Tenor James Schouten graduated from the Alexander Gibson Opera School at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland under the tutelage of Stephen Robertson.
James' switched from high baritone to tenor in 2019, his performed operatic roles include: Idomeneo Idomeneo (RCS Opera), Prince Charmant Cendrillon (RCS Opera), Sellem (cover), The Rake’s Progress (Grange Festival) Loge Das Rheingold (Regent’s Opera), Peter Grimes (scenes) Peter Grimes (RCS Opera), Le Mari (scenes) Les mamelles de Tirésias (RCS Opera), Don Jose Carmen (Opera Loki), Laca Jenufa (Fulham Opera), Eisenstein Die Fledermaus (Opera Gold), Starveling A Midsummer Nights’ Dream (RCMIOS), Bartolo Il barbiere di siviglia (PopUp Opera), Silvio I Pagliacci (Hampstead Garden Opera), Harlekin Ariadne auf Naxos (Queens’ Opera), Figaro Le nozze di Figaro (Opera UpClose), and Dream (RCMIOS). Awards include 1st Prize Ye Cronies Opera Awards, RCS + 1st Prize + Audience Prize Mastersingers Carole Rees Awards 2024.
Recent contemporary highlights include:
Tony West Side Story, Animus/Pianist in Simone Spagnolo's Even you lights, cannot hear me (Opera in the City Festival), Nebuchadnezzar in Joseph Cabons' To Himself, Alone Jawad in Orlando Gough’s Weather The Storm (Garsington Opera/Rosetta Life), Nebuchednezzar, Scarpia/Musical Director/Keys Rock Tosca, SCHY and Jon/Composer/Musical Director of lockdown micro-opera Threshold for OperaVision's 2020 competition Opera Harmony.
Upcoming roles include: Loge Das Rheingold (Regents Opera Ring Cycle), Eisenstein Die Fledermaus (Merry Opera) and Zorn/Moser (cover) Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg (Saffron Opera Group). James has recently been generously supported by ABRSM, The Opera Awards and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Trust.
“Cavalier’s Rock Tosca is basically one of the best ideas anyone has ever had. Big, sweaty, loud and brilliant, rock’s ego-heavy aesthetic is ideal for Puccini’s personality-driven thriller… The genius behind it all, as well as conducting from the keyboard and playing a fabulously nasty Scarpia (yes, all at the same time) is the multi-talented James Schouten.” - BACHTRACK
WATCH
March 2020: Suddenly London’s streets are strangely quiet and south of the river, in a grey tower block, two neighbouring families settle into this peculiar new rhythm of life indoors…
James performs Siegmund’s aria ‘Ein Schwert verhiess mir der Vater’ from Wagner’s opera ‘Die Walküre’ at the 2024 Clonter Opera Prize. (Recorded February 2024).
James performs Max’s aria ‘Durch die Wälder’ from Carl Maria von Weber’s opera ‘Der Freischütz’. (Recorded March 2023).
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