Anthony Roth Costanzo Celebrates New Book Countertenor

A Night to Remember

Grammy Award-winning opera star Anthony Roth Costanzo marked the launch of his new book, Countertenor, and its companion album with a memorable evening at the Frick Collection in New York. Surrounded by friends, collaborators, and admirers, the celebrated singer could hardly contain his delight.

“‘Frick-ing incredible’ is the phrase that keeps coming to mind,” he said. “To launch this book at the magnificent Frick Collection almost felt like a mirage. It’s a night I will never forget, one that makes me feel like what, I suppose, I now am: a published author surrounded by the best friends a falsetto freak could ever hope to have!”

A Concert Spanning Centuries

The evening’s concert, conducted by Dan Schlosberg, reflected the remarkable range that has defined Costanzo’s career. The program moved effortlessly across centuries, featuring works by Renaissance composers John Dowland and Thomas Morley, the Baroque master Antonio Vivaldi, and contemporary composer Osvaldo Golijov.

Alongside these classical selections, Costanzo surprised and delighted the audience with popular songs, including “Lightnin’ Strikes” by Lou Christie and Twyla Herbert, and “Walk Like a Man” by Bob Crewe and Bob Gaudio. The blend of old and new, sacred and pop, offered a fitting preview of the themes explored in his book.

Praise from the Frick’s Director

At a reception following the concert, Axel Rüger, the Frick’s Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Director, praised the artist’s vision. “Anthony Roth Costanzo is an extraordinary artist whose curiosity and creativity extend well beyond the opera stage,” Rüger said. “His ability to bring together music, history, and personal storytelling makes his book especially compelling. We are delighted to welcome him to the Frick for this celebration and to help share his work.”

Barbara Tober, who generously underwrote the reception, echoed the sentiment with characteristic enthusiasm. “Anthony has a rare ability to bring people together, and his enthusiasm, wit, and generosity make being part of his world a pleasure,” she said. “I saw him recently in France, and I have tickets to see him in Philadelphia. You can’t get enough!”

Familiar Faces in the Crowd

The guest list included several figures from Costanzo’s past. Director James Ivory, who cast him in the film A Soldier’s Daughter Never Cries, was in attendance. So was actress Leelee Sobieski, Costanzo’s childhood friend and co-star in the film, adding a personal and nostalgic note to the celebration.

Inside the Book

Countertenor traces the history of a voice type that has helped define contemporary opera for more than half a century. Countertenors inherited a repertoire originally written for castrati, the castrated male singers who dominated the Baroque stage. The book follows the evolution of that tradition into the modern era and draws on Costanzo’s own experiences as a performer.

Throughout its pages, Costanzo examines the countertenor voice through the lenses of gender, sexuality, identity, and artistic expression. The result is part history, part memoir, and part cultural reflection, offering readers a fresh perspective on one of classical music’s most distinctive sounds.

The Companion Album

The companion album brings the book’s ideas to life through ten tracks that span Renaissance and Baroque music, opera, traditional Hawaiian music, and contemporary popular songs. It features works by composers including John Dowland, Vivaldi, and Philip Glass, alongside popular selections that reflect the breadth of Costanzo’s musical interests. Together, the book and album form a rich portrait of an artist who refuses to be confined by genre or convention.