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Stephen Costello

Tenor (lyric)

Born September 29, 1981 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (45 years old)

Opera

Stephen John Costello is an American operatic tenor and a recipient of the 2009 Richard Tucker Award. Costello has performed in noted opera houses around the world including Covent Garden, Metropolitan Opera, and Lyric Opera of Chicago. In 2010, Costello originated the role of Greenhorn (Ishmael) in the world premiere of Jake Heggie's Moby-Dick at the Dallas Opera.

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Signature Roles

Rodolfo in La bohème Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor Roméo in Roméo et Juliette Alfredo Germont in La Traviata Duke of Mantua in Rigoletto Nemorino in L'elisir d'amore Carlo in Linda di Chamounix Cassio in Otello Lord Percy in Anna Bolena

10 Signature Roles10 Principal Houses

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Un Ballo in Maschera as Riccardo · Opernhaus Zürich · Aug 30, 2026

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Career Trajectory

Emerging from the Philadelphia vocal tradition with crystalline lyricism and interpretive maturity, Stephen Costello made his professional debut as Rodolfo in La bohème at Fort Worth Opera in March 2006, followed by a landmark Metropolitan Opera debut in the opening night of the 2007-2008 season as Arturo in Lucia di Lammermoor. His ascent was marked by the 2009 Richard Tucker Award and has been consolidated through commanding performances of the bel canto and verismo repertoire at the world's leading houses—from Vienna State Opera to Salzburg Festival—and through his creation of the role of Ishmael in Jake Heggie's Moby-Dick.