Tamerlano / Cambridge Handel Opera Group 2022
“James Laing made a dangerously mercurial conqueror, throwing himself into the role’s coloratura tantrums.”
Opera
“Whenever James Laing takes the stage, the Handelian thrill quotient rises…”
The Stage
Tamerlano: Bajazet / Irish National Opera at the Linbury Theatre 2022
“James Laing’s energetic, dangerous portrayal of Tamerlano as a bare-chested, battle-scarred psychopath is compelling throughout.”
The Arts Desk
“…James Laing poured physical and vocal energy into each move, each note. It was simply done, stunningly achieved.”
The Observer
“Bare-chested, war-wounded and power-crazed, countertenor James Laing compellingly captures the dangerous narcissism, unpredictable explosiveness and sheer nastiness of the brutal tyrant, Tamerlano. His splint-clamped leg is a powerful symbol of his damaged psyche, causing him to lurch and stumble with uncontrolled recklessness, as he mocks and manhandles his enemies, and jives with ghastly ungainliness. He exults in his own vulgarity, urinating on his suffering captive and fondling the alarmed Andronico. At times his inner poison manifests itself in a writhing pain that fells him, soothed only by the ministrations of the morphine-wielding, Idaspe (Bajazet’s confidante). Laing sings with colour and character, not afraid to take risks, and equally comfortable at the bottom and top – and when negotiating huge leaps between them, as in Act 1’s furious ‘In sì torbida procella’ and his scorching denunciation of Asteria in Act 3, ‘Barbaro traditor’, both of which were stunningly explosive.”
Opera Today
“James Laing gives an extraordinary performance as Tamerlano – thuggish and even gross, yet also vulnerable, especially about his lowly background.”
The Stage
“James Laing delivers a compelling performance…”
The Telegraph
“James Laing’s Tamerlano is frighteningly convincing.”
The Times
Tamerlano: Bajazet / Irish National Opera 2022
“Tamerlano…played with worrying conviction by James Laing…subverting expectations of violent masculinity, repositioning power and aggression in fascinating ways.”
The Arts Review
“James Laing plays Tamerlano with obscene relish.”
The Journal of Music
Head of KGB: The Life & Death of Alexander Litvinenko / Grange Park Opera
“Casting a countertenor as the Head of the KGB (definitely, absolutely, not Putin) is a nice touch, and James Laing has fun with his aria.”
iNews
“It was a brilliant stroke to cast the debonair head of the KGB as a countertenor: James Laing’s floating tones evoke a dispassionate alien force.”
The Stage
Cantatas for the Soul / Valletta International Baroque Festival
“Before he started singing, countertenor James Laing created an aura of stillness around himself, out of which blossomed a pure, angelic voice.”
Bachtrack
St John Passion / Academy of Ancient Music
“Instead of an alto or contralto, the young countertenor James Laing sang ‘Von den Stricken meiner Sünden” and “Es ist vollbracht!’ The latter became an exquisite dialogue with the viola da gamba of Reiko Ichise and was a highlight of the second half.”
Musical Criticism
St John Passion / Irish Chamber Orchestra
“In Bach’s reflective arias, soprano Sylvia O’Brien is quietly radiant, with counter-tenor James Laing having aesthete tonal beauty like polished white marble.”
Irish Independent
Apollo: Death in Venice / Opéra de Nice
“James Laing conveyed perfectly the reason for the interventions of Apollo: an invitation to another world.”
ConcertoNet
“The countertenor James Laing is an Apollo full of presence and aplomb.”
Forum Opéra
“(Apollo) Is sung by the countertenor James Laing, impressively flexible of voice, and whose terrific projection means he has no trouble being heard even though much of the role is offstage.”
ResMusica
Oberon: A Midsummer Night’s Dream / Garsington Opera
“The talented young singers all deserve mention. Space allows only one accolade: counter-tenor James Laing (Oberon), who was heart-stopping in “I know a bank”.
The Guardian
“As Oberon, the countertenor James Laing was vocally and dramatically in a top league.”
Opera
“…beautifully done, with the charisma of a young-romantic hero.”
