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Photo: Mary Jo Iacovino |
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With a voice described as a "rich lyric tenor," Steven Ebel continues to receive critical and popular acclaim for his work in concert, recital and opera. Recently, Mr. Ebel débuted as Victorin/Gaston in the UK and Royal Opera House premiere of Korngold's Die tote Stadt at Covent Garden. He begins his tenure for the next two seasons with the Jette Parker Young Artists Programme at London's Royal Opera House on September 1, 2009. This summer, he débuts in the inaugural season of Lorin Maazel's Castleton Festival as Peter Quint and returns to the Tanglewood Music Festival to sing Eislinger in Act III of Die Meistersinger and Tenor I in Stravinsky's Renard, with staging by Mark Morris, under the leadership of Maestro James Levine. Last season, Mr. Ebel was personally selected by Maestro James Levine to sing the demanding role of Jimmy Mahoney in the Tanglewood Music Festival's new production of Weill's The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny for which he received unreserved praise. He sang his first Jaquino in Beethoven's Fidelio in New York, and appeared with New Music New York and at London's illustrious Wigmore Hall Competition. Mr. Ebel performed as soloist in Americans in Paris - Songs by American Students of Nadia and 21st Century Shakespeare Chamber Music inspired by the Bard for the New Millennium. He created the role of Wolf in the world premiere of Louis Karchin's Romulus, and will record his role in the fall of 2009. He was widely lauded for his company début with Opera Cleveland singing his first Peter Quint in Turn of the Screw. At the outset of his career, Mr. Ebel sang leading roles in Bizet's Dr. Miracle and Orpheus in the Underworld, Lucia di Lammermoor, Iolanthe, and The Mikado. He also toured in Opera for the Young's production of Rusalka, and was The Prince in A Mermaid's Tale. He débuted with OperaDelaware as Frederick in The Pirates of Penzance and participated in the prestigious Tanglewood Music Festival under a fellowship grant. He sang the title role of Mozart's La Clemenza di Tito with New York Opera Forum and New York Opera Studio, Donald in Douglas Moore's Gallantry with Cantiamo Opera and Il postiglione in Puccini's La Fanciulla del West at New York City Opera. An avid recitalist, Mr. Ebel has performed A Tenor's Songbook featuring works of Barber and Schumann and a superb all Benjamin Britten program in New York. This recital, entitled Sonnets and Songs of the Isles, featured the Michelangelo Sonnets, On this Island and folk song arrangements. While in Madison, he performed as tenor soloist with the University Choral Union, Concert Choirs and the Madison Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Ebel presented several highly regarded recitals during this time including performances of Dichterliebe and A Timbered Choir, a fourteen song cycle to the poems of Wendell Berry. A versatile performer, he appeared as Archie in the musical The Secret Garden and John Savage in the premiere of the musical Brave New World. Now living in New York, Mr. Ebel has performed with the Pacific Opera Ensemble and Lifebeat – The Music Industry Fights AIDS. An exceptionally gifted composer, Mr. Ebel's latest work, Mogens, will be premiered in the coming season. Mr. Ebel's many talents have been recognized with numerous honors from many distinguished organizations including the Concours Musical International de Montréal, Joy of Singing Song Salon Competition, New York Oratorio Society Solo Competition, the Five Towns Young Musician's Competition, Career Bridges and the Wisconsin District Metropolitan Opera Auditions. |
Eislinger | Die Meistersinger von Nümberg, | Tanglewood, James Levine, Cond. | Jul 11, 2009 |
Peter Quint | Turn of the Screw | Castleton Festival (VA) | Jul 3, 4 & 5, 2009 |
Tenor I | Stravinsky's Renard | Tanglewood, Stefan Asbury, Cond. | Jul 28, 2009 |
Major Domo II | Der Rosenkavalier | Royal Opera House, Covent Garden | Dec 7, 10, 13(m), 15, 18 & 22, 2009 |
Hypochondriac Gambler | The Gambler | Royal Opera House, Covent Garden | Feb 10, 11, 15, 18, 20 & 25, 2010 |
Albazar | Il Turco in Italia | Royal Opera House, Covent Garden | Apr 3, 5, 8, 10, 13, 16 & 19, 2010 |
GUEST SOLOIST | w/ Sir Thomas Allen | The Mayfield Festival (England) | Apr 24, 2010 |
Artist in Residence | Jette Parker YAP | 2009-10 and | |
SOLOIST | Mogens | WORLD PREMIERE | TBD |
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Mr. Ebel (left) as Jimmy Mahoney in The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny - Italian Tour - 2009 |
| As Jimmy Mahoney in Weill's The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (Italian Tour): |
"Steven Ebel was superb in defining the modern sacrificial victim Jim Mahoney with a tenor voice that is pure lyricism." |
| As Jimmy Mahoney in Weill's The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny (Tanglewood Music Festival): |
"Steven Ebel was amazing as Jimmy Mahoney, and someone to watch in the dramatic tenor derby." |
Berkshire Homestyle Magazine - Sep 2008 |
"Steven Ebel gave a magnificent, truly star-quality rendition of the ill-fated Jimmy Mahoney. Charismatic on the stage, he used his lanky body with athletic strength, and his powerful and finely balanced tenor voice to create a portrayal of great variety and commitment. He could well end up owning Jimmy as Anthony Dean Griffey possesses Peter Grimes, or even greater roles and, yes, there are greater roles. I could imagine Ebel as a very fine Tamino, perhaps even a Florestan." "… the most successful of his [Brecht's] plays are those which, like Galileo, contain impressive heroes which can be fleshed out by star actors. Jimmy Mahoney may be ordinary enough, but Steven Ebel's performance was certainly on that level." "Even Steven Ebel's physical, dramatic, and vocal stature were not equal to those oversize sets and the crowding of the stage." |
Michael Miller - Berkshire Review - Sep 10, 2008 |
"Steven Ebel, the Jimmy, and Rebecca Jo Loeb, the Jenny, directed by Doug Fitch have taken those moments when no one can intrude on their dispassionate devotions and made them into something overpowering. Both the lyricism in their lovely voices and the physical disconnections they've been directed to play provided moments of absolute perfection." |
From the Berkshire Bright Focus Review by J. Peter Bergman |
"While not all the vocal performances were equally outstanding, Steven Ebel as Frank Olson was ever inventive with his enormous role, almost always on stage." |
Theodore Wiprud - New Music Connoisseur - Sep, 2008 |
"Tenor Steven Ebel showed promise as Jimmy." |
Financial Times - Aug 12, 2008 |
"As Jenny and Jimmy, Rebecca Jo Loeb and Steven Ebel are the stars of the show. She uses her Broadway voice and wiles to deadly - really for Jimmy - effect, and he is a proto-Peter Grimes, a pitiful, lumbering misfit in a world that will never understand. His clarion tenor voice even sounds like a Grimes'." |
Andrew L. Pincus - The Boston Globe - Aug 11, 2008 |
"Steven Ebel was a sweet-toned Jimmy Mahoney." |
Jeremy Eichler - The Boston Globe - Aug 11, 2008 |
| As Soloist in Alla Borzova's Merry Hour: |
