A Conversation with James Maddalena, Part 1

Abstract

James Maddalena (born 1954) is an American baritone who is chiefly associated with contemporary American opera. He gained international recognition in 1987 when he originated the role of Richard Nixon at the premiere of John Adams's opera Nixon in China at Houston, directed by Peter Sellars. He has since reprised it over a hundred times. It was recorded for the Nonesuch Records release of the opera in 1987. In addition to Maddalena’s role as Nixon, he has originated two other Adams characters: the Captain in The Death of Klinghoffer and Jack Hubbard in Doctor Atomic.[3] He has also performed roles in the premieres of operas by Paul Moravec and Stewart Wallace among other American composers. In addition to American opera, Maddalena has sung a broad operatic repertoire which ranges from Monteverdi, Handel, Mozart, and Verdi to modern composers like Benjamin Britten and Michael Tippett. He is also a concert artist whose regular performances include works by Bach, Handel and Schubert, as well as those by modern composers.