Born-Again Christian

Talking with Northeast Philly's Stephen Costello, star of the new Cyrano.

by David Shengold

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Published: Feb 5, 2008

The talk of operatic chat rooms and message boards the world over, tenor Stephen Costello is really just a regular Northeast Philly guy. So he says. This year he made an acclaimed debut on the New York Met's opening night as Lucia di Lammermoor's ill-fated bridegroom, and later took over the star part of her no less ill-fated lover. He recently gave his first joint recital with his lovely soprano fiancée (and fellow AVA grad) Ailyn Pérez in London. Trained completely in Philadelphia, he makes his Opera Company debut this week as Christian, the sincere but inarticulate hunk in David DiChiera's new Cyrano. Next month comes Gounod's Romeo in Baltimore.

City Paper: When did singing become important? When you first encountered opera, did it "click" right away?

Stephen Costello: Growing up in Philadelphia — a few blocks from Franklin Mills Mall — I had always enjoyed music. I played trumpet for 12 years and had thought about making that my profession. ... It wasn't until senior year at George Washington High School on Bustleton Avenue that I wanted to try something new and auditioned for Lt. Joseph Cable in South Pacific. I loved singing onstage in front of an audience, so I decided to audition for the University of the Arts. My first opera was La Bohème at the Met, my second year as an undergrad. I didn't know what the story was, or even the music, but when I saw the production I fell in love with opera and decided that's what I want to do with my life. So walking onto the Met stage this September was a dream come true — especially having Maestro [James] Levine in the pit!

CP: When you're learning a new role, what is your process? Does Christian come easily to you?

SC: Learning a new role requires lots of time. I sit down, translate my score and then begin to work on the music. For Cyrano there isn't a recording, so I read the play and researched the work to get a feel for the characters. Christian is a cadet and falls in love with Roxane, but [in her presence] he really cannot say anything right. So to play that I just act completely shy and at a loss for words — which I do on a regular basis in real life. It was tough at first to get the style of the music down, but after working with David DiChiera and [librettist] Bernard Uzan in a Detroit workshop it really came together. Evelyn Pollock and I had sung Cosi Fan Tutte together at AVA. She plays Roxane, and also did in the workshop. Evelyn's a great singer and I'm very happy to be here with her.

CP: What do you tell "nonopera" friends to get them to come to the show?

SC: Opera is an experience everyone needs to try. It's one of the greatest forms of art and exciting live theater. You never know what will happen from one night to the next. Give this type of music a chance — you might really end up enjoying yourself.

(d_shengold@citypaper.net)

Cyrano, Feb. 8-17, Opera Company of Philadelphia at the Academy of Music, 1420 Locust St., $7.50-$185, 215-893-1999, operaphilly.com.

 

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