Dresden, 22 September 2023. The world of classical music lost one of its great artists: the American tenor Stephen Gould. The Semperoper not only remembers Stephen for his work on some of our most outstanding opera and concert events, but also misses a dear friend and colleague. For Dresden audiences, Stephen Gould is entirely unforgettable through his roles in many operas such as Siegfried, Otello and Tannhäuser.
According to the Artistic Director of Saxon State Opera, Peter Theiler: »Stephen was always closely associated with Dresden and the Semperoper. In his passing, we lose one of the leading heroic tenors of our time and a particularly endearing person. Speaking on behalf of our entire staff, we are deeply touched by the news of Stephen Gould’s death. Our sympathies go out to his family and friends.«
A prizewinner of the Semperoper Foundation, Stephen Gould’s most recent role at the Semperoper was Waldemar in Schoenberg’s »Gurre-Lieder« under the musical direction of Christian Thielemann.
Christian Thielemann, Principal Conductor of the Dresden Staatskapelle, also expressed his condolences: »I am deeply saddened by the news of Stephen Gould’s death. Since our first meeting in 1997 at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, we maintained a great rapport and close artistic collaboration, which accompanied us in all the great Strauss and Wagner roles on many stages around the world, including at Dresden’s Semperoper.«
Photo: Stephen Gould as Otello (2017) © Semperoper Dresden/Forster