Stefan Szkafarowsky
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Stefan Szkafarowsky is an American
opera Opera is a form of History of theatre#European theatre, Western theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by Singing, singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically ...
singer (
bass Bass or Basses may refer to: Fish * Bass (fish), various saltwater and freshwater species Wood * Bass or basswood, the wood of the tilia americana tree Music * Bass (sound), describing low-frequency sound or one of several instruments in th ...
). Szkafarowsky was born on February 13, 1956, and is a native of New York. He attended the American Opera Center at
Juilliard The Juilliard School ( ) is a private performing arts conservatory in New York City. Founded by Frank Damrosch as the Institute of Musical Art in 1905, the school later added dance and drama programs and became the Juilliard School, named aft ...
and the Westchester Conservatory of Music. He is a recipient of grants from the Sullivan Foundation and the
Tito Gobbi Tito Gobbi (24 October 19135 March 1984) was an Italian operatic baritone with an international reputation. He made his operatic debut in Gubbio in 1935 as Count Rodolfo in Bellini's '' La sonnambula'' and quickly appeared in Italy's major oper ...
Award from the
Rosa Ponselle Rosa Ponzillo, known as Rosa Ponselle (January 22, 1897 – May 25, 1981) was an American operatic dramatic soprano. She sang mainly at the New York Metropolitan Opera and is generally considered to have been one of the greatest sopranos of the ...
Foundation. He is also a regional winner of the Metropolitan Opera Auditions.


Singing career

As a concert artist, Szkafarowsky has been a featured
solo Solo or SOLO may refer to: Arts and entertainment Characters * Han Solo, a ''Star Wars'' character * Jacen Solo, a Jedi in the non-canonical ''Star Wars Legends'' continuity * Kylo Ren (Ben Solo), a ''Star Wars'' character * Napoleon Solo, fr ...
ist with the
Pittsburgh Symphony The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra (PSO) is an American orchestra based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The orchestra is resident at Heinz Hall, located in Pittsburgh's Cultural District. Since 2008, the orchestra's music director is Manfred Ho ...
, National Symphony in Washington, D.C.,
Minnesota Orchestra The Minnesota Orchestra is an American orchestra based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded originally as the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra in 1903, the Minnesota Orchestra plays most of its concerts at Minneapolis's Orchestra Hall. History Th ...
,
St. Louis Symphony The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (SLSO) is an American symphony orchestra based in St. Louis, Missouri. Founded in 1880 by Joseph Otten as the St. Louis Choral Society, the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra is the second-oldest professional symphony o ...
, Colorado Symphony, Hartford Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony and the Vancouver and Montreal Symphonies. He has worked under the batons of
Plácido Domingo José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, ...
, Michael Lankaster,
Mstislav Rostropovich Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich (27 March 192727 April 2007) was a Russian Cello, cellist and conducting, conductor. In addition to his interpretations and technique, he was well known for both inspiring and commissioning new works, which enl ...
,
Leonard Slatkin Leonard Edward Slatkin (born September 1, 1944) is an American conductor, author and composer. Early life and education Slatkin was born in Los Angeles to a Jewish musical family that came from areas of the Russian Empire now in Ukraine. His fat ...
and
Michael Tilson Thomas Michael Tilson Thomas (born December 21, 1944) is an American conductor, pianist, and composer. He is Artistic Director Laureate of the New World Symphony, an American orchestral academy in Miami Beach, Florida, Music Director Laureate of the S ...
. His Italian debut in
Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky ( ; 7 May 1840 – 6 November 1893) was a Russian composer during the Romantic period. He was the first Russian composer whose music made a lasting impression internationally. Tchaikovsky wrote some of the most popular ...
's '' The Oprichnik'' at the Cagliari Opera House was a highlight of Szkafarowsky's 2002/2003 season. In addition, he debuted with
Minnesota Opera Minnesota Opera is a performance organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was founded as the Center Opera Company in 1963 by the Walker Art Center The Walker Art Center is a multidisciplinary contemporary art center in the Lowry Hill ...
as the Grand Inquisitor in '' Don Carlo''. Other performances include Ferrando in Verdi's '' Il trovatore'' and Crespel in ''
The Tales of Hoffmann ''The Tales of Hoffmann'' (French: ) is an by Jacques Offenbach. The French libretto was written by Jules Barbier, based on three short stories by E. T. A. Hoffmann, who is the protagonist of the story. It was Offenbach's final work; he died in ...
