Stephen Costello

Stephen Costello’s debut on Opening Night of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2007-2008 season announced the arrival of a major new tenor. His performance as Arturo in the new production of Lucia di Lammermoor under the direction of James Levine led to an invitation to sing the role of Edgardo in the same season.

Companies around the world have moved quickly to engage the 26-year-old Philadelphia native. Some of his future projects include Cassio in a new production of Otello at the Salzburg Festival under Riccardo Muti, the Duke in Rigoletto with Deutsche Oper Berlin, Nadir in Les Pecheurs de Perles with the Teatro Municipal in Santiago, Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with Baltimore Opera, Alfredo in La traviata with Florida Grand Opera, the title role in Roberto Devereux with Dallas Opera, the title role in Faust with Opera Carolina, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Fort Worth Opera and Montreal Opera, and Christian in the David DiChiera’s new opera Cyrano with Opera Company of Philadelphia. He will return to London in 2008 for another recital, with Ailyn Pérez, on the Rosenblatt Series.

While still in school, Mr. Costello made his professional stage debut as Rodolfo in La bohème with Fort Worth Opera in March 2006, and his European debut with Opéra National de Bordeaux as Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore in September 2006 . He also made noted debuts with Dallas Opera as Leicester in Maria Stuarda and with Opera Orchestra of New York as the Fisherman in Guillaume Tell in his Carnegie Hall debut in this same period. He sang his first recital in London on the Rosenblatt Recital Series in January 2006 and has also appeared in concert with the Teatro Regio di Torino, the Boston Pops and as a guest artist with Frederica von Stade in San Antonio.

Stephen Costello is a 2007 graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. At AVA, he performed such roles as the Duke in Rigoletto, Rodolfo in La bohème, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Fritz in L’amico Fritz, and Roberto in Le villi, and Des Grieux in Massenet’s Manon.

Mr. Costello was awarded a 2007 Career Grant from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, as well as a 2006 Sara Tucker Study Grant. He won First Prize in the 2006 George London Foundation For Singers Competition as well as First Prize and Audience Prize in the Giargiari Competition and First Prize in the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation Competition. He was also a recipient of the Opera Club Award at the Academy of Vocal Arts, and a Finalist in the Philadelphia Orchestra Greenfield Competition. Stephen Costello received his Bachelor of the Arts in Vocal Performance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. He studies with the internationally acclaimed voice teacher Bill Schuman.