Opera Now
Oberon: A Midsummer Night’s Dream / Opera North
“The compelling young countertenor James Laing is becoming quite a master of sinister, ethereally pitched roles: he was outstanding as the Fox in Opera North’s recent Pinocchio and is no less compelling here as an androgynously alien Oberon, his voice as sharp and scintillating as the diamante sarong and skull cap he is given to wear.”
The Guardian
“Their emotional mutations are engineered by James Laing’s cool countertenor Oberon…”
The Independent on Sunday
“James Laing’s Oberon and Jeni Bern’s scintillating Tytania command the stage and their magical kingdom.”
The Stage
“One of today’s most exciting young countertenors, James Laing makes a vocally highly imposing Oberon.”
YorkshirePost
Oberon: A Midsummer Night’s Dream / Opera North 2013 Revival
“…Laing’s imposing Oberon is light-toned vocally but sufficiently eerie-sounding to raise one’s neck hairs.”
The Arts Desk
“There’s a tangible erotic charge between James Laing ‘s handsome, androgynous Oberon and Daniel Abelson’s feral Puck…Laing and (Jeni) Bern are both outstanding in their roles.”
The Guardian
“James Laing’s Oberon was properly authoritative, with ‘I know a bank’ the highlight of the evening.”
Opera
Hamlet: The Firework Maker’s Daughter
“James Laing’s ethereal countertenor seems curiously suited to the plight of a pining white elephant.”
The Guardian
Cupid / Nerillus: L’Ormindo / Royal Opera, London
“James Laing was the most engaging performer as the comic page…”
Opera Now
“…mention must be made of James Laing (countertenor) as the page Nerillus/Cupid for both his elegant even tone and apparent insouciance as he hung suspended in pink and gold tutu from the flies.”
Opera Today
“Counter-tenor James Laing, in addition to appearing as a camp L’Amour in a heart-shaped tutu, was impressive as the page Nerillus.”
Seen and Heard International
“Countertenor James Laing as Love sings immaculately, even when suspended above the stage in a tutu.”
Sunday Express
Fox: The Adventures of Pinocchio / Opus Arte DVD
“…the seductive villains of James Laing and Mark Wilde…”
Opera
“…winningly sung by Victoria Simmonds (Pinocchio), Jonathan Summers (Geppetto), Mary Plazas (The Blue Fairy), Rebecca Bottone (Cricket), Mark Wilde (Cat), James Laing (Fox), Graeme Broadbent (Ringmaster) and Allan Clayton (Lampwick)…”
The Independent on Sunday
Fox: The Adventures of Pinocchio Revival / Opera North
“The purity of Laing’s counter tenor giving his role a sinister edge…”
Opera Britannia
The Refugee: Flight / Opera Holland Park
“Laing gets better with every passing season, but this is a role that suits him especially well, showcasing not only his growing power but also his presence – carrying, almost alone, the opera’s closing twist of the dramatic knife.”
The Arts Desk
“James Laing’s countertenor was phenomenally beautiful to listen to as the Refugee. He projected with great power, but his soft singing – especially his narration towards the opera’s end – had an ethereal beauty.”
Bachtrack
“Jennifer France as the Controller, with her stratospheric soprano, and counter-tenor James Laing as the otherworldly Refugee are both excellent.”
The Financial Times
“I don’t think I have seen or heard a more compelling performance from James Laing (Refugee)…”
Opera
“James Laing has a beautiful creamy, unforced countertenor…”
Opera Britannia
“James Laing sang with a gorgeously even and creamy tone throughout, and in the opening acts brought a lovely seedy, melancholy down at heel feel to the character. Then in his final recitation he was spellbinding in the way he wove story, text and music into a compelling tragic whole. This was singing of great poise and of real heart…”
Opera Today
“The cast is so unwaveringly brilliant it’s almost unfair to single out Jennifer France’s Controller, who cruises effortlessly at superhuman altitudes, and James Laing’s Refugee, sung with vibrancy and resilience.”
The Stage
“ I’ve never heard the counter-tenor James Laing do anything better than his touching yet restrained portrayal of the paperless Refugee.”
