Stephen Guggenheim
Tenor Stephen Guggenheim has been heralded as “a talent to be watched.”
“His voice is a magnificent instrument, capable of great variety.” (The Herald) Described as a “tireless tenor with a commanding stage presence” (Richmond–Times Dispatch), Mr. Guggenheim’s career has taken him to the stages of the world’s greatest opera houses and concert halls.
Mr. Guggenheim’s career highlights include singing the roles of Tito in La Clemenza di Tito with Federica von Stade at the San Francisco Opera, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor also with San Francisco Opera, and Don Jose in Carmen with L’Opera de Lyon and on tour to Guam and Japan with the San Francisco Opera. He originated the title role in Thea Musgrave’s Simon Bolívar during world premiere performances with Virginia Opera and later singing selections from Simon Bolívar during the annual BBC Promenade Concerts in London’s Royal Albert Hall with the Scottish National Symphony. Other concert highlights include appearances with the Berkeley Symphony under the baton of Kent Nagano, the San Francisco Symphony, the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, the San Jose Symphony and the Phoenix Symphony.
Mr. Guggenheim has also sung the Verdi Requiem with the Tulsa Philharmonic, the role of the Rabbi in Kurt Weill’s The Road to Promise with the Plymouth Music Series in Minneapolis, and Rossini’s Petite Messe Solonelle with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus. He participated in Tulsa Opera’s 50th Anniversary Gala (where he sang with Marilyn Horne and Pablo Elvira), a Verdi Gala with the Minnesota Opera, and also sang the role of Eleazar in La Juive with the Jewish Music Festival of Northern California.
Some of his other engagements have included singing the roles of Canio in I Pagliacci in Anchorage, Alaska; Il Duca in Rigoletto in Minnesota, California and Malta; and Rodolfo in La Boheme in California, Washington and on tour to Japan with the San Francisco Opera. He sang Achilles in the American premiere of Tippett’s King Priam under the baton of Donald Runnicles with the San Francisco Opera and Noah in the world premiere of Henry Mollicone’s Hotel Eden with Opera San Jose. He was a participant in the Merola Opera Program with the San Francisco Opera where he was awarded an Adler Fellowship. Previous to his apprenticeship with the San Francisco Opera, Mr. Guggenheim was an Artist in Residence with Opera San Jose. He also sang the title roles in The Tales of Hoffmann and Werther; Riccardo in Un Ballo in Maschera, Eleazar in La Juive, and Ruggero in La Rondine with the Israel Vocal Arts Institute.
A native of Saratoga, California, Mr. Guggenheim graduated from San Jose State University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. He continued his studies in Italy at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy with Carlo Bergonzi. Mr. Guggenheim is also an accomplished Cantor having served Temple Beth Jacob in Redwood City, California and Temple Emanu-El in San Jose, California.
As Guggenheim Entertainment’s Resident Musical Director, Stephen is well-versed in musical theatre repertoire and has musical and/or vocal directed numerous projects including the hit Chanukah musical The Meshuga Nutcracker!, San Francisco’s long running hit Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Runaways, and Alice In Concert. As an educator he teaches voice, audition technique, musical theatre and opera appreciation privately and in musical theatre workshops for community theatres and schools. Steve serves as Vice President of Guggenheim Entertainment, Inc. and has musical directed shows at the Retrodome including the revivial of Schoolhouse Rock Live!, Santastic!, Shout! The Mod Musical, Sisters of Swing, The Fantasticks and Xanadu.