Rising tenor Robert Stahley, described as “A prodigiously talented performer” (ReviewSTL), continues to thrill audiences with “His impassioned, soaring tenor” (Broadway World) and breathing life to roles on stage, where “he tirelessly exudes gravitas and individuality” (Parterre). Upcoming engagements include Canio in Pagliacci with the Glimmerglass Festival, Siegmund in a concert of Ring Cycle Highlights with Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Dick Johnson in La Fanciulla del West with North Carolina Opera. The 22/23 season marked several major role and company debuts including Erik in Wagner’s The Flying Dutchman with Utah Opera and Lyric Opera of Chicago (cover), Melot and Young Sailor in Tristan und Isolde with the LA Philharmonic led by Gustavo Dudamel, Froh in Das Rheingold with Dallas Opera, Siegmund in the Vick/Dove arrangement of Wagner’s Die Walküre with Opera Santa Barbara, and Cavaradossi in Tosca with Opera Theatre St. Louis.
In the 2022 festival season, Robert performed two role debuts as a Filene Artist at Wolf Trap Opera, Max in Carl von Weber’s Der Freischütz and Sam in Carlisle Floyd’s Susannah. Stahley graduated the LA Opera Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program in May 2022, where he performed several prominent roles, including Walther von der Vogelweide in Wagner’s Tannhäuser, Le Berger in Stravinsky's Oedipus Rex, Valcour in Joseph Bologne’s L’Amant Anonyme, First Armored Man in Barrie Kosky’s famed production of Die Zauberflöte, and Parpignol in the North American premiere of Barrie Kosky’s La bohème.
Other career highlights include Juno in Handel’s Semele at Opera Santa Barbara, Narraboth in Strauss’ Salome with Bard Opera Theater, The Captain in the world premiere of John Corigliano’s The Lord of Cries, a featured soloist in concert with Grammy Award-winning Soprano Angel Blue, the title role in The Tales of Hoffmann with Arbor Opera Theater, tenor soloist in Verdi’s Messa Da Requiem with the Quad-City Symphony, tenor soloist in Beethoven’s 9th Symphony with the Lynn Philharmonia and Dayton Philharmonic, William Marshall in Regina with Opera Theater of St. Louis, Lenny in scenes from Of Mice and Men and Bacchus in Ariadne auf Naxos with the St. Louis Symphony, Pang in Turandot with the Kentucky Symphony, and Trajan in a Workshop of Rufus Wainwright’s new opera Hadrian with the Canadian Opera Company. Other significant roles include Candide (Candide), Idomeneo (Idomeneo), The Schoolmaster (The Cunning Little Vixen), Charlie (Mahagonny-Songspiel), The Lamplighter and Drunk (The Little Prince), Sam Kaplan (Street Scene), Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi), and Hubert Humphrey (Dark River).
Mr. Stahley won first prize in the 2019 Wagner Society of New York Competition, third prize in the 2018 Gerda Lissner Vocal Competition, and first prize in the 2017 Piccolo Vocal Competition. He completed his Artist Diploma and Masters at the College Conservatory of Music. He has bowed with opera companies such as LA Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Opera Theater of St. Louis, Utah Opera, Opera Santa Barbara, Wolf Trap Opera, Cincinnati Chamber Opera, Arbor Opera Theater, Palm Beach Opera, and Cincinnati Opera.
