James Rutherford–baritone
Eugene Asti–piano
2021
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BBC Music MagazineFebruary 2022
It’s difficult to make any Winterreise recording stand out against the current competition, but James Rutherford’s rich baritone grabs attention. Schubert’s song cycle has been transposed a minor third down to accommodate the warmth of his voice in a well-balanced interpretation.
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FanfareJuly/August 2022
This young Wagnerian sings with a natural ease and simplicity. His richly colored voice is well produced, and his acting skills are compelling. All of his virtuosity seems focused on the music, rather than on himself, and the sincerity and clarity of intent makes this one of the finest recordings of the cycle we have been given in years.
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Gramophone MagazineFebruary 2022
there are many things to celebrate: the bass-baritone’s rich and rounded voice, primarily, as well as his beautifully natural way with the German – he’s long been a stalwart of several major German-speaking stages
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“James Duncan Montrose Rutherford[1] (born 29 May 1972) is a British bass-baritone opera singer who has performed leading roles with UK and other European and North American opera companies. He also appears as a soloist in concert and oratorio. In 1997 he won second prize in the Kathleen Ferrier Awards and in 2006 won the Seattle Opera International Wagner Competition.[2][3][4]
Rutherford was born in Norwich, England. After completing his studies in theology at Durham University he studied singing at the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio. He made his stage debut in September 1999 singing the title role of Verdi’s Falstaff with the British Youth Opera at London’s Peacock Theatre and was engaged by Opera North for his company debut the following Spring.[5]
Since 2009 he has appeared frequently with Graz Opera where he made his role debut as Hans Sachs in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg and at Frankfurt Opera where he made his role debut as Wotan in Der Ring des Nibelungen. He also sang Hans Sachs for his Bayreuth Festival debut in 2010 and his return in 2011.[6]”; Wikipedia