Stephen Powell, baritone
The American baritone Stephen Powell has been lauded by The Wall Street Journal for his “rich, lyric baritone, commanding presence, and thoughtful musicianship.” An alumnus of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Center for American Artists, Mr. Powell has sung Marcello in La bohème with that company. His Atlanta Symphony debut as Marcello in concert performances of La bohème was under Robert Spano’s direction. Mr. Powell has appeared as soloist with many of America’s leading orchestras, including the Detroit Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra and San Francisco Symphony in repertoire including Orff’s Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Mahler’s Symphony No. 8 and Handel’s Messiah.

Mr. Powell’s roles at The Metropolitan Opera have included Ping in Turandot and Schelkalov in Boris Godunov. He has been a regular artist with New York City Opera, where his 2004-05 season concluded with a new production of The Pearl Fishers. During New York City Opera’s 2003-04 season, he sang Enrico in a new production of Lucia di Lammermoor. Recent opera credits include the title role in Sweeny Todd with Cleveland Opera, Malatesta in Don Pasquale with Montreal Opera and Valentin in Faust with the Opera Company of Philadelphia. He also sang the title role in The Death of Klinghoffer at the Brroklyn Academy of Music.

Stephen Powell frequently joins his wife, the soprano Barbara Shirvis, in a recital program called “Hearts Afire,” which they created of love songs through the ages.