What are the ingredients of a classic Bond movie? A debonair actor in the lead role, an unforgettable villain, a souped-up car, a Vesper martini… but from For Your Eyes Only to Skyfall, none of these classic action films would be complete without their phenomenal music. 

On April 24 and 25, Sarasota Orchestra and guest conductor Christopher Confessore lead audiences through Pops: Bond and Beyond, a high-octane symphonic tribute to 007’s musical legacy, including many songs that cracked the Top 40 for their sheer drama and beauty, such as Marvin Hamlisch’s “Nobody Does It Better” and Paul McCartney’s “Live and Let Die.” 

Naturally, for an evening of music this explosive, you need just as explosive a vocalist—for this, Sarasota Orchestra has tapped the one and only Morgan James, a powerhouse performer with Juilliard chops whom The New York Times has called “a phenomenal talent whose feel for classic soul music is bone deep,” adding, “This woman is on fire.” James is more than a thrilling singer; she’s an interpreter, bringing her own spirit to classic songs across decades. 

“I start with the era and time the song premiered, and I pair it with a vintage look (one of my passions), so that I am representing the song from the first moment the audience sees me,” James explains. “I always want to honor the original version and artist, for sure.” This sense of blending the vintage with the contemporary is a key part of her approach—and keeps it fun for James, too. “I’m so excited to share this music and especially my vintage outfits,” she says. “I’m going to be as many ‘Bond girls’ as I can fit in the suitcase!”

James has a great deal of experience with Bond and Beyond, having performed the revue with a number of orchestras, and she has a few favorite tunes that she is especially looking forward to revisiting. 

“I have to say the Shirley Bassey themes are my favorite!” James says. “She had so many classic takes, including ‘Diamonds Are Forever’ and ‘Goldfinger.’” 

James is a talented Broadway performer and studio musician with 12 albums under her belt. Still, live performance always calls her back. “We need live music now, more than ever,” she says. “We need to come together and share in the magic of live music and theater, and be reminded that we are more alike than we are different. That’s what coming together and sharing in the fellowship of music can do.”

With all of her deep knowledge of the Bond universe and her own adventurous personality, we couldn’t resist asking Morgan James if she would consider playing the next 007. “Oh sign me up,” she says. “How fun would that be?!”  

Sarasota Orchestra’s Pops program Bond and Beyond takes place over three performances on Friday, April 24 (7:30pm) and Saturday, April 25 (2:30pm, 7:30pm). 

To learn more and purchase tickets, visit Sarasota Orchestra’s website or call the Box Office at 941-953-3434. All programs and featured artists are subject to change.