Marco Stella is an internationally acclaimed dramatic baritone of Italian descent, born in Stockholm, whose powerful voice and commanding stage presence have captivated audiences across Europe and North America. Known for his interpretations of Verdi, Puccini and the great operatic repertoire, Marco brings a rare combination of vocal brilliance and dramatic intensity to every performance.
He was educated at Grand Canyon University in Phoenix and at the Academy of Music and Drama in Gothenburg, and has studied with his voice teacher and coach Dale Fundling since 2003. After graduating in 2000, his first role was Dr Grenvil in La Traviata at Folkoperan in Stockholm, followed by The Father in Hänsel und Gretel at Värmlandsoperan and Papageno in The Magic Flute on tour with Jönköpings Sinfonietta.
From 2002 to 2005 Marco was a member of the ensemble at Theater Lübeck in Germany, where his roles included The Father in Hänsel und Gretel, Dr Bartolo in The Barber of Seville, the title role in Gianni Schicchi, Zuniga in Carmen, Truffaldino in Ariadne auf Naxos, and both Angelotti and Sagrestano in Tosca. During these years he also sang Escamillo in Carmen in Trento, the title role in Eugen Onegin in concert in Norway, Wagner in Faust, and Der Kommissar in Der Rosenkavalier, and recorded for NAXOS under Niklas Wilén.
In 2007 he sang Angelotti in Tosca at The Royal Opera in Stockholm under Christian Badea — a role he has since reprised at Austin Lyric Opera and Opera på Skäret — and has guested at Göteborg Opera, Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Staatstheater Oldenburg and Teatro Puccini in Merano. He made his debut at the Finnish National Opera in 2009 as Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, and returned to the Stockholm Royal Opera the same year as Don Bartolo in The Barber of Seville, conducted by Pier Giorgio Morandi.
Between 2011 and 2017 Marco was engaged as a soloist at the Gothenburg Opera, taking on demanding roles including the Chief of Police in Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (directed by Graham Vick), Pietro in Simon Boccanegra, Ping in Turandot, the Speaker in The Magic Flute, Belcore in L’Elisir d’Amore, Scarpia in Tosca and also guested Malmö Opera as The Father in Hänsel und Gretel. He made his role debut as Rigoletto at Cleveland Opera in 2013, and has also brought his stage presence to musical theatre, playing the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera.
More recently, Marco was part of the cast of Mamma Mia! The Party at Rondo in Gothenburg (2021–2023), and made his role debut as Renato in Verdi’s Un ballo in maschera at the opera festival in Pozzuolo, Italy, in 2022.
Alongside his performing career, Marco has taught voice at the Academy of Music and Drama (2010–2014), at the Gothenburg Opera, and privately since 2006.
