Huw Rhys James

Huw Rhys James is a Lecturer at the Music and Arts Private University of the City of Vienna (MUK), where he has taught opera accompaniment, figured bass, and score reading since 2002. He studied German at the University of Bristol and composition, piano, and accompaniment at the Vienna University of Music (1984–1992), with notable mentors including Prof. A. Kubizek and Prof. H. Goertz.

• Education:
  • German, University of Bristol
  • Composition, Piano, Accompaniment, Vienna University of Music (1984–1992)

His research interests focus on contemporary and Baroque opera, musicology, and vocal accompaniment. He is renowned for reviving forgotten works, such as Leonardo Vinci’s L’Artaserse and Francesco Conti’s Don Chisciotte in Sierra Morena, using original scores and instruments.

He has held significant artistic roles, including répétiteur at the Vienna State Opera’s Opera Studio (1990) and choir director for the Vienna State Opera Chorus Concert Association since 2013. His collaborations span conductors like Riccardo Muti and Franz Welser-Möst, with notable productions at the Salzburg Festival and Bayreuth Festival.

Scientific awards include grants from the US National Endowment for the Arts and ORF Edition. He also founded the Vienna-based ensembles Musikwerkstatt Wien and Musica Poetica Wien, which premiered 26 operas, including five world premieres.

• Key Contributions:
  • Urtext editions of Baroque operas
  • Author/editor of Felix Kaufmann’s Songs of the Mises-Kreis (2019)
  • Translations of libretti into German