James Rutherford was born in Norwich, and read Theology at Durham University before commencing studies at the Royal College of Music and National Opera Studio in London. James has been the recipient of many scholarships and prizes, and in 2000 became a BBC New Generation Artist. In 2006, James won the inaugural Seattle Opera International Wagner Competition.

Operatic engagements include Figaro (Le nozze di Figaro) for the Paris Opera, Welsh National Opera, Opera North and Glyndebourne Touring Opera, Köthner (Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg) and First Shepherd (Daphne) for the Royal Opera House, Bass Arias (Bach’s St John Passion), Speaker (The Magic Flute) for English National Opera, Forester (The Cunning Little Vixen) for Welsh National Opera, Argante (Rinaldo) (also recorded by Harmonia Mundi) with Rene Jacobs at the Deutsche Staatsoper, Berlin and at the Montpellier and Innsbruck Festivals, Falstaff for British Youth Opera, Theseus (A Midsummer Night’s Dream) for Opera North and Nick Shadow (The Rake’s Progress) for English Touring Opera.

Most recently he has sung Donner (Das Rheingold) with the Royal Opera, the Lyric Opera of Chicago and with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment and Sir Simon Rattle at the Proms and the Baden-Baden Festival, Jokanaan (Salome) in Montpellier, Leporello (Don Giovanni) for Scottish Opera and The Fair Maid of Perth for the Buxton Festival.

In concert he appears regularly with the major British Festivals and Orchestras with conductors including Leonard Slatkin, Sir Colin Davis, Donald Runnicles, Mark Elder Sir Roger Norrington, Christopher Hogwood, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sakari Oramo and with the Berlin Philharmonic, the Sudwestrundfunk and the Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestras. A noted recitalist, he has appeared throughout the UK including numerous recitals for BBC Radio 3, and at the Wigmore Hall. His recordings include the Faure Requiem for Chandos and Swallow (Peter Grimes) for LSO Live.

This season his engagements include Wolfram (Tannhauser) for San Francisco Opera, Nick Shadow (The Rakes Progress) and Brahm’s Requiem with the CBSO, Britten’s War Requiem in Stockholm and concerts with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Sir Charles Mackerras and the Halle Orchestra and Mark Elder.