The Telegraph
“Funny and terribly sad, Flight closes as it begins, with our hearts held by the sheer, sweet, vertiginous sounds of (James) Laing and (Jennifer) France in companionable chastity.”
The Times
“James Laing – astonishing.”
What’s On Stage
The Refugee: Flight / Scottish Opera
“Laing’s portrayal of the Refugee’s account of his journey is chillingly stirring, as he sings with impeccable vocal control against a backdrop of quivering strings.”
The Arts Desk
“Flight is something of a passion play for our time, with the Christ-like figure of the Refugee, here sensitively portrayed by James Laing, at its centre. His separateness is given expression by the otherworldly timbre of the countertenor vice.”
The Guardian
“…it is quite superbly cast across the board, with countertenor James Laing as the Refugee and stratospheric soprano Jennifer France as The Controller…”
The Herald
“Rising countertenor star James Laing makes consistently beautiful sounds as he conveys the quiet despair of the central character…”
The Stage
“…the excellent James Laing’s Refugee…”
The Sunday Times
“All members of an expert cast seize every opportunity that Dove offers them – and if I single out James Laing as the Refugee and Jennifer France as the air traffic Controller, that is only because that are presented with the biggest vocal challenges, met with gusto in both cases.”
The Telegraph
“…James Laing’s touchingly portrayed refugee.”
The Times
Raphael: Tobias and the Angel / Chandos CD
”…James Laing bringing just the right ethereal quality to his singing as Raphael.”
Opera
Raphael: Tobias and the Angel / English Touring Opera
“His countertenor had no problems with Dove’s winging lines, and every word of David Lan’s libretto came across.”
Opera
Raphael: Tobias and the Angel / The Young Vic
“The singing from the soloists is superb, particularly the soaring countertenor of James Laing…”
The Daily Telegraph
“James Laing’s sublime counter-tenor leaves no doubt of Raphael’s origins.”
Evening Standard
“I was captivated by this show and, no less, by the three central performers…above all, the countertenor James Laing who played the angel / stranger with a streetwise, ultra cool inscrutability – a beautiful beggar poised between heaven and homelessness.”
Opera Now
Orfeo: Orfeo ed Euridice / Cannons Scholars
“…an Orfeo sung with great elegant sweetness by James Laing, whose top notes are gorgeous and with no trace of counter-tenor hooting.”
Opera Now
Messiah: Royal Northern Sinfonia
“James Laing’s He Was Despised was performed with great feeling and passion.”
The Journal
Handel: Messiah / Tafelmusik
“James Laing made a powerful countertenor…”
Globe and Mail
Daniel: Belshazzar / The Grange Festival
“…his countertenor assured but reflective in its gently irresistible appeals to divine and human justice…”
The Arts Desk
“…grips the attention with the clear focus and quietly penetrating tone of his delivery.”
Classical Source
“James Laing captures well the messianic visionary Daniel…”
The Financial Times
“(Christopher) Ainslie’s bravura contrasts with (James) Laing’s more introverted refinement…”
The Guardian
“James Laing was a forceful Daniel, singing mellifluously and creating a powerful presence.”
Music OMH
“James Laing as Daniel, the Jewish teacher, brought fervent integrity to this role…”
Opera Now
“…countertenors James Laing and Christopher Ainslie make their mark as Daniel and Cyrus.”
The Telegraph
Daniel: Belshazzar / Zurich Opera
“…a wonderful jump-in by James Laing as Daniel, his voice completely captivating in its gentleness.”
Arcimboldis
Demetrio: Berenice / Royal Opera, London
“…James Laing’sbeautifully sung Demetrio.”
The Guardian
“…the limpid-sounding Demetrio of James Laing.”
Opera
“James Laing sang with unforced strength, flexibility and expressiveness.”
Opera Today
“James Laing was splendidly clear.”
Seen and Heard International
“…consistently fine as Demetrio.”
The Stage
Guido: Flavio / English Touring Opera
“Vocally, it’s exceptionally strong. Clint van der Linde struts and preens as the king, and James Laing is a wonderfully nerdy, bookish Guido…”
The Stage
Nireno: Julius Caesar / English National Opera
“…James Laing sounds sweet and true in the tiny role of Nireno.”