"Alla Borzova's 'Merry Hour,' in its premiere, featured verses by the Russian poet Mikhail Lermontov, set in an expressive polyglot style. Tenor Steven Ebel conveyed much through his tone, countenance and physical gestures." |
Steve Smith - New York Times - Feb 21, 2008 |
| In Recital with pianist Wilson Southerland: (Grand Montgomery Chamber Music Series) |
"Ebel's strong and versatile voice, dramatic presence and masterful interpretations of the music and poetry made the afternoon an outstanding event (the 98th) in this rewarding series. Without a doubt, Ebel and Southerland are a talented team with lots of promise in their individual fields." |
James F. Cotter - The Times Herald Record - Jan 8, 2008 |
| Mr. Ebel as Peter Quint in Britten's Turn of the Screw: (with Opera Cleveland) |
"Steven Ebel's tenor possesses the properly English timbre that is ideal for Peter Quint. Ebel dominated the scene by his very presence, his height being a great advantage, and used his open, gentle face to threaten his victims chillingly." |
Alan Montgomery - Opera News - Oct 2007 |
Spirit is willing and able in fine 'Turn of the Screw' "Steven Ebel, with red locks providing virtually the only contrast from the overall black and white, makes a toweringly sinister Quint, the dead valet whose apparent indiscretions with both genders propel much of the action. Ebel, in the role created by Britten's partner, Peter Pears, sings Quint's music with insinuating urgency." |
Donald Rosenberg - Plain Dealer Music Critic - July 13, 2007 |
Real Phantoms of the Opera Opera Cleveland's Musical Ghost Story "Carrot-topped and towering, tenor Steven Ebel's Quint is long on vocal solidity." |
James Damico - Free Times A & E - July 18, 2007 |
"Steven Ebel as Peter Quint (and doubling as the handsome guardian) allows his lyric tenor a seductive energy." |
Laura Kennelly - Cool Cleveland - July 11, 2007 |
| Winner of Second Prize in the Concours International Musical de Montréal: |
"Former Metropolitan Opera baritone Sherrill Milnes had a high opinion of second-prize finisher Steven Ebel, an American tenor who programmed selections from Britten's Serenade. 'Probably better than Peter Pears,' Milnes said, referring to the composer's longtime companion and official interpreter." |
Arthur Kaptainis - The Gazette - June 9, 2007 |
| As Wolf in Karchin's Romulus: (Presented by Works and Process at The Guggenheim Museum) |
"The philosopher Wolf, portrayed by Steven Ebel, tenor, delivered more flowing lines. All of these performers sang excellently, especially Mr. Ebel, their clear enunciation a particular boon." |
Arthur Kaptainis - The Gazette |
"Ebel's clear, strong, sweet voice was also heard to advantage in the American Opera Projects production at the Guggenheim of Louis Karchin's Romulus, after the 1854 farce by Dumas père." |
New Music Connoisseur - Jan 2008 |
As Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance: |
"Tuneful 'Pirates' is delightfully silly" Ebel's clear and strong singing and lanky frame create a fine comic hero in Frederic." |
The News Journal - March 2006 |
As Nanki-Poo in The Mikado: |
"A rich lyric tenor." "The musical theater styles were stunningly delivered by Shanna Lesniak, Nicole Pantos, Dennis Blackwell and Steven Ebel." |
Wisconsin State Journal - 2003 |
A Slice of Life - A Recital of Contemporary American Song: |
"There were also beautiful performances by Rita Litchfield, Dennis Blackwell and Steven Ebel of interesting works with elegant, sculptured vocal lines by Libby Larson." |
Kenneth Cooper - 2005 |
Steven Ebel's recent recital at the Chazen Theatre inspired poet Eve Robillard to write the following poem:
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Steven Ebel at the Concours International Musical de Montréal Semis | ||
Jimmy Mahoney | Aufstieg und fall der stadt Mahagonny | Teatro Goldoni di Livorno, Teatro Verdi di Pisa, |
Victorin/Gaston | Die tote Stadt | Royal Opera House, Covent Garden |
Jimmy Mahoney | The Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny | BSO/Tanglewood |
Tamino | The Magic Flute (role debut) | Cleveland Institute of Music |
Jaquino | Fidelio | Empire Opera (NYC) |
Peter Quint | Turn of the Screw | Opera Cleveland (role and company début) |
Wolf | Louis Karchin's Romulus | Works and Process at The Guggenheim |
Frederick | Pirates of Penzance | OperaDelaware (role and company débuts) |
Il Postiglione | La Fanciulla del West | New York City Opera |
Tito | La Clemenza di Tito | New York Opera Studio |
Tito | La Clemenza di Tito | New York Opera Forum |
The Prince | Rusalka | Opera For The Young (tour) |
Orpheus | Orpheus in the Underworld | UW-Madison Opera |
Nanki-Poo | Mikado | University Theatre (Madison, WI) |
Donald | Gallantry | Cantiamo Opera Theater |
Nanki-Poo/ensemble | Roses and Wine (review) | Savoyards, Ltd. |
Lord Tollollar | Iolanthe | Savoyards, Ltd. |
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Steven Ebel (left) as Wolf in Romulus by Louis Karchin |
Archibald Craven | The Secret Garden | C.P.A. Jefferson, WI |
John Savage | Brave New World (premiere) | UW - Madison |
Solo Recital | University of Wisconsin | |
Masterclass |
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SOLOIST | The Peace of Wild Things | New Music New York Festival Season |
Guest Soloist | Live Public Radio Broadcast | |
SOLOIST | Fools Air and Prophecy | |
Solo Recital | A Heine Liederabend | |
Guest Soloist | Shakespeare Songs | Joy of Singing at Lincoln Center |
Guest Soloist | New Works | De Capo Chamber Players - Moscow and St. Petersburg |
SOLOIST | 21st Century Shakespeare | NYC |
SOLOIST | Sonnets & Songs of the Isles (All Britten) | NYC |
SOLOIST | Slice of Life | Milbank Chapel, Columbia Univ. |
SOLOIST | Oratorio Society of NY Competition Finals | Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall |
SOLOIST | The Music of William Maselli | Weill Hall in Carnegie Hall |
Full Recital | A Tenor's Song Book (Full length recital) | Community Church of New York |
Full Recital | An Evening of Love Songs (Full length recital) | C.P.A. Jefferson, WI |
SOLOIST | Jeffrey Sykes and Friends | Sunday Afternoon Live - Wisconsin Public Radio |
SOLOIST | Excerpt from The Creation | Madison Symphony Orchestra |
SOLOIST | Israel in Egypt - Tenor Soloist | UW-Choral Union |
Archibald Craven | The Secret Garden | C.P.A. Jefferson, WI |
John Savage | Brave New World (premiere) | UW - Madison |
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Tenor Steven Ebel as Frederic in The Pirates of Penzance | |
| Opera & Operetta | |||
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| Barber | Vanessa | Anatole | 3 |
| Bernstein | Candide | Candide | 3 |
| Bizet | Dr. Miracle | Dr. Miracle | 1 |
| Britten | Albert Herring | Albert | 3 |
Turn of the Screw | Peter Quint | 1 | |
| Floyd | Of mice and men | Lenny | 3 |
Susannah | Sam | 3 | |
| Moore | Gallantry | Donald | 1 |
| Mozart | Bastien und Bastienne | Bastien | 2 |
La clemenza di Tito | Tito | 1 | |
Così fan tutte | Ferrando | 3 | |
Don Giovanni | Don Ottavio | 2 | |
Idomeneo | Idomeneo | 3 | |
Die Zauberflötte | Tamino | 3 | |
| Offenbach | Orpheus | Orpheus | 1 |
| Puccini | La Bohème | Rodolfo | 2 |
| Verdi | La Traviata | Alfredo | 2 |
| Weil | Street Scene | Sam | 2 |
| Operetta | |||
| Lehar | The Merry Widow | Camille | 3 |
| Sullivan | HMS Pinafore | Ralph | 2 |
