Sondra Radvanovsky To Star In LA Opera's TOSCA, 4/22-5/13

General Director Plácido Domingo has announced final casting details for LA Opera's upcoming production of Giacomo Puccini's thrilling masterpiece, Tosca, conducted by Music Director James Conlon. The final mainstage presentation of the company's 2016/17 season, Tosca is a revival of the production staged by the company in 2013, directed by Tony and Olivier Award winner John Caird. There will be seven performances from April 22 through May 13, taking place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012).

"Tosca has long been one of the most popular operas in the entire repertoire," said Mr. Domingo. "Puccini's powerful score illuminates the tense drama at every step, giving numerous opportunities for the three principals to shine. We are incredibly fortunate to have Sondra Radvanovsky reprise her unforgettable portrayal of Tosca, joined by a superb cast of fellow artists."

The Cast

Sondra Radvanovsky, who starred in LA Opera's 2013 production of the opera, returns to reprise her performance as the fiery prima donna who lives and dies for art and love. One of the foremost sopranos of her generation, she has also starred at LA Opera as Leonora in Il Trovatore and in the title role of Suor Angelica. Soprano Melody Moore, who made her company in 2008 in the leading role of Eve in the U.S. premiere of Viktor Ullmann's The Broken Jug, performs the role of Tosca on May 13.

Tenor Russell Thomas, who made his company debut last season as Pollione in Norma, returns as Cavaradossi, a painter whose revolutionary sympathies set the deadly plot in motion.

The role of the villainous police chief Scarpia, determined to possess Tosca and thwart Cavaradossi, is shared by three singers throughout the run. Italian baritone Ambrogio Maestri, making his LA Opera debut, performs Scarpia on April 22, 27 and 30. He will return to the company in 2018 in the title role of Rigoletto. Bass-baritone Greer Grimsley, who previously appeared with LA Opera as another villain, Claggart in the company's 2014 production of Billy Budd, appears as Scarpia on May 2, 5 and 7. South Korean baritone Kihun Yoon, a member of the company's Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program, appears as Scarpia on May 13.

The cast also features bass Philip Cokorinos, a frequent performer at LA Opera, as the Sacristan. Bass-baritone Nicholas Brownlee and tenor Brian Michael Moore appear respectively as Angelotti and Spoletta; both are members of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program. An alumnus of that program, baritone Daniel Armstrong, returns as Sciarrone. Bass Gabriel Vamvulescu appears as the jailer.

The Creative Team

Music Director James Conlon will conduct the first six performances of Tosca, and Resident Conductor Grant Gershon will conduct the final performance on May 13. The production is directed by John Caird, whose many theater credits include Tony and Olivier winning productions of Les Miserables and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby. The scenery and costumes are designed by Bunny Christie, with lighting by Duane Schuler. The LA Opera Chorus is directed by Grant Gershon, and the Los Angeles Children's Chorus is led by its Artistic Director, Anne Tomlinson. Tosca is a co-production of the Houston Grand Opera Association and the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

Performance Schedule

Performances of Tosca will take place on the following dates:

Saturday, April 22, 2017, at 7:30pm

Thursday, April 27, 2017, at 7:30pm

Sunday, April 30, 2017, at 2pm

Tuesday, May 2, 2017, at 7:30pm

Friday, May 5, 2017, at 7:30pm

Sunday, May 7, 2017, at 2pm

Saturday, May 13, 2017, at 7:30pm

Tickets

Tickets start at $24 and can be purchased in person at the LA Opera Box Office at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion, by phone at 213.972.8001 or online at laopera.org. For disability access, call 213.972.0777 or email laopera@laopera.org.

Additional Information and Resources

Tosca will be sung in Italian with projected English translations. The opera is performed in three acts with two intermissions; the approximate running length is two hours and 45 minutes.

To learn more about Tosca, please visit LAOpera.org/Tosca.

Production made possible by generous support from

The Seaver Endowment

The Alfred and Claude Mann Fund, in honor of Plácido Domingo

The Tarasenka Pankiv Fund (Tara Colburn)

Additional generous support from Marylyn and Chuck Kla

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