2023-09-20 17:56:32
The Wagner tenor Stephen Gould is dead. He was 61 years old. “We are stunned and in deep sadness. Our thoughts are with his family and friends,” his artist agency said on Wednesday. Gould died the day before. Just a few weeks ago, the American made it public that he was suffering from serious cancer.
Gould was actually scheduled to play three big roles at this year’s Richard Wagner Festival in Bayreuth in the summer; once again he was supposed to shine as Wagner’s marathon man. However, he canceled due to health reasons. At the end of August he announced the end of his career, followed shortly afterwards by the news of his serious illness. He explained at the beginning of September that there was no chance of a cure.
The Bayreuth Festival reacted “stunned” to the death of the popular singer: “With him, the Bayreuth Festival and the entire opera world are losing an outstanding singer, actor, teacher, friend and valued colleague.”
Gould was closely connected to the festival. He made his debut here 19 years ago as Tannhäuser. By 2022 he had sung almost 100 performances here and quickly became an audience favorite on the Green Hill. He also often sang the title role in “Tristan and Isolde”, which is considered particularly challenging. He was heard as Tristan for the first time in Bayreuth in 2015, in a production directed by festival director Katharina Wagner and conducted by Christian Thielemann.
In 2022, Gould told the broadcaster BR Klassik: “I’m not a sprinter. I’m more of a long-distance runner. It’s a shame that in our world with Tik-Tok everything has to happen in a very short time. Wagner is not an opera, is not entertainment. It is Meditation, a mantra.”
He also shone at the first open-air festival in Bayreuth last year and received great cheers not only for excerpts from Wagner’s work, but also for the Lehár song “Yours is my whole heart”. Gould earned a reputation as Bayreuth’s “Iron Man” because he sang so many long parts there. “He was distinguished by his remarkable fitness, unbridled curiosity and utmost professionalism, including in his dealings with colleagues,” wrote the Bayreuth Festival in its obituary. “We would like to thank Stephen Gould for the many unforgettable evenings at the Bayreuth Festival, which he gave us with his unique voice and his magnificent stage presence. We will miss him immensely, he will remain part of the festival family forever.”
The Vienna State Opera was also deeply affected. “The Haus am Ring has dedicated today’s performance of “Tristan and Isolde” to the globally celebrated tenor and artist who is valued by the entire house,” it said in a press release. Gould made his debut at the Vienna State Opera in 2004 as Paul in a premiere of “Die tote Stadt” and subsequently appeared in the great Wagner roles of his field. In total he appeared on stage in 105 State Opera performances. In 2015 Gould was appointed Austrian Kammersänger.
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