Stephen Hopkins
Pianist
Solokorrepetitor at the Wiener Staatsoper
(Vienna State Opera)
American pianist Stephen Hopkins is in his sixth season as a Solokorrepetitor (pianist/coach) and stage music conductor at the Wiener Staatsoper (Vienna State Opera) and has appeared in concert on the international stage from the United States to Mexico, Spain, Germany, and Austria. He received his Bachelor's Degree in Music from Yale University and his Master's Degree in Piano Accompanying and Coaching from Westminster Choir College. Throughout his collegiate career, he coached, accompanied, and conducted several operas and was subsequently engaged by Houston Grand Opera as a studio artist for two seasons.
Since his arrival in Vienna in 2010, he has musically prepared dozens of productions with many prominent singers, including Roberto Alagna, Plácido Domingo, Juan Diego Flórez, Elīna Garanča, Inva Mula, Leo Nucci, and Ramón Vargas. Additionally, his versatility at the keyboard has also enabled him to perform regularly on the Hammerklavier (fortepiano), organ, and harpsichord (cembalo) in many important venues such as the Wiener Staatsoper and the Musikverein.
Mr. Hopkins’ experience as stage music conductor also led him in 2015 to conduct a children’s opera adaptation of Undine by Albert Lortzing with the Vienna State Opera Stage Orchestra. In July of this year, he will return to Oberaudorf, Germany for the second time as a master class teacher and guest coach with Musiktheater Bavaria.
Acclaimed for his fine and sensitive recitative playing on the fortepiano with the Vienna Philharmonic in both Die Presse (a highly regarded Austrian newspaper) and Opera News, Mr. Hopkins has quickly become a recognized musical presence as both a distinguished coach and accomplished pianist.