A life in music, theatre and story.
Described as “a Brancusi” in the New York Times, “a real showstopper” in the Guardian and “ravishing” in the Financial Times.
The critically acclaimed Welsh mezzo soprano Buddug Verona James trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and National Opera Studio.
She has performed roles for Almeida Opera, Cleveland Opera, Dutch National Opera, English Touring Opera, Glyndebourne, Opera Atelier, Opera Holland Park, Opera North, Opera Theatre Company and Music Theatre Wales, among many others.
Her concert repertoire includes Mozart, Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Purcell, Dvorak and Falla. She has premiered work by Gerald Barry, Jonathan Dove, Deirdre Gribbin, Julian Joseph, Wolfgang Rihm and John Woolrich.
She has also undertaken acting roles for BBC, HTV, S4C, Theatr Genedlaethol Cymru, Torch Theatre and Theatr Peña. Her one-woman shows, Castradiva and A Knife at the Opera, have toured to Croatia, Ireland and theatres and festivals across the UK.
A teacher with over 25 years experience, Buddug has a private practice in London, Cardiff and Pembrokeshire. She also teaches at Cardiff University and Canolfan Berfformio Cymru, affiliated to Trinity St. David University.
Buddug has directed The Pirates of Penzance, Ruddigore, Acis and Galatea, Dido and Aeneas, Orpheus in the Underworld, Hercules and opera scenes. She has conducted masterclasses in Russia, Lithuania, Croatia, Germany and the UK.