'' with
Washington Opera Washington National Opera (WNO) is an American opera company in Washington, D.C. Formerly the Opera Society of Washington and the Washington Opera, the company received Congressional designation as the National Opera Company in 2000. Performance ...
; Zaccaria in ''
Nabucco ''Nabucco'' (; short for ''Nabucodonosor'' , i.e. "Nebuchadnezzar II, Nebuchadnezzar") is an Italian-language opera in four acts composed in 1841 by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Temistocle Solera. The libretto is based on the biblic ...
'' with Florentine Opera and Santiago, Chile; and Ramfis in ''
Aida ''Aida'' (or ''Aïda'', ) is a tragic opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi to an Italian libretto by Antonio Ghislanzoni. Set in the Old Kingdom of Egypt, it was commissioned by Cairo's Khedivial Opera House and had its première there on 24 De ...
'' with New Jersey Opera. He has also performed with many other renowned opera companies such as the
Lyric Opera of Chicago Lyric Opera of Chicago is an American opera company based in Chicago, Illinois. The company was founded in Chicago in 1954, under the name 'Lyric Theatre of Chicago' by Carol Fox (Chicago opera), Carol Fox, Nicola Rescigno and Lawrence Kelly, w ...
,
New York City Opera The New York City Opera (NYCO) is an American opera company located in Manhattan in New York City. The company has been active from 1943 through its 2013 bankruptcy, and again since 2016 when it was revived. The opera company, dubbed "the peopl ...
, Grand Rapids Opera, New Orleans Opera,
Arizona Opera Arizona Opera is an opera company which operates in both Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix and Tucson, Arizona. History Arizona Opera was established in 1971 as the Tucson Opera Company, under founding general director James P. Sullivan, and presented i ...
,
San Diego Opera The San Diego Opera (SDO) is a professional opera company based in San Diego, California. The opera performs at the San Diego Civic Theatre. The San Diego Symphony serves as the orchestra for the opera. History San Diego Opera Guild was founded ...
,
Dallas Opera The Dallas Opera is an American opera company located in Dallas, Texas. The company performs at the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House, one venue of the AT&T Performing Arts Center. History The company was founded in 1957 as the Dallas Civic ...
,
Pittsburgh Opera Pittsburgh Opera is an American opera company based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Pittsburgh Opera gives performances in several venues, primarily at the Benedum Center, with other performances at the Pittsburgh Creative and Performing Arts Sch ...
, Hamilton, Calgary, Edmonton, Montreal, Winnipeg, and Vancouver in such roles as Ramfis, Banquo, Sparafucile, Wurm, Prince Gremin, and Daland in '' The Flying Dutchman''. The 2003/2004 season had Szkafarowsky returning to the Metropolitan Opera in '' The Nightingale'', ''
Werther ''Werther'' is an opera (''drame lyrique'') in four acts by Jules Massenet to a French libretto by Édouard Blau, Paul Milliet and Georges Hartmann (who used the pseudonym Henri Grémont). It is loosely based on Goethe's epistolary novel ''The S ...
'', and ''
Salome Salome (; , related to , "peace"; ), also known as Salome III, was a Jews, Jewish princess, the daughter of Herod II and princess Herodias. She was granddaughter of Herod the Great and stepdaughter of Herod Antipas. She is known from the New T ...
''. In the fall of 2004, he made his Atlanta Opera debut in the role of the Commendatore in
Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition and proficiency from an early age ...
's ''
Don Giovanni ''Don Giovanni'' (; K. 527; full title: , literally ''The Rake Punished, or Don Giovanni'') is an opera in two acts with music by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to an Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte. Its subject is a centuries-old Spanish legen ...
''. In 2005/2006, he sang the role of Prince Gremin in ''
Eugene Onegin ''Eugene Onegin, A Novel in Verse'' (, Reforms of Russian orthography, pre-reform Russian: Евгеній Онѣгинъ, романъ въ стихахъ, ) is a novel in verse written by Alexander Pushkin. ''Onegin'' is considered a classic of ...
'' with Tulsa Opera; Banquo in ''
Macbeth ''The Tragedy of Macbeth'', often shortened to ''Macbeth'' (), is a tragedy by William Shakespeare, estimated to have been first performed in 1606. It dramatises the physically violent and damaging psychological effects of political ambiti ...
