Photo Flash: First Look at Lyric Opera of Chicago's TOSCA

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the fiery melodrama Tosca by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) conducted by Dmitri Jurowski in a new production by John Caird. The new cast opens on Friday, February 27 with 5 performances remaining through Saturday, March 14. Performance dates are Feb. 27, Mar. 3, 14 at 7:30pm; and Mar. 8, 11 at 2pm.

One of the Lyric audience's favorite works, Tosca returns during the company's 60th season. For the second cast of this opera, the title role of glamorous diva Floria Tosca will be performed by Hui He. Tosca's lover, the painter/revolutionary Mario Cavaradossi, will be sung by tenor Jorge de León (debut). Portraying the sadistic chief of police, Baron Scarpia, who lusts after Tosca, is baritone Mark Delavan. Spoletta, Scarpia's henchman, will be sung by tenor David Cangelosi, an alumnus of the Ryan Opera Center. Supporting roles will be performed by Dale Travis and by current Ryan Opera Center members Richard Ollarsaba, Bradley Smoak, and Anthony Clark Evans, with 13-year-old Annie Wagner making her solo role debut as the Shepherd Girl.

Conducting all performances is Dmitri Jurowski (debut). The director is John Caird, sets and costumes are designed by Bunny Christie (debut), and the lighting is designed by Duane Schuler. Michael Black is chorus master andJosephine Lee is children's chorus master.

Tosca will be sung in Italian with projected English texts.

For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org/Tosca.

Photos by Michael Brosilow