The Independent on Sunday
Tolomeo: Giulio Cesare / Opera North
“Countertenor James Laing’s Tolomeo steals the evening…”
The Arts Desk
“The steely-toned counter-tenor James Laing is perfectly sinister as Cleopatra’s evil sibling Tolomeo…”
The Guardian
“Tall, blonde and handsome, Laing dominated the stage in every scene he was in and depicted a dangerous and predatory villain without any trace of the comedy elements that are so often attributed to this character in other productions. He sang with agility and skill, interpolating high notes in his da capo ornamentation to exciting effect.”
Opera Britannia
“James Laing offers a keenly etched portrayal of the treacherous, feline Tolomeo…”
The Stage
“…Cleopatra’s brother Tolomeo, memorably portrayed by James Laing.”
The Times
“It’s great to see this gifted countertenor given a chance to shine, not just vocally, but also to show he does a neat line in unhinged too.”
Yorkshire Evening Post
“Yet it is the excellence of James Laing’s countertenor, in the supposedly weak character of Ptolemy, that produces such a vibrant presence…”
Yorkshire Post
Tolomeo: Giulio Cesare / Opera North 2019 Revival
“James Laing, a powerful countertenor with great charisma, brought a touch of psychopathy to the character.”
Bachtrack
“James Laing relishes his role as cruel Tolomeo, injecting the character with scary yet comic malice. His counter tenor voice, soaring high as he goes low, mauling and groping Pompeo’s widow Cornelia, expresses beautifully the character’s perversity and justified paranoia.”
ON: Yorkshire Magazine
“James Laing repeated his hissing viper of a Tolomeo with creepy petulance: this was a psychopath on the verge of outright insanity. Countertenors rarely threaten so effectively.”
Opera
“James Laing deploys his strong countertenor to menacing effect as the baddie Tolomeo.”
The Times
Tirinto: Imeneo / Göttingen Handel Festival
“James Laing is a very flexible, well balanced countertenor.”
Göttinger Tageblatt
“Handel obviously sympathised with Tirinto’s plight, giving him a luxurious series of numbers which James Laing exploited to the full.”
Neue Musikzeitung
“With his warm countertenor, James Laing scored in his opening aria.”
OMM
“Laing is a remarkably assured countertenor with a gloriously direct and pleasing timbre and truly astounding ability to scale the heights (top A), which many falsettists lack the nerve and technique to do with such elegance and delicacy. He is also a very persuasive actor in the role.”
Opera Now
Medoro: Orlando / The Early Opera Company
“…Freston’s sweet, shimmering, beautifully mobile, technically faultless soprano and Laing’s serene countertenor stole the show…”
Independent on Sunday
“…James Laing, whose extraordinarily limpid, clear countertenor, needle-sharp in diction and intonation, should take him a long way.”
Opera Now
Armindo: Partenope / English National Opera
“As one of Partenope’s three suitors, the foppish Armindo, counter-tenor James Laing tumbles down the gorgeous white spiral staircase and hangs from it while singing with spot-on accuracy. Later he’s asked to execute a double act with a spotlight, which he does with aplomb.”
The Arts Desk
“James Laing is excellent as timid Armindo, sliding down the huge funnel-shaped staircase and singing his aria while he hangs off its side.”
The Guardian
“James Laing fleshed out the part of Partenope’s eventual betrothed wittily and zanily…”
Opera
“…James Laing’s elegant Armindo”
The Stage
“The eloquent countertenor James Laing does an excellent Chaplin act as Armindo.”
The Standard
“James Laing reveals a talent for athletic comic routines, as well as a fine countertenor voice…”
The Times
Alessandro: Tolomeo / The Early Opera Company
“Counter tenor James Laing gave a compelling portrait of Alessandro, the brother tasked with assassinating Tolomeo, but relenting to human, filial compassion. Laing’s light, supple tone was particularly warm and appealing.”
Music OMH
“Laing sang so beautifully and musically that he made Alessandro a rather more positive character than might be supposed.”
Music & Vision
“Countertenor James Laing (Alessandro) was convincing from every aspect.”
Musical Criticism
“The other countertenor in the cast was James Laing who sang Alessandro with a sweet, pure and evenly-produced tone.”