'' with Florentine Opera; The King in ''Aida'' with Opera Pacific; Benoit/Alcindoro in ''
La bohème ''La bohème'' ( , ) is an opera in four acts,Puccini called the divisions '':wikt:quadro, quadri'', ''wikt:tableau, tableaux'' or "images", rather than ''atti'' (acts). composed by Giacomo Puccini between 1893 and 1895 to an Italian libretto b ...
'' with
Fort Worth Opera Fort Worth Opera is the oldest continually-performing opera company in the state of Texas and among the oldest in the United States, according to the company. While originally presenting operas one at a time over a fall/winter season, it changed ...
; Sarastro in ''
Die Zauberflöte ''The Magic Flute'' (, ), K. 620, is an opera in two acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart to a German libretto by Emanuel Schikaneder. It is a ''Singspiel'', a popular form that included both singing and spoken dialogue. The work premiered on ...
'' with the San Antonio Opera; Bonze in ''
Madama Butterfly ''Madama Butterfly'' (; ''Madame Butterfly'') is an opera in three acts (originally two) by Giacomo Puccini, with an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It is based on the short story " Madame Butterfly" (1898) by John Lu ...
'' at
Opéra de Québec Opéra de Québec () or Opera of Quebec City is a Canadian opera company founded in 1983; it is related to Opéra de Montréal, founded in 1980. The company does not have its own venue but performs in the Grand Théâtre de Québec on 269 Boule ...
; Commendatore in ''Don Giovanni'' with Opera Pacific; and Benoit/Alcindoro in ''La bohème'' and Dr. Bartolo in ''
Le nozze di Figaro ''The Marriage of Figaro'' (, ), K. 492, is a ''commedia per musica'' (opera buffa) in four acts composed in 1786 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with an Italian libretto written by Lorenzo Da Ponte. It premiered at the Burgtheater in Vienna ...
'' with the Metro Lyric Opera under the baton of Maestro Coppola. In 2006/2007 he sang the role of Commendatore with Opera Pacific in ''Don Giovanni'', followed by his debut with the
Florida Grand Opera Florida Grand Opera (FGO) is an American opera company based in Miami, Florida. It is the oldest performing arts organization in Florida and the seventh oldest opera company in the United States. FGO was created in 1994 from the consolidation of ...
in ''
Samson et Dalila ''Samson and Delilah'' (), Op. 47, is a grand opera in three acts and four scenes by Camille Saint-Saëns to a French libretto by Ferdinand Lemaire. It was first performed in Weimar at the (Grand Ducal) Theater (now the Staatskapelle Weimar) on 2 ...
'' as the Old Hebrew. Szkafarowsky made his debut with the
Lake George Opera Opera Saratoga (until January 2011, named the Lake George Opera) is a professional opera company based in Saratoga Springs, New York. It performs an annual summer festival of three fully staged operas and operettas. The company and its associated ...
in their rendition of ''La bohème'' singing the roles of Benoit/Alcindoro, and sang Friar Lawrence in ''
Roméo et Juliette ''Roméo et Juliette'' (, ''Romeo and Juliet'') is an opera in five acts by Charles Gounod to a French libretto by Jules Barbier and Michel Carré, based on ''Romeo and Juliet'' by William Shakespeare. It was first performed at the Théâtre Ly ...
'' at
Toledo Opera The Toledo Opera is an American opera company in Toledo, Ohio, performing in the Valentine Theatre in downtown Toledo. The company's season consists of two to three fully-realized operas, plus additional community programming for the Northwes ...
. In 2007/2008, he played Sarastro in ''Die Zauberflöte'' for Indianapolis Opera; the King in ''Aida'' with Nevada Opera; the lackey Havrilo in ''
War and Peace ''War and Peace'' (; pre-reform Russian: ; ) is a literary work by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy. Set during the Napoleonic Wars, the work comprises both a fictional narrative and chapters in which Tolstoy discusses history and philosophy. An ...
'' at the
Metropolitan Opera The Metropolitan Opera is an American opera company based in New York City, currently resident at the Metropolitan Opera House (Lincoln Center), Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center, situated on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Referred ...
; and at Florida Opera he performed the Sacristan in ''
Tosca ''Tosca'' is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to an Italian libretto by Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa. It premiered at the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma, Teatro Costanzi in Rome on 14 January 1900. The work, based on Victorien Sardou's 1 ...
