Baritone George Gagnidze to Sing Scarpia In The Met's TOSCA 9/21

Baritone George Gagnidze will sing Scarpia in the premiere of the Met's new production of Puccini's Tosca, which opens the 2009-10 season on September 21, 2009. He replaces Juha Uusitalo, who has withdrawn due to illness. Gagnidze will also replace Uusitalo in performances on September 24, 28, October 3, 6, 10 and 14. He was already scheduled to sing Scarpia on October 17, April 29, May 5, 8, and 13.

Gagnidze, who made his Met debut in the title role of Rigoletto last season, sang Scarpia with the New York Philharmonic in June 2008. The Georgian baritone made his opera debut in 1996 and has regularly performed dramatic roles such as Scarpia, Rigoletto, the Dutchman in Wagner's Der Fliegende Holländer, and Renato in Verdi's Un Ballo in Maschera in the opera houses of Germany and Eastern Europe. He won first prize in the 2005 Concorso Voci Verdiane (Verdi Voice Competition) and sang the role of Giorgio Germont in La Traviata at La Scala in 2007.

Conducted by Met Music Director James Levine, Tosca also features Karita Mattila in the title role and Marcelo Álvarez as Cavaradossi. The new production is directed by Luc Bondy in his Met debut, with sets by Richard Peduzzi (also a Met debut), costumes by Milena Canonero, and lighting by Max Keller.