David Pittsinger Ends Return Engagement in SOUTH PACIFIC as Emile de Becque, 3/21

Bass-Baritone David Pittsinger will end his stint as Emile de Becque on March 21st in Lincoln Center Theater's Tony Award winning production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, at the Vivian Beaumont Theater, after a seven week run. The production's original Emile de Becque, baritone Paulo Szot, returns to South Pacific on March 30, 2010.

Paulo Szot went on leave from the production beginning Sunday, January 24 and will return on March 30.

David Pittsinger first played Emile de Becque last winter and spring (spelling Mr. Szot when he was fulfilling opera commitments) and has played the part for several engagements during the musical's current national tour. Mr. Pittsinger made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Truelove in The Rake's Progress conducted by James Levine. He went on to appear in the MET productions of Don Carlo, La Boheme, Die Zauberflote and Giulio Cesare and has appeared this season in Tosca. His other operatic credits include the role of Zoroastro in Handel's Orlando at both Glimmerglass Opera and New York City Opera and numerous appearances with leading opera companies throughout the United States, South America and Europe. His numerous orchestral credits include concert appearances with the Los Angeles Opera, National Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Baltimore Symphony and the Vienna Philharmonic. A Connecticut native, he can be heard on the Grammy Award-winning Virgin Classics record of Carlysle Floyd's Susannah and in La Calisto by Cavalli on the Harmonia Mundi label.

Directed by Barlett Sher, Rodgers & Hammerstein's SOUTH PACIFIC, which also stars Laura Osnes as Ensign Nellie Forbush, is the winner of 7 2008 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival..

The performance schedule is Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 pm with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3 pm. Tickets priced from $75 to $125 are available at the Vivian Beaumont Theater box office (150 W. 65 Street), at telecharge.com, or, by visiting www.lct.org.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride / Retna Ltd.