Exiled Review
Reviewer Shows Admiration
“The very talented James Benjamin Rodgers and pianist Jillian Zack take the audience on a journey charting Weill’s musical evolution…a perfect collection of songs not well known and avoids the easy trap of big hits and overly familiar pieces. I would venture to guess that Rodgers, like me, favors Weill and wants to share his adoration of the composer who changed the American musical forever.”
Oklahoma Reviews
J. Peter Bergmam Oklahoma! Review
“Go prepared to be stunned into applause by this stellar production. James Benjamin Rodgers is a superb Curly, dynamic in the dramatic scenes, chilling in the fight scenes, romantic in the love scenes and the not-quite love scenes and sweet in the charming scenes with Aunt Eller.”
Camelot Reviews
J. Peter Bergman applauds Camelot
“James Benjamin Rodgers has created a world of his own imagination out of the elements provided by the authors. His work is stylized and precise and leaves glorious room for the choreography of Lizzie McGuire.”
Hunchback Reviews
Lisa Jarisch Praises Hunchback
“Rodgers plays Quasimodo with just the right amount of servility, becoming the classic Tragic Hero as he develops self-awareness. His vocals are true and strong and manage to express both his recognition of his own deformity in the eyes of the world, and his frustration with the world that cannot see the man under them…”
Candide Reviews
William Dart Sees Sparkle Aplenty
“James Benjamin Rodgers, in the title role, sung with unforced lyricism, calling on his considerable vocal heft when Bernstein stirs up a full operatic climax.”
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Tosca Review
Tony Ryan praises “near-perfect” Tosca in Christchurch.
“The opening night of New Zealand Opera’s Tosca certainly fulfilled the promise of the company’s advertising hype.”
“The performances of all three principals, supporting roles, chorus and orchestra are superb, and Stuart Maunder’s direction is imaginative and, in the main, sympathetic.”
Sound of Music Review
William Ferrall of the Inquirer and Mirror has given The Sound of Music a stellar review, describing James’ Captain as “an upright and virtuous patriot, without an overdose of stoicism.”
He also writes: “Like many great creative works, ‘The Sound of Music’ proves to be as relevant now as ever. With authoritarian impulses seemingly all around us, few things soothe our worries as much as music.”
Regional News Article
James talks to the Regional News with a close-up ahead of New Zealand Opera’s Kátya Kabanová opening in Wellington.
Candide 2018
James is delighted to announce that he will return to New Zealand Opera in 2018 to perform the title role in Leonard Bernstein’s Candide.
Sparkling with wit and humour, Candide is part opera, part musical and entirely irreverent, drawing on everything from European operetta to Latin American dance rhythms.
Two Minutes with James
While wrapping up almost three months in New Zealand for Carmen, playing the second-in-command smuggler Le Remendado. James won’t be gone for long, heading back for NZ Opera’s final mainstage production for 2017, Kátya Kabanová. He talks to us about his experience and life as a performer.
Upbeat Radio Interview
Jillian and I had a wonderful conversation today with Eva Radich on Radio New Zealand’s Upbeat ahead of our concert in Whanganui. Talked about Schumann, life in New York and making music together.