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. Recent engagements include: the Duke in Rigoletto with Deutsche Oper Berlin, Cassio in Otello at the Salzburg Festival with Riccardo Muti, and Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Fort Worth Opera. The tenor's 2007-2008 engagements also included his return to London for a recital, alongside soprano Ailyn Pérez, with the Rosenblatt Series, Camille in The Merry Widow at Dallas Opera, Christian in David DiChiera’s new opera Cyrano with Opera Company of Philadelphia, and Roméo in Roméo et Juliette with Baltimore Opera.
Companies around the world have moved quickly to engage the 26-year-old Philadelphia native. Future projects include: opening the 2009-2010 Covent Garden season, a return to the Metropolitan Opera, for the opening production of the 2011-2012 season, Rodolfo in La bohème with Deutsche Oper Berlin and Cincinnati Opera, a debut with Lyric Opera of Chicago, the Duke in Rigoletto with Teatro delle Muse in Ancona, Alfredo in La traviata with Florida Grand Opera, the title role in Roberto Devereux with Dallas Opera, and Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor with Montreal Opera. Mr. Costello will star as Ishmael in the world premiere of Moby Dick, by Jack Heggie, at the Dallas Opera in 2010.
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 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 the Duke in Rigoletto, Rodolfo in La bohème, Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Fritz in L’amico Fritz, 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. He studies with internationally acclaimed voice teacher Bill Schuman.