'', and Benoit/Alcindoro in ''La bohème''. In the 2008/2009 season, he returned to the Metropolitan Opera for their productions of '' La Gioconda'' and ''Eugene Onegin''. He performed at the West Palm Beach Opera Company in ''La bohème'', as Benoit and Alcindoro. He also made his debut with Dayton Opera as Timur in ''
Turandot ''Turandot'' ( ; see #Origin and pronunciation of the name, below) is an opera in three acts by Giacomo Puccini to a libretto in Italian by Giuseppe Adami and Renato Simoni. Puccini left the opera unfinished at the time of his death in 1924; it ...
'', and he played Basilio in ''
Il barbiere di Siviglia ''The Barber of Seville, or The Useless Precaution'' ( ) is an ''opera buffa'' (comic opera) in two acts composed by Gioachino Rossini with an Italian libretto by Cesare Sterbini. The libretto was based on Pierre Beaumarchais's French comedy '' ...
'' and Kuno in ''
Der Freischütz ' (Friedrich Wilhelm Jähns, J. 277, Opus number, Op. 77 ''The Marksman'' or ''The Freeshooter'') is a German List of operas by Carl Maria von Weber, opera with spoken dialogue in three acts by Carl Maria von Weber with a libretto by Johann Fried ...
'' at
Des Moines Metro Opera Des Moines Metro Opera is an American opera company based in Indianola, Iowa, which lies some south of Des Moines, Iowa. It was founded by Robert L. Larsen and Douglas Duncan in 1973. The director is Michael Egel. During its annual summer fest ...
. In 2009/2010, Szkafarowsky made his debut with the Nashville Opera performing both Sacristan and Sciarrone in their production of ''Tosca'', followed by his debut in the Macau International Music Festival as Dr. Bartolo in ''Le nozze di Figaro''. The 2013/2014 and 2011/2012 Metropolitan Opera season found Szkafarowsky in the role of the Bonze in Puccini's ''Madama Butterfly'' with
Plácido Domingo José Plácido Domingo Embil (born 21 January 1941) is a Spanish opera singer, conductor, and arts administrator. He has recorded over a hundred complete operas and is well known for his versatility, regularly performing in Italian, French, ...
as conductor in 2011/2012. 2010/2011 engagements with the Metropolitan Opera included Szkafarowsky in their new production of '' The Nose'', as well as in their production of ''
Boris Godunov Boris Feodorovich Godunov (; ; ) was the ''de facto'' regent of Russia from 1585 to 1598 and then tsar from 1598 to 1605 following the death of Feodor I, the last of the Rurik dynasty. After the end of Feodor's reign, Russia descended into t ...
''. During these same years, he made his debut at the
Savonlinna Opera Festival Savonlinna Opera Festival () is held annually in the city of Savonlinna in Finland. The Festival takes place at the medieval Olavinlinna (St. Olaf's Castle), built in 1475. The castle is located amid spectacular lake scenery. Origin The birth ...
in Finland as the Sacristan in ''Tosca''; and he performed Vodnik in ''
Rusalka In Slavic folklore, the rusalka (plural: rusalki; , plural: русалки; , plural: ''rusałki'') is a female entity, often malicious toward mankind and frequently associated with water. It has counterparts in other parts of Europe, such as th ...
'' with Opera Colorado; Mitiukh in ''Boris Godunov'' with Dallas Opera; a return to Savonlinna to perform the Sacristan in ''Tosca''. He made his
New York City Opera The New York City Opera (NYCO) is an American opera company located in Manhattan in New York City. The company has been active from 1943 through its 2013 bankruptcy, and again since 2016 when it was revived. The opera company, dubbed "the peopl ...
debut on the NYCO's opening night for the 2016/17 season, on September 8, 2016, in a new production double bill of two operas that both premiered in May 1892. He made his debut in the title role in ''
Aleko The Moskvitch-2141, also known under the trade name Aleko (Russian: "АЛЕКО", derivative from the name of the automaker "Автомобильный завод имени Ленинского Комсомола", ''Avtomobilnyj zavod imeni Len ...
'', directed by Lev Pugliese with conductor James Meena leading the NYCO Orchestra, at Rose Theater at
Jazz at Lincoln Center Jazz at Lincoln Center is an organization based in New York City. Part of Lincoln Center, the organization was founded in 1987 and opened at Time Warner Center (now Deutsche Bank Center) in October 2004. The organization seeks to “represent th ...
