Marcy Stonikas to Sing 'TOSCA' This Saturday for Seattle Opera

American soprano Marcy Stonikas will sing the role of Tosca at Seattle Opera's final performance of Puccini's masterpiece on Saturday, January 24. Lithuanian soprano Ausrine Stundyte, who sang on opening night and Wednesday, January 14, has withdrawn from the production after not recovering from a cold. Stundyte was originally scheduled to share the role with Mary Elizabeth Williams, who sang her own scheduled performance on January 11 as well as Stundyte's performances on January 17 and 21. Williams will also sing the Friday, January 23 performance, as scheduled.

Stonikas, who (like Williams) first came to Seattle Opera through its Young Artists Program, gave Seattle Opera riveting mainstage performances of Turandot and Leonore in Fidelio in 2012 as well as Magda Sorel in The Consul in 2014. She sings Fidelio in Vienna in March and Turandot in Cincinnati in July. The Chicago-born soprano is scheduled to return to Seattle as Ariadne in May's production of Ariadne auf Naxos, a role she will share with Christiane Libor. Seattle Opera engages two casts for major roles, so that the company can present back-to-back performances such as this weekend's Friday and Saturday. Leading roles, like Tosca and Ariadne, are so vocally demanding the singers need at least a day off between performances.

Tosca Production Sponsors: Ann P. Wyckoff, Lenore M. Hanauer, and Richard R. and Constance M. Albrecht

The 2014/15 Season in honor of Speight Jenkins

Tosca final performances Friday, Jan. 23 and Saturday, Jan. 24. Tickets are available online at seattleopera.org or by calling 206.389.7676 or 800.426.1619. Tickets may also be purchased at the Box Office by visiting 1020 John Street (two blocks west of Fairview), Monday to Friday between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.