This Saturday (Sep 26), Stephen Costello Returns to Metropolitan Opera in Anna Bolena, Now Opposite Sondra Radvanovsky
It was Stephen Costello who sang Lord Percy in the Metropolitan Opera’s premiere production of Donizetti’s Anna Bolena four years ago, when, opposite Anna Netrebko, he helped open the company’s 2011-12 season. Now, this Saturday, the Tucker Award-winning tenor returns to the Met to reprise the role of Anne Boleyn’s doomed first lover with another great soprano – Sondra Radvanovsky – in the title role of Sir David McVicar’s gripping period production, with Ildar Abdrazakov’s Henry VIII, Jamie Barton’s Jane Seymour, and Marco Armiliato on the podium (Sep 26; Oct 1 & 5; Jan 5 & 9). Click here to see Costello with Netrebko in Anna Bolena at the Met.
As Costello explained in a recent interview with the Examiner, the role of Riccardo Percy presents particular vocal challenges:
“Percy, a ridiculously difficult role, starts slightly light and lyrical, constantly jumping octaves with complete agility, and steadily turns more and more dramatic and passionate before reverting in Act II to something lighter and lyrical in his second aria.”
Nonetheless, in his first Met portrayal of the role, Costello “sounded fresh and virile” (New York Post), impressing the Associated Press with his “fervent lyricism.” “Costello won a hearty ovation for his Riccardo,” and “captured the character’s consuming adoration for Anna through his impetuous and anguished singing,” reported the New York Times, which concluded: “To hear this rising artist stretching himself was part of the excitement.”
As the tenor told the Examiner, one of the attractions of reprising the role was the chance to co-star with Radvanovsky:
“I just met Sondra when rehearsals started the other day. She sings many ‘big’ soprano roles. She’s simply amazing. Her voice has a cut to it that really makes it exciting. She takes all these optional embellishments, and the other day finished a concerted number with an astonishing high E-flat.”
Donizetti’s opera marks the first of two back-to-back Metropolitan Opera productions with which Costello launches his season this fall, for next month brings his company role debut as the Duke of Mantua in Michael Mayer’s electrifying Vegas setting of Verdi’s Rigoletto at the New York house (Oct 20–Nov 10). The 2009 Richard Tucker Award-winner also looks forward to taking time out to perform alongside his fellow laureates and other operatic luminaries – including Andrea Bocelli, Renée Fleming, and this year’s winner, Jamie Barton – at the 2015 Richard Tucker Music Foundation’s annual gala, which will be held at Lincoln Center’s newly renamed David Geffen Hall (Nov 1).
High-resolution photos can be downloaded here.
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Stephen Costello: upcoming engagements
Sep 26; Oct 1 & 5
New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Anna Bolena (Percy)
Oct 20, 23, 28, 31; Nov 4, 7, 10
New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Rigoletto (Duca)
Nov 1
New York, NY
David Geffen Hall
2015 Richard Tucker Opera Gala
Nov 30; Dec 3, 6, 10, 15, 19
Madrid, Spain
Teatro Real
Rigoletto (Duca)
Jan 5 & 9
New York, NY
Metropolitan Opera
Anna Bolena (Percy)
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© 21C Media Group, September 2015