido DomingoPlácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
, Renée FlemingRenée FlemingRenée Fleming is an American soprano specializing in opera and lieder. Fleming has a full lyric soprano voice.Fleming has performed coloratura, lyric, and lighter spinto soprano repertoires. She has sung roles in Italian, German, French, Czech, and Russian, aside from her native English. She also...
and James Morris, etc. Produced by Deutsche Grammophon.
- Available on DVD, [Luisa Miller]] by Giuseppe VerdiGiuseppe VerdiGiuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian Romantic composer, mainly of opera. He was one of the most influential composers of the 19th century...
, with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, conducted by James LevineJames LevineJames Lawrence Levine is an American conductor and pianist. He is currently the music director of the Metropolitan Opera and former music director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Levine's first performance conducting the Metropolitan Opera was on June 5, 1971, and as of May 2011 he has...
. Sung by Bonaldo Giaiotti, Plácido DomingoPlácido DomingoPlácido Domingo KBE , born José Plácido Domingo Embil, is a Spanish tenor and conductor known for his versatile and strong voice, possessing a ringing and dramatic tone throughout its range...
,Jean Kraft, Sherrill MilnesSherrill MilnesSherrill Milnes is an American operatic baritone most famous for his Verdi roles. From 1965 until 1997 he was associated with the Metropolitan Opera....
, James Morris and Renata ScottoRenata ScottoRenata Scotto is an Italian soprano and opera director.Recognized for her sense of style, musicality and as a remarkable singer-actress, Scotto is considered one of the preeminent singers of her generation, specializing in the bel canto repertoire with excursions into the verismo and Verdi...
, etc. Produced by Deutsche Grammophon.