James trained at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and the Zürich International Opera Studio.

He has performed principal roles at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, English National Opera, Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, Opernhaus Zürich, Salzburg Festival, Stadttheater St Gallen, Opéra de Rennes, Opera Holland Park, Grange Park Opera and Garsington Opera.

Recent performances include Alberich Das Rheingold under the baton of Antonio Pappano and the Protector Written on Skin (Benjamin) for the Royal Opera House, his Buxton International Festival debut singing Gusmano in Verdi’s Alzira, The Photographer in the world premiere of Jack the Ripper the Women of Whitechapel (Bell) and Horemhab Akhnaten for ENO, Baron Douphol la Traviata for Welsh National Opera and Papageno The Magic Flute for Scottish Opera.

Equally in demand on the concert platform, James regularly performs oratorios throughout the UK & internationally. Recent highlights include the Messiah and Brahms’ Requiem with the CBSO at the Birmingham Symphony Hall, Haydn’s Harmoniemesse at the Cadogan Hall and Carmina Burana at the Royal Albert Hall with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He also appears as the baritone soloist for the Raymond Gubbay Classical Spectaculars throughout the UK.

Recordings include Arrostino in Cellier’s The Mountebanks with the BBC Concert Orchestra, Sir John Copeland in Rogers & Hart’s Dearest Enemy (New World Records) and as the White Rabbit on the original cast recording of Will Todd’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

Future plans include returns to the Royal Opera House and English National Opera, a New Year’s Eve Gala at the Bridgwater Hall with the Manchester Concert Orchestra and Classical Spectacular at the Royal Albert Hall with the RPO.