Stephen Costello, tenor

Fast-rising young tenor Stephen Costello has firmly established himself as one of the current generation’s most impressive artists. In a professional career of just six years he has succeeded in setting new standards for artistic excellence, both in the U.S. and throughout Europe. The Philadelphia-born tenor has made headlines in recent seasons for a string of distinguished performances in America and Europe. He came to national attention in 2007 when, at age 26, he debuted at the Met’s season-opening night and was quickly invited to appear again that same season. In 2009, Costello won the prestigious Richard Tucker Award. He subsequently made his debuts at a number of the world’s most important opera houses and music festivals, including London’s Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, the Deutsche Oper Berlin, the Salzburg Festival, and the Vienna State Opera. In 2010 he inaugurated the role of Greenhorn in the Dallas Opera’s acclaimed world-premiere production of Jake Heggie and Gene Scheer’s Moby Dick. His performances as Cassio in Verdi’s Otello, conducted by Riccardo Muti at the Salzburg Festival, were released on DVD in 2010 (Major/Naxos), and his Covent Garden debut in Linda di Chamounix was released on CD in March 2011 (Opera Rara). In addition to the Richard Tucker Award, Mr. Costello won First Prize in the 2006 George London Foundation Competition; First Prize and Audience Prize in the Giargiari Competition; and First Prize in the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Competition.