James Peppler Morris[1] (born 10 January 1947)[2] is an American bass-baritoneopera singer. He is known for his interpretation of the role of Wotan in Richard Wagner's operatic cycle, Der Ring des Nibelungen. The Metropolitan Opera video recording of the complete cycle with Morris as Wotan has been described as an "exceptional issue on every count."[3] It was broadcast on PBS in 1990, to the largest viewing audience of the Ring Cycle in human history.
In January 2008, he reprised the role of Wotan in a production of Die Walküre at the Metropolitan Opera, the theater with which he is most closely associated. In 2009, alongside Deborah Voigt, he also returned there to sing "Scarpia" in Puccini's Tosca.
Available on DVD, Otello by Giuseppe Verdi, with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, conducted by James Levine. Sung by Plácido Domingo, Renée Fleming and James Morris, etc. Produced by Deutsche Grammophon.
^ abcGoodwin, Noël (1992). "Morris, James" in Sadie, Stanley, ed. (1992). The new Grove dictionary of opera, 3: 472. London: Macmillan. ISBN978-1-56159-228-9.
^Kelly, Denis J. "World-class singer charms audience, wins two encores at benefit for Warren Public Schools", Echoes-Sentinel, March 6, 2009. Accessed October 21, 2015. "Acclaimed Metropolitan opera star James Morris, who lives in Warren Township, charmed an audience of more than 250 on Saturday, Feb. 28, at the performing arts center at Watchung Hills Regional High School."
