Reviews

Welsh National Opera | Don Giovanni | February 2022
“The country bumpkins Zerlina (Harriet Eyley) and Masetto (James Atkinson, who made more of this usually one-dimensional role than anyone I have previously experienced) made an engaging contrast to all this heavy drama.”
_{Christopher Morley | Midlands Music Review}

“James Atkinson imposes a lot in the role and delivers, tall in nature and voice.”
_{James Ellis | Buzz}

Oxford Lieder | Winter into Spring | February 2021
“So confident was his stage manner and command of Schubert’s music, with Burnside as his guide, that he proclaimed himself a natural lieder singer and linguist, savouring the words almost as idiomatically as a native German speaker, his lovely lyric baritone responding to the words with invigorating warmth. As a recitalist he’s clearly a name to watch.”
_{Hugh Canning | The Times}

RCM Opera Studio | Bernstein: Trouble in Tahiti (Sam) | June – July 2019
“The demanding role of the erring husband is performed superbly by James Atkinson, a rising if not already formed star”
_{Kate Hawthorne | KCW London}

“Atkinson’s Sam – with the rumble of a coarse, authoritative, baritone voice – is infallibly self-regarding and despairing at once. He coaxes the audience’s sympathy even when insisting, with ham-handed physicality, that his secretary “forget” the advances he made to her. Riled by torpor in the office, despite serial successes, his false smiles invariably wrest pity. Exceptional selection is applied to his use of growling vibrato as he sings of how “Men are created unequal”, reminding himself in the shower that he is “a winner” by varnishing words with excessive panache.”
_{Sophia Lambton | Broadway World}

Hurn Court Opera | Mozart: Die Zauberflöte (Papageno) | April 2019
“Some of these singers were not just already fit for performance with an established company, they were among the better singers I have seen in their role. In particular, James Atkinson as Papageno showed off a terrifically lyrical baritone voice, singing with great projection and at higher and lower ends of his range with apparent ease. He was also the stand out performer (clearly the role helps), with great comic timing.”
_{Will Frampton | Dorset Echo}

British Youth Opera | Sams: The Enchanted Island (Lysander) | September 2018
“All the lovers are characterfully played and pointedly sung, notably James Atkinson’s muscular baritone, in all senses as he flexes his biceps, as Lysander.”
_{John Johnston | Bachtrack}

RCM Opera Studio | Maxwell Davies: The Lighthouse (Blazes) | July 2018
“Richard Pinkstone, James Atkinson, and Timothy Edlin brought sharply characterised readings to their characters, yet their interaction proved just as impressive.”
_{Mark Berry | Seen and Heard International}