Iolanthe | Lord Tollollar | 1 | |
Mikado | Nanki-Poo | 1 | |
The Pirates of Penzance | Frederick | 1 | |
Yeoman | Fairfax | 2 | |
| Musicals | |||
| Arlen | Wizard of Oz | Tinman | 1 |
| Bock | She Loves me | George | 1 |
| Rodgers | Cinderella | The Prince | 3 |
| South Pacific | Lt. Cable | 3 | |
| Simon | The Secret Garden | Archie | 1 |
| Sondheim | A Little Night Music | Frederick | 3 |
| Into The Woods | Rapunzel's Prince | 3 | |
| Sweeney Todd | Anthony | 3 | |
| Styne | Bells Are Ringing | Carl | 1 |
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| Oratorio | |||
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(as tenor soloist) | |||
| Händel | Israel in Egypt | 1 | |
Chandos Anthems | 1 | ||
| W. Maselli | JFK Requiem | 1 | |
| Art Song | |||
| Barber | Opus 1 | 1 | |
| Brahms | Es schauen die Blumen | 1 | |
Meefahrt | 1 | ||
Der Tod das ist… | 1 | ||
Sommerabend, Op. 85 no.1 | 1 | ||
Mondenschein, Op. 85 no.2 | 1 | ||
| Britten | On This Island, Op. 11 | 2 | |
Michelangelo Sonnets | 2 | ||
Folk Songs Books I & IV | 2 | ||
| Duparc | Phidylé | 1 | |
Le Manoir de Rosemonde | 1 | ||
Lamento | 1 | ||
| Ebel, Steven | A Timbered Choir | 1 | |
The Fool's Air and Prophecy | 1 | ||
Vestiges | 1 | ||
| Ives | Disclosure | 1 | |
Religion | 1 | ||
Autumn | 1 | ||
Thoreau | 1 | ||
Nature's Way | 1 | ||
| Schumann | Dichterliebe, Op. 48 | 1 | |
Liderkreis, Op. 24 | 1 | ||
Balthazar, Op. 56 | 1 | ||
1 | performed |
2 | completely prepared |
3 | in preparation |
| Concert & Oratorio Repertoire | |
|---|---|
(all performed or prepared) | |
| Bach, J.S. | secular cantatas only |
| Beethoven | Choral Fantasy |
Symphony No. 9 | |
| Brahms | Liebeslieder Waltzes |
Neue Liebeslieder | |
| Britten | The Prodigal Son |
War Requiem | |
| Debussy | The Prodigal Son |
| Händel | Acis and Galatea |
Chandos Anthems | |
Israel in Egypt | |
Jephta | |
Judas Maccabaeus | |
Messiah | |
Samson | |
| Haydn | The Seasons |
The Creation | |
| Honegger | King David |
| Mahler | Symphony No. 8 |
| Maselli, W. | JFK Requiem |
| Mendelssohn | Elijah |
| Orff | Carmina Burana |
| Purcell | King Arthur |
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Mr. Ebel at the Concours International de Montréal - 2007 | |
Second Prize | Concours Musical International de Montréal |
WINNER | Joy in Singing, Song Salon Competition - duo with pianist Wilson Sutherland |
WINNER | Long Island Masterworks Paul Straney Scholarship Award |
Second Prize | New York Oratorio Society Solo Competition |
Third Prize | Gerda Lissner Foundation |
Third Prize | Violetta Dupont Vocal Competition (Opera at Florham) |
WINNER | Career Bridges Foundation Grant (3 years) |
Fourth Prize | District Metropolitan Opera Auditions (Milwaukee, WI) |
Third Prize | Five Towns Young Musicians Competition |
WINNER | Neale Silva Young Artist Competition - live radio performance |
WINNER | NATS Wisconsin |
FINALIST | Wigmore Hall Competition - London |
FINALIST | Joyce Dutka Arts Foundation Vocal Competition |
WINNER | Tanglewood 2008 Grace B. Jackson Prize |
FINALIST | Connecticut Alliance for Music Vocal Competition |
FELLOW | Tanglewood Fellowship | 2006 |
BM in Vocal Performance | University of Wisconsin-Madison | 2001 |
Resident Artist | DiCapo Opera Theatre | |
| Pacific Opera Ensemble | |
Voice Teachers | Neil Semer (present), Ilona Kombrink (6 years) | |
Coaches | Gary Wedow, Nico Castel, Paul Sperry, Bill Lutes, Barry Henry, Chloe Owen | |
Masterclasses | Patricia Racette, Ellen Hargis, Jennifer Lane, James Doing, Neil Semer | |
Stage Directors | Lillian Groag, William Farlow, Bill Lutes, Diane Garton Edie | |
"Dirge" {Benjamin Britten -
Serenade for tenor).mp3
