James Newby is a former BBC New Generation Artist and Rising Star for the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He was nominated by the Barbican Hall for the European Concert Hall Organisation Rising Star scheme and will be presented by them in recitals throughout Europe in the 2022-23 season.
Very nice indeed. Bryn terfl hits this song out of the ballpark. On cd. I imagine this singer can record this on cd just as well. Fyi. Get Vaughn William's sea symphony shimell handley. The very best. Amazing.
Magnificent! Quite simply a magnificent rendition of this heart wrenching piece. Such an expressive voice used to convey the tragedy in the lyrics.....I am in tears..
Heard this sung at a Glyndebourne family day today - and very happy indeed to hear it again sung by you - remembering the occasions you've sung in Lewes with my choir - lovely performance here, thank you
This was absolutely wonderful! Your strong voice, beautiful German diction and your sense of humor! In case you will ever read this, James Newby - true story. When I was young (must have been about 1966), I loved the "Zauberflöte", saw the opera many times. I also had a crush on the local tenor (or baritone) in my hometown. And after sitting through many performances, I finally worked up the courage, and in this particular moment when Papageno calls out to save him, anybody, please, counting to three, I called out into the full opera house: "Ja, ich!!" Slight confusion in the orchestra, very upset seniors shushing me, and Papageno, visibly a bit rattled, continued on. What else was he going to do? The best thing: a few weeks later, I happened to listen to a local radio show where the conductor was asked if he could remember something unusual happening during a performance. He said, yes, in fact just the other day, during "Zauberflöte" someone in the audience offered to save Papageno by calling out to him....adding "the whole orchestra laughed all night!" This was one of the highlights of my youth, my two minutes of fame. Later in my life, living on a different continent, I worked at a Crisis Centre and got trained in suicide prevention. I did not need the training, I had started early, but nobody knew that....My husband and I heard you in concert two days ago, in Baden-Baden, performing "Die Schöne Müllerin", followed by your delightful workshop on "Erlkönig". Afterwards I talked to both of you briefly in the restaurant, thanking you for bringing Goethe back to Germany, you and Joseph Middleton, two Englishmen. Just wanted to tell you my story! Best of luck! You are such a discovery, hope to hear you in concert again soon....maybe as Papageno in "Zauberflöte"? But no worries, I am old and well-behaved now....
I heard this singer last night in Vienna, fine performance. Especially the Beethoven and the humorous modern rendering of a passage from Casanova's memoirs (composer: Judith Bingham). His voice was almost too big for the small concert hall (Brahmssaal, Musikverein). We had to move to the back of the concert hall! :)
Is this a murder ballad? I'm more inclined to answer No now I find that it's "the land and not "the field" that the unfortunate plough man is buried under. It's a nice distinction though.
Hello Alan, I don’t think it’s a murder ballad. I interpret it as two childhood friends who went to war together and only one came back. I think this song is about the guilt the man feels for surviving when so many died and of course the guilt he feels for now being with his friend’s girlfriend.
Yes, guilt is certainly in the final stanza. Assisted by the singer's acting! I use that word, as in this wonderful performance, it is just as much a piece of theatre as a vocal piece. The vocal line, and the quality of the voice are not sacrificed though.
It's such an interesting piece especially as Butterworth himself died at he front not long after he created the music..And there is a lot of ambiguity in A. E. Houseman's words, which James brings to the performance.. I think this is the best rendition I've heard not , just the voice but his acting skills are superb.. i wish there was a verse before and after some one might write and he could sing
I did not know the song ...I did not know the singer... forgive me, but now I know. I was blown away, like many others before me (so I read) What a voice. Thanks to RU-vid 6 years after this was recorded you can still welcome new admirers. One of the best younger baritons I came across lately. Of course now finding my way back on youtube to the beginning of your career! Very best regards from the Netherlands (hence I didn't know him so far) at the (almost) last day of the year and a blessed 2022 to you. By the way: plenty of concert halls in Holland!!! And conveniently between England and Germany! Looking forward!!
You probably dont care but if you are stoned like me atm then you can watch all the new movies and series on Instaflixxer. Been watching with my brother for the last days =)
