Role

:

Composer Conductor  

Birth

:

1951 in Seattle, WA

Period

:

Contemporary

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

 

Vocal

 

Stephen Stubbs is a renowned lutenist, conductor, and music director who has made significant contributions to the world of classical music. Born in Seattle, Washington in 1951, Stubbs grew up in a family of musicians and was exposed to music from a young age. His father was a jazz pianist, and his mother was a singer, and they both encouraged him to pursue music as a career. Stubbs began playing the guitar at the age of 12 and later switched to the lute, a stringed instrument that was popular in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. He studied music at the University of Washington and later at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis in Switzerland, where he specialized in early music. In the early 1980s, Stubbs co-founded the early music ensemble Tragicomedia, which became known for its innovative interpretations of Baroque and Renaissance music. The group performed extensively throughout Europe and North America and recorded several albums, including the critically acclaimed "Il Ballo delle Ingrate" by Claudio Monteverdi. In addition to his work with Tragicomedia, Stubbs has collaborated with many other early music ensembles, including the Boston Early Music Festival, the Seattle Baroque Orchestra, and the Handel and Haydn Society. He has also worked with modern orchestras, such as the Seattle Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic, to perform Baroque and Renaissance music on period instruments. One of Stubbs' most significant achievements was his role as the music director of the Seattle Opera from 2003 to 2013. During his tenure, he introduced many Baroque and Renaissance operas to the company's repertoire, including works by Handel, Monteverdi, and Gluck. He also directed several productions himself, including a highly acclaimed staging of Handel's "Semele" in 2009. Stubbs has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to classical music. In 2008, he was awarded the prestigious MacArthur Fellowship, also known as the "genius grant," which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to their field. He has also received several Grammy nominations for his recordings, including a nomination for Best Opera Recording in 2015 for his work on Handel's "Almira." Today, Stubbs continues to perform and record as a lutenist and conductor, and he is highly regarded for his expertise in early music. He has also become a respected music educator and has taught at several institutions, including the University of Washington and the University of British Columbia. His contributions to the world of classical music have been significant, and his innovative interpretations of Baroque and Renaissance music have helped to bring this music to a wider audience.

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