Stephen John Costello (born September 29, 1981 inPhiladelphia) is an American operatictenor and a recipient of the 2009Richard Tucker Award.[1] Costello has performed in noted opera houses around the world includingCovent Garden,Metropolitan Opera, andLyric Opera of Chicago. In 2010, Costello originated the role of Greenhorn (Ishmael) in the world premiere ofJake Heggie'sMoby-Dick at theDallas Opera.
A native ofPhiladelphia,[1] Costello is a 2007 graduate of that city'sAcademy of Vocal Arts, where he performed the Duke inRigoletto, Rodolfo inLa bohème, Nemorino inL'elisir d'amore, Ferrando inCosì fan tutte, Fritz inL'amico Fritz, Roberto inLe villi, and Des Grieux in Massenet’sManon. He studied with voice teacher Bill Schuman.[2]
While still in school, Costello made his professional debut as Rodolfo inLa bohème with theFort Worth Opera in March 2006, and his European debut withOpéra National de Bordeaux as Nemorino inL'elisir d'amore in September 2006. Also in 2006, he made debuts with theDallas Opera as Leicester inMaria Stuarda and withOpera Orchestra of New York as the Fisherman inGuillaume Tell (hisCarnegie Hall debut).
Costello made his debut at theMetropolitan Opera on the opening night of its 2007-2008 season, as Arturo inLucia di Lammermoor He portrayed Cassio in Verdi'sOtello at theSalzburg Festival in 2008. He made his debut atCovent Garden in 2009 as Carlo inLinda di Chamounix.[3] That same season, he debuted atLyric Opera of Chicago as Camille inThe Merry Widow and at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall inMoscow as Roméo inRoméo et Juliette, the role of his subsequentSan Diego Opera debut. Other notable roles include Christian inCyrano withOpera Company of Philadelphia, the title role ofRoberto Devereux at TheDallas Opera and Rinuccio inGianni Schicchi at theSpoleto Festival conducted byJames Conlon.[4]
On April 30, 2010, Costello originated the role of Greenhorn (Ishmael) in the world premiere ofJake Heggie'sMoby-Dick at TheDallas Opera (withBen Heppner as Captain Ahab).[5] In 2010, he also appeared as Rodolfo inLa bohème atDeutsche Oper Berlin,Cincinnati Opera, andWiener Staatsoper, and debuted at theSalzburg Festival inRoméo et Juliette. In November 2010, he portrayedPercy inAnna Bolena, and thereby portrayed the 3 lead tenor characters in each ofDonizetti's Tudor Operas within a 4-season span at the Dallas Opera. His debut at theSanta Fe Opera was as Roméo inRoméo et Juliette in July 2016.
In addition to the 2009 Richard Tucker Award, Costello received a 2007 Career Grant from theRichard Tucker Music Foundation, as well as a 2006 Sara Tucker Study Grant. He won First Prize in the 2006George London Foundation For Singers Competition, First Prize and Audience Prize in the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition at theAcademy of Vocal Arts, and First Prize in theLicia Albanese Puccini Foundation Competition.
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