Working with Stephen Lord, as I have done very happily, is an immediate reminder of what music making should be, and what I became accustomed to on entering this profession nearly 60 years ago. His depth of knowledge and love of the vocal art in particular is what I hope for all the time but which becomes increasingly rare . We should nurture the Stephen Lord’s.
~ Sir Thomas Allen. KBE. CBE.
Maestro Lord (redundant!) has been, for the last 33 YEARS of my career (Blossom Festival 1986 is when we met) a consummate and knowledgeable coach, conductor, support, and friend. His musical sense is always geared toward the expression and the storytelling, which is something I’ve always learned from and deeply appreciated. His experience over the last 5 (?) decades, has positioned him among the rare breed of experts who have known and worked with and advised the greatest singers, directors, and players in our memory.
~ Susan Graham, International Mezzo Soprano
Stephen Lord isn’t merely a great musician and conductor he’s that magical being who is also a natural teacher. Anyone who works with him learns and becomes better through the process.
~ Isaac Mizrahi – Director/Designer
Whenever I think of Stephen Lord I say to my students that he is the finest and most knowledgeable Operatic coaches of my generation and that they should seek him out because they would be fortunate to learn from him. He is the legacy of the finest opera singers present and past in the world today.
~ Marlena Malas, International Singing Teacher
Stephen can see what you’re thinking before you even think it. He understands communication in its raw form and that is one of the most important aspects to being a great director!
~ Isabel Leonard, International mezzo-soprano
I cherish so many amazing memories of my collaborations with Maestro Stephen Lord that span the better part of 40 years. I think back to all the times his guidance helped me through the many obstacles of a career in music. I have watched him continue to be a consummate musician, conductor and opera coach par excellence whose energy is beyond inspiring and supportive. Stephen is one of our profession’s dearest individuals and has remained compassionate and - above all - loyal to our art and to the development of talent. The world is, indeed, lucky to have Stephen Lord in it!
~ Neil Shicoff - International Star Tenor
Stephen’s innate musicality, depth of experience and vast knowledge of repertoire spanning ages and genres are surpassed only by the joy he lives and creates when making music. He is an inspiration.
~ Sandra Horst, University of Toronto/Chorus Master Canadian Opera Company
Maybe its mix of musical styles — shifting among call-and-response spirituals, ragtime, jazz and cinematic romanticism — calls for a conductor as committed and capable as Stephen Lord, who is leading performances by Opera Theatre of St. Louis. He gets fine playing from members of the St. Louis Symphony.
~ Scott Cantrell ON REGINA at Opera Theater of St. Louis, Dallas News
Though the score evokes spirituals, jazz, folk songs, ragtime and Dixieland, the elements of musical theater came through most strongly in this performance, led with brio by Stephen Lord.
~ Anthony Tommasini ON REGINA AT OPERA THEATER OF ST. LOUIS, The New York Times
Stephen Lord drew particularly vital playing from the COC Orchestra, with especially fine contributions from the winds and brass, that made the score sound newly polished with its myriad colors glowing brighter and clearer than before.
~ Christopher Hoile ON Rigoletto AT Canadian Opera Company, Opera News
Stephen Lord's conducting of his responsive orchestra and singers was exemplary, from the haunting intimations of the prelude to the dramatic force of the powerful closing chorus of Act II.
~ Cornelia Iredell ON La Traviata AT PortOpera, Opera News