James Robinson is one of America's most inventive and sought after directors. He is acclaimed for productions that range from the standard repertory to world premières to seldom performed works.

Recent engagements include Il trittico, The Elixir of Love (San Francisco Opera); The Ghosts of Versailles (Opera Theatre of St Louis; Wexford Festival); Elektra, Norma (Canadian Opera Company); Giulio Cesare, The Abduction from the Seraglio, La bohème, world première of Daniel Catan's Salsipuedes (Houston Grand Opera); Il viaggio a reims, Il trittico, Lucia di Lammermoor, Hansel and Gretel (New York City Opera); Carmen (Seattle Opera); Rinaldo (Opera Australia); Antheil's Transatlantic, Argento's Casanova's Homecoming, Un ballo in maschera (Minnesota Opera); The Rake's Progress, Così fan tutte (Santa Fe Opera). His production of Turandot, first presented by Minnesota Opera in 1995 has been performed by more than 25 companies throughout North America, and his Nixon in China has been seen recently throughout the USA. In 2006 he collaborated with Marin Alsop and London Symphony Orchestra on Bernstein's Mass (Barbican). He has also directed for Royal Swedish Opera, Opera Ireland, Glimmerglass Opera and Dallas Opera.

In 2008 James was appointed Artistic Director at Opera Theatre of St Louis, where he has directed Handel's Radamisto, Argento's Miss Havisham's Fire, Street Scene, La traviata and Nixon in China. Future engagements include Un ballo in maschera (Washington Opera); Le nozze di Figaro (Opera Theatre of St Louis); Honnegar's Jeanne d'Arc au Bucher (Barbican; Carnegie Hall); world première of Peter Ash and Donald Sturrock's opera The Golden Ticket based on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Opera Theatre of St Louis; Wexford Festival).