Stephen Costello has been hailed as “a prodigiously gifted singer whose voice makes an immediate impact” (Associated Press). The Philadelphia-born tenor quickly established a reputation as a “first-class talent” (Opera News) after coming to national attention in 2007, when, at age 26, he made his Metropolitan Opera debut on the company’s season-opening night. Two years later, Stephen won the prestigious Richard Tucker Award, and has since appeared at many of the world’s most important opera houses and music festivals. As Opera News noted, “the all-American tenor” is now “at the top of his game.”
In the 2026/27 season, Stephen returns to The Metropolitan Opera as Rodolfo in Puccini’s La bohème, a role that has brought him accolades all over the world. He reprises his “pure and vibrant” (Texas Classical Review) portrayal of Verdi’s Don Carlo twice this season, first at Semperoper Dresden, and then at Opernhaus Zürich. Stephen will also bow as Don José in Bizet’s Carmen, returning to Staatsoper Hamburg.
Last season, Stephen debuted in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera at Opernhaus Zürich, where he “completely inhabited the conflicted Riccardo, his tenor secure and bright” (Bachtrack). He also returned to the role of Rodolfo in La bohème for The Metropolitan Opera and Bayerische Staatsoper, and brought his acclaimed portrayal of Don Carlo to The Dallas Opera. Stephen also reprised his acclaimed portrayal of B.F. Pinkerton in Puccini’s Madama Butterfly at Santa Fe Opera and Grand Théâtre de Genève, where he was praised by Classique News for his “rare intensity” and “luminous high notes.”
Stephen has brought his “dazzling blend of agility, control, virile radiance, and colorfully graded emotionality” (Musik&Theater) to some of the world’s greatest stages, including the Royal Opera House, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Wiener Staatsoper, Deutsche Staatsoper, Opéra national de Paris, Bayerische Staatsoper, Hamburgische Staatsoper, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Semperoper Dresden, Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, Washington National Opera, Bolshoi Theatre Moscow, Arena di Verona, Salzburger Festspiele, Bregenzer Festspiele, and Glyndebourne Festival.
Stephen’s debut solo album, A Te, O Cara, a collection of bel canto arias by Donizetti, Bellini, and Verdi, was named Best Vocal Recital Disc of 2018 by Voix des Arts and also received a GRAMMY nomination for Best Classical Solo Vocal Album. In addition to winning the 2009 Richard Tucker Award and receiving further grants from the Richard Tucker Music Foundation, Stephen won First Prize in the 2006 George London Foundation Awards Competition, First Prize and Audience Prize in the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition, and First Prize in the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Competition. Stephen is a graduate of the prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts.