James Westman


James Westman is a Canadian baritone known for his interpretation of the Verdi, Puccini and bel canto operatic repertoire, and particularly his signature role of Germont in La traviata, which he has sung in over 150 performances, with opera companies such as San Francisco Opera, Houston Grand Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Graz Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Chicago Lyric Opera, Opéra de Montréal, Los Angeles Opera, Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, Canadian Opera Company, Boston Lyric Opera, Cologne Opera, Vancouver Opera, English National Opera, San Diego Opera, Dallas Opera, Utah Opera, and Opera Theatre of St. Louis. On January 29, 2011 Westman created the lead role of Sandy Keith In the world premiere of Bramwell Tovey's The Inventor. In 2017 he played Sir John A. MacDonald in Harry Somers's Louis Riel for the Canadian Opera Company's tribute to Canada's 150th celebrations. As a recitalist, he has performed for the Marilyn Horne Foundation, Aldeburgh Connection, Aldeburgh Festival, Musikverein, Wigmore Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Morgan Library & Museum, Koerner Hall, Carnegie Hall, Saito Kinen Festival in Japan, Stratford Summer Music, British Broadcasting Corporation, and the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Westman first came to attention at the age of twelve when he was the first boy soprano to perform and record Mahler 4th Symphony with Benjamin Zander and the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra in 1984. Westman is regularly featured as the Anthem singer for the Toronto Maple Leafs and numerous other NHL franchises. Four of Westman's recordings have been nominated for a Juno Award. Two recordings nominated for a Grammy Award.

Education and early career

Westman was raised on a farm near St. Marys, Ontario, Canada. He studied with several early musical training institutions such as St. Marys Children's Choir, Vienna Boys Choir, Petits chanteurs de Sainte-Croix de Neuilly-Paris Boys Choir, and the American Boychoir School. He attended the University of Toronto Opera Division where he received a Masters degree in Operatic Performance, studying under Lois Marshall and Patricia Kern. He was a member of the Canadian Opera Company ensemble studio, and studied at the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme in Aldeburgh, and the Tanglewood Music Center. He participated in San Francisco Opera's Merola Opera Program and was one of the company's Adler Fellows. As a baritone Westman has won several international voice competitions; Marilyn HorneFoundation, Licia Albanese Foundation, D'angelo Competition, Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyrique. In June 1999 he was a finalist and audience favourite at the Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.

Recordings