21C now represents Stephen Costello
21C Media Group is proud to announce that it now represents tenor Stephen Costello, handling his media and public relations. Born in a Philadelphia suburb, the tenor has made headlines in recent seasons for a string of distinguished performances in America and Europe, including an opening-night performance of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2007-08 season as Arturo in the new production of Lucia di Lammermoor. Costello’s performance, directed by James Levine, led to an invitation to sing the role of Edgardo in that production later that season. In 2009, Costello won the prestigious Richard Tucker Award. He is currently starring with his wife, soprano Ailyn Pérez, in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette with the Opera Company of Philadelphia (February 11-20).
Last season, Costello sang the role of Greenhorn (Ishmael) in the Dallas Opera’s exalted world-premiere production of Jake Heggie’s Moby-Dick; he debuted at the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden) as Carlo in Donizetti’s Linda di Chamounix; and in the summer he returned to the Salzburg Festival as Roméo in Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette. So far in 2010-11, he has opened the Vienna State Opera’s new season as Rodolfo in La bohème, and returned to the Dallas Opera for his role debut as Lord Percy in a new production of Anna Bolena—marking the completion of his performances of the leading tenor roles in Dallas’s trilogy of Donizetti’s Tudor operas. Other highlights of the current season include his first solo recital in the U.S., performances in two operas with the San Diego Opera, and his debut at the Glyndebourne Festival.
Reviewing Costello’s performance as Nemorino in Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore at Michigan Opera, Opera News called the tenor “a first-class talent.” The reviewer added, “By the time the opera finished—its Act II highlight an ‘Una furtiva lagrima’ whose eloquence continues to resonate—there was no doubt that Costello was an intelligent, well trained singer whose enormous talent and natural musical instincts mark him for potential greatness.” Reviewing that same production, the Detroit News noted, “It’s hard to know which to admire more: Costello’s smart, heart-tugging comic turn—something between Charlie Chaplin and a young Steve Martin, or his superb singing.”
About the tenor’s Salzburg Festival debut in 2008 as Cassio in Verdi’s Otello under the baton of Riccardo Muti, Musical America observed, “The three principals nearly always eclipse Cassio, but Stephen Costello’s arresting singing made one take notice.” Of the same production, the New York Sun celebrated “What a beautiful, beautiful sound he makes…and he knows what to do with it.”
Stephen Costello’s new web site will be launched soon at www.stephencostellotenor.com.
Stephen Costello: Upcoming Engagements
February 11
Academy of Music, Philadephia
Gounod: Roméo et Juliette (Roméo)
Opera Company of Philadelphia
Additional performances February 13, 16, 18, and 20
March 5
Kansas City, MO
Harriman/Jewell Series
Recital
April 3
San Diego
Strauss: Der Rosenkavalier (Italian Singer)
San Diego Opera
Additional performances April 6, 9, and 12
April 23
San Diego
Gounod: Faust (Doctor Faust)
San Diego Opera
Additional performances April 26, 29, and May 1
June 9
East Sussex, England
Donizetti: L’elisir d’amore (Nemorino)
Glyndebourne Festival 2011 (debut)
Additional performances June 12, 17, 24, 30, July 3, 8, 10, 14, 16, 19, 22, 24, 28, 31, and August 4
www.stephencostellotenor.com