Pamela Helen Stephen (1964 – 2021)

Operatic highlights included Annina La traviata and Hecuba Les Troyens (conducted by Antonio Pappano and directed by David McVicar), both for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, title role Giulio Cesare and Dido Dido and Aeneas for Opera North, Mrs. Disney The Perfect American and Emilia Otello, both for ENO, Maddalena in Rigoletto at Los Angeles Opera, as well as Auntie Peter Grimes with the London Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Vladimir Jurowski, Annina Der Rosenkavalier with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Andris Nelsons, and Orlofsky Die Fledermaus with the Philharmonia under John Wilson. Stephen maintained a strong relationship with Opera Australia, and sung the title role in Carmen in both Sydney and Melbourne, Nicklausse/Muse in Offenbach Les Contes d'Hoffmann, and Sesto in Handel Giulio Cesare, a role which earned her a Robert Helpmann Award nomination. In past seasons, Stephen also performed with Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, Aldeburgh, Cheltenham, and Wexford Festivals, Spoleto Festival, Opera Ireland, Lyric Theatre Singapore, Batignano Festival, Paris, and Amsterdam.

Stephen performed alongside such leading conductors as André Previn, Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Sir Simon Rattle, Richard Hickox, Edward Gardner, and Sir Richard Armstrong. Concert highlights include Delius A Mass of Life at the Edinburgh International Festival with Sir Andrew Davis, Tippett A Child of Our Time with the London Philharmonic Orchestra as well as performances at the BBC Proms, and with the London Symphony Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra Wales, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Northern Sinfonia, Berliner Konzerthausorkester, Rundfunk-Sinfonieorchester, Berlin, Bamberger Symphoniker, City of London Sinfonia, Prague Symphony Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano. Stephen’s wide-ranging concert repertoire has also led to performances in Vienna, Tokyo, Lisbon, The Netherlands, Dallas, Montreux, Brisbane, and Sydney.

Stephen’s discography is extensive, and includes more than thirty recordings reflecting her immense range. Releases include Strauss Ariadne auf Naxos and Szymanowski Stabat Mater for Chandos, and past highlights include Cherubino Le nozze di Figaro with Sir John Eliot Gardiner, Phoebe The Yeomen of the Guard with Sir Charles Mackerras, Child L’enfant et les sortilèges with André Previn, Second Niece Peter Grimes, Sonya War & Peace, Desideria The Saint of Bleecker Street, Nancy Albert Herring, Angelica A Poisoned Kiss, Kate Owen Wingrave and various Haydn Masses for Chandos with Collegium Musicum 90, all with Richard Hickox.

Pamela Helen Stephen studied at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, at the Opera Theater Center at Aspen, Colorado with Herta Glaz, and in Toronto with Patricia Kern. She is also a recipient of Scottish Opera's John Noble Award, the Caird Scholarship, the Countess of Munster Award, and the Canadian/Scottish Philharmonic Society Award.

2021/22 season / 499 words. Not to be altered without permission.