Opera Britannia
Handelfest / English Touring Opera / Opera
“There are, of course, other strong performances across the five nights: James Laing, particularly compelling as Alessandro in Tolomeo…”
Opera
Nero: The Coronation of Poppea / Opera North
“…blond, virile and athletic, prancing around the stage with limitless energy. The voice is terrific, coping brilliantly with Monteverdi’s cruel demands…”
The Arts Desk
“(James) Laing’s compelling, beautifully-toned voice makes sure that he dominates his scenes…”
Bachtrack
“…the casting of the charismatic counter-tenor James Laing as Nero creates a compelling disconnect between the purity of his voice and the impurity of what he is voicing.”
The Guardian
“James Laing is outstanding as Nerone, with a voice much purer than his deeds. He does not neglect to show what it is to be a spoilt despot as well as a lover.”
The Observer
“Countertenor James Laing as Nerone exudes an air of danger and for very good reasons. Laing presents an athletic and volatile figure as the Emperor who will stop at absolutely nothing – including murder – to maintain his grip on power. Laing’s icy cold timbre and Piques Eddy’s sensuous dark chocolate tones are well matched in their duets “Signor, deh, non partire!” and the final blissfully sung “Pur ti miro”.”
Opera Britannia
“James Laing as Nerone stands out for the expressive colouring of his singing and his soaring upper register”
What’s On Stage
Mozart in Italy / Classical Opera Company
“…countertenor James Laing, made a considerable impression. In his Mitridate item he revealed a very smooth counter tenor without any hootiness. The brisk excerpt from Ascanio in Alba which followed exhibited his fluency in coloratura, remarkable in such a young singer, together with an awareness of the musical structure of the piece.”
Musical Pointers
Terry: Marnie / English National Opera
“James Laing impressed as Mark’s brother Terry…”
The Arts Desk
“James Laing is excellent as Mark’s brother Terry, with very expressive technique…”
Broadway World
“James Laing’s insinuating singing singled Terry out as a rotter…”
Classical Source
“…sung to chilling effect by countertenor James Laing.”
Opera
“The countertenor James Laing brought hefty contrast to the sheer beauty of his voice and the wonderfully predatory nature of his character, Terry.”
Opera Today
“James Laing gave a wonderfully nuanced performance as Terry Rutland, a playboy character whom we initially mistrust but whose care for Marnie leads him to set in motion the chain of events which leads to the climax.”
Planet Hugill
“James Laing reveals the sheer creepiness of Mark’s twisted brother Terry…”
The Stage
“To the role of Terry, James Laing brought a strong countertenor…”
The Sunday Times
“James Laing stands out as Mark Rutland’s scheming brother Terry.”
The Telegraph
“The excellent James Laing play’s Mark’s ne’er do well brother; it’s good to a see a countertenor land a character with balls.”
What’s On Stage
Cheshire Cat: Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland / Opera Holland Park
“No self-respecting new opera comes without a counter-tenor these days, but James Laing justifies it this time with his fantastical Cat.”
The Daily Telegraph
Zelim: La verita in cimento / Garsington Opera at Wormsley
“…the sweet toned James Laing…”
Financial Times
“The timbre is rich, the singing agile and elegant with, in particular, the trills perfectly executed (this has become sufficiently rare to be noted).
Forum Opéra
“Laing’s singing was in many ways the most alluring of the evening. He made a thing of beauty of Act 1’s gentle lamento “Tu m’offendi”, the first time a character in the opera looks decisively inwards, with creamily rounded tone and consistently centred tuning.”
Opera Britannia
“James Laing produces a beautiful countertenor tone…”
Wall Street Journal
Other Shakespearean Dreams / The Liceu, Barcelona
“And the elegant countertenor James Laing sang songs by English composers from the Tudor period with a voice of ineffable beauty and effectiveness.”
La Vanguardia
J. S. Bach: B Minor Mass / Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
“The vocal soloists themselves all did good work, but among them the highlight of the evening was countertenor (James) Laing, whose bright and British-trained rendering of the alto solos stole the show, and the ovations reflected that.”
ArtsATL
