Puccini’s Tosca Opens the 2015-2016 Mainstage Season
New Production Never Seen Before in San Diego
Greer Grimsley is Scarpia and made his San Diego Opera debut as Telramund in “Lohengrin” in 2000.
San Diego Opera’s mainstage season opens at the San Diego Civic Theatre on Saturday, February 13, 2016 with Giacomo Puccini’s operatic thriller “Tosca.” Last performed by San Diego Opera in 2009, “Tosca” features the exciting Company debut of Greek soprano Alexia Voulgaridou as Tosca and Welsh tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones as Cavaradossi, who has been hailed by the London Times as “simply one of the best Cavaradossis London has heard…” Returning to San Diego to round out the cast are bass-baritone Greer Grimsely in his signature role of Scarpia, American bass Kristopher Irmiter as Angelotti/Sciarrone, American bass-baritone Scott Sikon as Sacristano and American tenor Joel Sorensen as Spoletta. Italian conductor, Massimo Zanetti, will conduct the San Diego Symphony in the pits and stage director Lesley Koenig directs.
Performed in Italian with English translations above the stage, “Tosca” is Giacomo Puccini’s gripping drama filed with torture, treachery, lust, execution and suicide. Scarpia, the chief of police, wants only two things: to recapture the escaped prisoner Angelotti and to seduce Tosca, an opera singer of incredible voice and beauty. Tosca is in love with Cavaradossi, an artist and sympathizer of Angelotti. After arresting Cavardossi for harboring Angelotti, Scarpia plays with Tosca’s emotions, promising to free Cavaradossi if Tosca will have sex with him. But Tosca has a plan of her own and Scarpia a secret order, all of which unfolds with tragic consequences from which no one can escape. Soaring and sensuous, filled with such beautiful arias as Tosca’s “Vissi d’arte,” Cavaradossi’s “Recondita armonia” and the beautiful choral piece “Te Deum,” “Tosca” has some of Opera’s most beloved music, and one of Opera’s most gripping plots.
This production is new to San Diego Opera and owned by San Diego Opera. It was originally designed by Ft. Worth Opera. The set designer is Andrew Horn. The costumes were originally created for New York City Opera and refurbished by the Seattle Opera Costume Shop. The original costume designer is Andrew Marley with additional designs by Heidi Zamora. The lighting designer is Gary Mader. These performances will be the eighth time “Tosca” has been performed by San Diego Opera.
Tickets can be purchased by calling (619) 533-7000 or online at www.sdopera.com.
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