American heldentenor Stephen Gould has died. Since 2004, he appeared at Bayreuth nearly 100 times. Gould, 61, announced his retirement from singing only last month. Later, he revealed on social media that he had been diagnosed with bile-duct cancer, “with complications,” and that there would be no cure. He took the opportunity to express his gratitude to Bayreuth and for all the fond memories. He faced his disease clear-eyed and went out with real class.
As a young singer, Gould auditioned for a national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of Opera” – as a joke, he said – and he wound up singing in the show for close to eight years!
I recall this ballsy Bayreuth production of “Tannhäuser,” directed by Tobias Kratzer, from 2019, featuring a dwarf, a drag queen, and Gould in clown make-up. Not sure it’s exactly what Wagner had in mind, but I know you will love it. Sorry, no subtitles. You’ll just have to sprechen sie Deutsch.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4PyAFw5x588
If it’s not to your taste, here’s a duet from Korngold’s “Die tote Stadt” with Nadia Michael
An obituary in Opera Wire
An interview from 2019
https://www.dw.com/en/the-late-bloomer-of-tenors-stephen-gould/a-49739198
R.I.P.