Roy Stevens has been the General Director of Opera Modesto since October, 2018. As a singer, he has had a unique and varied international operatic career, specializing in roles that feature complex acting, musical and vocal challenges. He has performed leading roles in18 countries, on 5 continents and in 12 languages in a wide variety of theaters, including Teatro alla Scala, Metropolitan Opera, Dallas Opera, Gran Theatre del Liceu in Barcelona, Dresden Semperoper, Oper Frankfurt, Teatro Sao Carlo of Lisbon and many others. His16 years as international dramatic baritone (Wagner, Verdi, Contemporary) featured many rare opportunities, such as creating the title role Verdi’s FALSTAFF in the operas national premiere in two countries (Guatemala and Macau), creating leading roles in world premiere operas by Tutino, Berio, Corghi (among others), as well as contributing to the success of many intensely powerful productions of a wide variety of roles in theaters around the world. His favorite roles, in addition to Falstaff, were the title roles of RIGOLETTO & NABUCCO, Scarpia in TOSCA, Beckmesser in DIE MEISTERSINGER, Dr. Schön/Jack the Ripper in LULU and Cervantes/Don Quixote in MAN OF LA MANCHA.
In 12 years as Heldentenor, he performed or covered most of the leading Wagner roles, as well as singing roles by Szymanowski, R. Strauss, J. Strauss, Stravinsky and others, including world premieres and other contemporary compositions.
Some of the most fascinating experiences of his professional career developed through an unusual relationship with the Albanian National Opera (TKOB). After creating the role of Herod in the Albanian national premier of R. Strauss’ SALOME, he returned to sing the title role of Jakova’s SKANDERBEG (the Albanian national hero), in Albanian, during the national celebration of 100 years of independence. This national celebration production was internationally televised and also was performed in the National Theater of Macedonia (also internationally telecast). He became the first non-ethnic Albanian to sing an opera in Albanian. The remarkable honor to play another country’s national hero transformed the experience from operatic to the level of international relations.
He was then engaged by the TKOB to spearhead the national premiere of any opera by Richard Wagner, as part of the theater’s 60 year anniversary and Wagner’s 200th. For the national Wagnerian premiere (TANNHÄUSER), Roy performed the title role, acted as Artistic Consultant (choosing & engaging the international Production Team), head vocal style & language coach for the Albanian soloists & chorus, international fundraiser (working with international foundations) and ultimately became the producer, as well. The production became an important symbol for Albanian progress towards international integration and had a profound impact.
In his third act as singer, Roy has returned to his favorite vocal category, baritone, reprising many favorite roles, such as the title roles of RIGOLETTO and FALSTAFF, as well as expanding his baritonal repertoire. Newly debuted roles include: The Doge in I DUE FOSCARI, the title role of MACBETH (in the opera's national premiere in Panama), Nilakantha in LAKME, Don Magnifico in CENERENTOLA and Dr. Bartolo in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA.
In partnership with the One World Theater in Kathmandu, Nepal, he Co-Produced and performed in a remarkable and rare example of genuine operatic cultural exchange:
With his wife, soprano Annalisa Winberg, and their inspirational educational program, AmazingVox School Residencies, he has also had the great privilege to touch the educational lives of hundreds of thousands of American students.
In 12 years as Heldentenor, he performed or covered most of the leading Wagner roles, as well as singing roles by Szymanowski, R. Strauss, J. Strauss, Stravinsky and others, including world premieres and other contemporary compositions.
Some of the most fascinating experiences of his professional career developed through an unusual relationship with the Albanian National Opera (TKOB). After creating the role of Herod in the Albanian national premier of R. Strauss’ SALOME, he returned to sing the title role of Jakova’s SKANDERBEG (the Albanian national hero), in Albanian, during the national celebration of 100 years of independence. This national celebration production was internationally televised and also was performed in the National Theater of Macedonia (also internationally telecast). He became the first non-ethnic Albanian to sing an opera in Albanian. The remarkable honor to play another country’s national hero transformed the experience from operatic to the level of international relations.
He was then engaged by the TKOB to spearhead the national premiere of any opera by Richard Wagner, as part of the theater’s 60 year anniversary and Wagner’s 200th. For the national Wagnerian premiere (TANNHÄUSER), Roy performed the title role, acted as Artistic Consultant (choosing & engaging the international Production Team), head vocal style & language coach for the Albanian soloists & chorus, international fundraiser (working with international foundations) and ultimately became the producer, as well. The production became an important symbol for Albanian progress towards international integration and had a profound impact.
In his third act as singer, Roy has returned to his favorite vocal category, baritone, reprising many favorite roles, such as the title roles of RIGOLETTO and FALSTAFF, as well as expanding his baritonal repertoire. Newly debuted roles include: The Doge in I DUE FOSCARI, the title role of MACBETH (in the opera's national premiere in Panama), Nilakantha in LAKME, Don Magnifico in CENERENTOLA and Dr. Bartolo in IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGLIA.
In partnership with the One World Theater in Kathmandu, Nepal, he Co-Produced and performed in a remarkable and rare example of genuine operatic cultural exchange:
- The first production of a western style opera in Nepal, Douglas Cuomo's ARJUNA'S DILEMMA, in 2016. This beautiful opera is a unique fusion of Western Classical Operatic, American Jazz and Hindustani Classical musical idioms in Sanskrit, English and Hindi.
With his wife, soprano Annalisa Winberg, and their inspirational educational program, AmazingVox School Residencies, he has also had the great privilege to touch the educational lives of hundreds of thousands of American students.