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ANDREW COSTELLO
Biography
Andrew Costello brings with him a wealth of performance experience, having sung more than twenty-five leading operatic roles in the United States and Europe. His accomplishments range from the baroque music of Monteverdi to the advanced tonalities of contemporary opera. Critics have consistently recognized his outstanding talent.
“In view of his voluminous and agile voice, he is on his
way to a fine career.” Opernwelt
“The American Andrew Costello's physical stature and focused baritone is an asset to major theaters.” Hallandsposten (Sweden)
“First and foremost is Andrew Costello, a fabulous heldenbariton, whose reading
of the complete Flying Dutchman Monologue recalled some of the greatest
baritones I have ever heard.”
Charles
Handelman, Classical Singer Magazine
“He sings with resonant power and great beauty.”
Des Moines
Register
“His voice is visionary and grand.” Frankfurter Rundschau
In 2009, Mr. Costello will be returning to Des Moines Metro Opera as Scarpia in Tosca.
He also recently debuted in the title role of Der Fliegende Holländer (The Flying Dutchman) in New York City.
Mr. Costello’s career began with Glimmerglass Opera in L'Incoronazione di Poppea, directed by Jonathan Miller and conducted by Jane Glover. He has since appeared with, among others, the Atlanta Opera and Des Moines Metro Opera, where he made his debut as Jokanaan in Richard Strauss’ Salomé. Notable roles include Don Alfonso in Cosě fan Tutte, Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana and Alidoro in La Cenerentola. As a concert soloist, Mr. Costello made his debut at Carnegie Hall in Mozart's Requiem and was invited back to sing in Handel's Messiah.
Mr. Costello’s career in Europe was launched when he won the auditions for the prestigious International Opera Studio of Zürich. This success was followed by appearances with Cologne Opera, Bremerhaven Opera, the Neubrandenburg Philharmonic, Mecklenburg Landestheater and Stadttheater Giessen. His performances in both well-known and rarely performed operas include: Mephisto in The Damnation of Faust, the Four Villains in Tales of Hoffmann, Mephisto in Louis Spohr's Faust, Escamillo in Carmen, Pizarro in Fidelio, and the High Priest in Samson et Dalila.
Other appearances include Bluebeard in Bluebeards’ Castle, Hopkins in Max Brand's Maschinist Hopkins, Jokanaan in Antoine Mariotte’s version of Salomé, soloist in Verdi Requiem, the title role in Der Vampyr by Heinrich Marschner as well as Guilbert in Marschner’s Der Templer und die Jüdin, which was broadcast live on German national radio. He also performed as Wotan in Das Rheingold under the baton of Dr. Gustav Kuhn at the Tiroler Festival in Erl, Austria.
Mr. Costello has sung with many important conductors such as Anton Coppola, Stewart Robertson, Jane Glover, Dr. Gustav Kuhn, Frédéric Chaslin, and Dr. Robert Larsen. His many awards include The Wagner Society of New York Competition, Liederkranz Wagnerian Voice Competition and the McCallister Awards.
A native of New York City, Mr. Costello was born into a musical family, where he was instilled with a love of music and received his early training. Metropolitan Opera Baritone Abe Polakoff provided his vocal instruction. .