Applied Instructor, Voice
Lecturer, Opera Workshop
Contact: [email protected]
Links: http://stepheneisenhard.com/
A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Bass-baritone Stephen Eisenhard graduated from the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of famed basso Italo Tajo. Critics praise his ... "robust voice and belligerent comic portrayal..." and laud his performances with comments such as, "... sung richly and with remarkable endurance," "excellent vocal talents... a model windbag...!" He has performed with numerous opera companies including Nevada Opera, Piedmont Opera, Michigan Opera Theater, Sarasota Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Connecticut Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Tulsa Opera, Opera Carolina, Cincinnati Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland, Opera de Puerto Rico, Edmonton Opera, El Paso Opera, Opera Memphis, Nashville Opera, OperaDelaware, Dayton Opera, Opera Idaho, Tacoma Opera, Shreveport Opera, Fresno Grand Opera, San Francisco's Western Opera Theater's International Tour (including The Peoples Republic of China), the New York City Opera National Company,Sacramento Opera, Baltimore Concert Opera, and at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center.
Mr. Eisenhard's extensive repertoire spanning buffo and dramatic characters highlights his versatility as a singer/actor. In the 2003-2004 season, he performed Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro with Florida Grand Opera and Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Connecticut Opera. He also sang La boheme's two old fools, Benoit and Alcindoro, both with Florida Grand and Knoxville Opera. Highlights of the 2004-2005 season included the Sacristan in Toscaand the Baliff in Werther with Sarasota Opera, Bartolo in Le Nozze di Figaro with Dayton Opera and a return to Connecticut Opera as Dulcamara in Elixir of Love. In the 2005-2006 season Mr. Eisenhard returned to Connecticut Opera for a third time to sing Mustafa in The Italian Girl in Algiersand to Sarasota Opera as Frank in Die Fledermaus. Also, in 2006 Stephen sang for the "Live at First" concert series in Birmingham, Michigan as a featured recitalist.
Highlights of the 2006-2007 season included Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte with Piedmont Opera and a return to Connecticut Opera as the title role in Don Pasquale. In 2007-2008, Mr. Eisenhard returned to Sarasota Opera to reprise the role of Don Alfonso in Cosi fan tutte. In the 2008-2009 season, Mr. Eisenhard made his debut with Nevada Opera as Bartolo inBarber of Seville, returned to Sarasota for his 10th season as Dulcamara, and performed Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola with Opera Southwest.
In September of 2010, he made his debut with Baltimore Concert Opera as Bartolo in Il barbiere di Siviglia. In 2011, Stephen returned to Baltimore Concert Opera to sing Benoit/Alcindoro in La boheme. In October of 2012, he made his debut with Sacramento Opera in a concert series Opera at the Crest and Three Stages.
In November of 2012, Stephen returned to Sacramento Opera to perform his signature role, Dr. Bartolo, in The Barber of Seville. Highlights of the the 2013-2014 season include a return to Baltimore Concert Opera as Dulcamara in Elixir of Love, a new production of Elixir of Lovewith Opera Delaware as Dulcamara, and Bartolo in Barber of Seville with Opera Naples.
In the 2014-2015 season, Stephen made his professional debut as a stage director for Menotti's Amahl and the Night Visitors with Concert Opera Michigan in Birmingham, MI, which also featured Stephen as King Balthazar. Other engagements included singing the role of Bartolo in The Barber of Seville with Opera Naples.
In the 2015/2016 season Stephen made his debut with Opera Coeur D'Alene as Benoit and Alcindoro in La boheme. This production was a joint production with the Spokane Symphony. Upcoming performances in 2016 include Benoit/Alcindoro in La boheme with Concert Opera of Birmingham (MI) and a return to Opera Coeur D'Alene as Bartolo in The Barber of Seville.
In the Fall of 2015 Mr. Eisenhard was appointed Artistic Director of the Live@First Classical Concert Series in Birmingham, Michigan. Also, in December of 2015 Stephen was asked to join the Voice Faculty as an Adjunct Instructor of Voice at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan.
Mr. Eisenhard has performed many of opera's beloved comic roles, among them Don Pasquale, Don Magnifico, Don Alfonso, Sacristan, Melitone in La forza del destino, Don Bartolo in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, and Dulcamara in Elixir of Love. Roles of a more serious nature include, de Bretigny in Manon, the Baron in La Traviata, Metifio in Cilea's L'Arlesiana, Friar Laurent in Romeo & Juliet, the Commendatore in Don Giovanni, Rambaldo in La rondine, Kakenik in Rimsky-Korsakov's May Night.
Mr. Eisenhard was a National Finalist of the 1992 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and was a finalist in the National Opera Association's 1990 Artist's Competition. As a soloist, Mr. Eisenhard also has an extensive oratorio and concert repertoire including Handel's Messiah, Verdi's Requiem, Beethoven's 9th Symphony, Bach's B Minor Mass and St. Mathew Passion.