.


Press reviews

Prince Gremin in ''Eugene Onegin'' – "Here was a bass that actually hit a note in his lowest range ... besides effectively shaping the melodic line." – ''St. Louis Post Dispatch''; "Stefan Szkafarowsky brought a regal bass to Prince Gremin's showcase aria." – ''San Diego Union Tribune'' Filippo in ''Don Carlo'' – "Stefan Szkafarowsky sang a dynamically realized Filippo, displaying sure command of a mellifluous instrument." – ''Opera News'' Zaccarias in ''Nabucco'' – "Stefan Szkafarowsky, by contrast, infused the prophet Zaccarias with a burning intensity that lifted the level of the show whenever he was on stage." – ''The Hartford Courant''; "Bass Stefan Szkafarowsky's Zaccaria was smooth, liquid, and dignified; a natural and imposing figure for the high priest." – ''Newsday''; "It was bass Stefan Szkafarowsky who had the greatest triumph due to his dynamic contrasts in Nabucco..." – ''Newsday'' Raimondo in ''Lucia di Lammermoor'' – "Woods' performance was backed by several very strong performances... Stefan Szkafarowsky as Raimondo... whose thundering judgements are like a classic chorus." – ''Newsday''; "A towering presence and one of the finest bass voices heard here in many years makes memorable the role of Raimondo, as sung by Stefan Szkafarowsky." – ''Times-Colonist''; "Massive is an understatement to describe Stefan Szkafarowsky's bass voice – he rocked the hall with his mighty instrument." – ''The Grand Rapids Press'' Lodovico in ''Otello'' – "A pleasant surprise was the deep bass of Stefan Szkafarowsky – a solid, mature Lodovico." – ''Pittsburgh Post-Gazette'' Ferrando in ''Il trovatore'' – "Far more vital was the Ferrando of Stefan Szkafarowsky whose 'Abbietta zingara' set the tone for the production – dark, grand, and infused with rhythmic incisiveness." – ''Opera News''


Repertoire

*Beethoven: ''Fidelio'', Rocco *Bellini: ''La sonnambula'', Count Rodolfo *Boito: ''Mefistofele'', Mefistofele *Borodin: ''Prince Igor'', Prince Galitsky *Donizetti: ''Anna Bolena'', Enrico VII; ''Don Pasquale'' Don Pasquale; ''L'elisir d'amore'', Dulcamare / Belcore; ''Lucia di Lammermoor'', Raimondo *Giordano: ''Andrea Chénier'', Mathieu *Gounod: ''Roméo et Juliette'', Friar Lawrence *Mozart: ''Die Zauberflöte'', Sarastro; ''Don Giovanni'', Commendatore; ''Le nozze di Figaro'', Dr. Bartolo *Mussorgsky: ''Boris Godunov'', Varlaam / Pimen *Offenbach: ''Les contes d'Hoffmann'', Crispel *Ponchielli: ''La Gioconda'', Alvise *Puccini: ''La bohème'', Benoit/Alcindoro, Colline; ''Madama Butterfly'', Bonze; ''Tosca'', Sacristan / Sciarrone; ''Turandot'', Timur *Rossini: ''The Barber of Seville'', Basilio *Saints-Saëns: ''Samson et Dalila'', Old Hebrew *Strauss, R.: ''Salome'', First Nazarene / 5th Jew *Tchaikovsky: ''Eugene Onegin'', Prince Gremin *Verdi: ''Aida'', Ramfis / King; ''Don Carlo'', King Phillip / Grand Inquisitor / Frate; ''Il trovatore'', Ferrando; ''La forza del destino'', Padre Guardiano / Melitone; ''Luisa Miller'', Wurm; ''Macbeth'', Banquo; ''Nabucco'', Zaccaria; ''Otello'', Lodovico; ''Rigoletto'', Sparafucile / Monterone; ''Simone Boccanegra'', Fiesco; ''Un ballo in maschera'', Tom *von Weber: ''Der Freischütz'', Kuno *Wagner: ''Das Rheingold'', Fasolt; ''Der Fliegende Holländer'', Daland; ''Lohengrin'', King Henry


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Szkafarowsky, Stefan 1956 births Living people Singers from New York City Juilliard School alumni American operatic basses Classical musicians from New York (state)