Steven Cole (tenor)


Steven Cole is an American opera singer. He is particularly known for his portrayal of tenor character roles in an international career spanning more than 30 years. He sang in the world premieres of Jean Prodromides's La Noche Triste, Gavin Bryars's Medea, and the revised version of György Ligeti's Le Grand Macabre.

Life and career

Cole was born in Baltimore, Maryland. He studied sociology and anthropology at Union College and singing at the Peabody Conservatory and at the Royal College of Music, Stockholm. After graduating from Union College in 1971, he was awarded a Watson Fellowship and pursued further vocal training in England. He made his professional debut as Monsieur Triquet in Eugene Onegin at the Tanglewood Festival in 1974 in a Boston Symphony Orchestra performance conducted by Seiji Ozawa. Cole went on to sing in major opera houses and festivals across North America and Europe, including the Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Paris Opera, Gran Teatre del Liceu, and the Salzburg Festival. His discography includes Orphée aux enfers conducted by Marc Minkowski, Le Grand Macabre conducted by Esa-Pekka Salonen, The Magic Flute conducted by William Christie, and The Rake's Progress conducted by Kent Nagano.

Repertoire

Cole's wide-ranging repertoire spans operas from the Baroque era to the 20th century. His roles from 1974 to the present have included: