A consultant for the Lyric starting in 1980, Epstein was named artistic director in 1999. The company announced in December that it would not renew Epstein's contract because he and general director William Mason had different visions for the company.

Epstein worked at CAMI from 1973 until 1999, managing the careers of such high-profile artists as Ren_e Fleming, Samuel Ramey, and Kathleen Battle. He has also served as a consultant to Santa Fe Opera, general director of Welsh National Opera, and artistic director of BAM Opera at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.