Stephen Dickson

Stephen Dickson (16 February 1951 – 18 October 1991) was an American baritone who had an active career in operas and concerts from 1972 through 1990. He was active with the United States's most important opera companies during the 1980s, sharing the stage with many notable singers like Luciano Pavarotti, Jessye Norman, and Renata Scotto. He was particularly admired for his portrayal of Papageno in The Magic Flute, a role he sang throughout Europe and the United States. At the time of his premature death, Dickson had just reached the pinnacle of his career, having only recently gained a more substantial role at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and with major European opera houses like the Royal Opera, London and the Bavarian State Opera among others.

Born in Oklahoma City, Dickson graduated from Putnam City High School in 1969. He then studied with Inez Lunsford Silberg at Oklahoma City University (OCU) where he graduated in 1973. He then pursued further studies with Gregory Stapp in San Francisco. He later returned to OCU in 1990 for one year to fill in as a voice instructor for Florence Birdwell, who was on sabbatical.

Dickson made his professional opera debut at the Santa Fe Opera (SFO) in 1972 in the minor role of one of the guests in the United States premiere of Aribert Reimann's Melusine. He appeared in small to mid-sized parts with a number of smaller American companies during the 1970s. His first leading role came in 1977 at the Houston Grand Opera when he portrayed Figaro in Gioachino Rossini's The Barber of Seville. That same year he returned to the SFO to portray Guglielmo in Così fan tutte and Emilio in the American premiere of Nino Rota's Il cappello di paglia di Firenze. He returned to Santa Fe periodically through 1984, appearing in such roles as Papageno in The Magic Flute and Prince Paul in La Grande-Duchesse de Gérolstein. He also notably directed the SFO's 1980 production of Eugene Onegin.

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