Tosca features some of Puccini’s most gorgeous music, as it chronicles a fateful evening for singer Floria Tosca, her lover Mario Cavaradossi, and the corrupt Baron Scarpia, the lecherous chief of police. Incidentally, Tosca was the first opera in which I had a principal role many moons ago.

If you’re new to opera, Tosca is definitely one that should be on your list of ones to watch. Calgary Opera has shows on October 16, October 18 and October 24.

TOSCA by Giacomo Puccini
Conducted by Jonathan Brandani
Featuring Maria Natale as Floria Tosca
David Esteban as Mario Cavaradossi
Boaz Daniel as Baron Scarpia
Directed by Joshua Borths

with Matthew Bermudez as Spoletta
Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega as Cesare Angelotti
Dion Mazerolle as the Sacristan
George Theodorakopoulos as Sciarrone & Jailer

The beloved fairytale of an impoverished girl, neglected and abused by her stepmother and stepsisters, to become princess of the land, comes to life! This will be my first time to perform this interpretation by Jules Massenet, and I’m super excited for it!

CINDERELLA by Jules Massenet
Conducted by Jacques Lacombe
Featuring Andriana Chuchman as Cinderella
Nora Sourouzian as Prince Charming
Allylson McHardy as the Stepmother
Phillip Addis as Pandolfe
Midori Marsh as the Fairy Godmother
Directed by Mieko Ouchi

With Katelyn Bird and Maria Milenic as the Stepsisters
Zoe McCormick as the Spirits
Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega as The King
Matthew Bermudez as Dean
George Theodorakopoulos as Superintendent and Prime Minister

Verdi’s adaptation of a Shakespearean tragedy follows the Moorish general Otello, whose mind is poisoned by his malicious ensign, Iago, into believe his innocent wife, Desdemona, is unfaithful. Otello is the latest Verdi opera that I have had the good fortune to be involved, following La traviata, Rigoletto, Macbeth, and Nabucco.

I am especially looking forward to sharing this stage with baritone Iain MacNeil, with whom I had the good fortune of spending five weeks in Austria at the prestigious Franz-Schubert-Institut. I’m really excited to see what Iain brings to the pivotal role of Iago for this production.

Verdi’s OTELLO
Conducted by Jonathan Brandani
Featuring Marcelo Puente as Otello
Anna Pompeeva as Desdemona
Iain MacNeil as Iago
Directed by Elizabeth Stepkowski Tarhan

with Adrian Kramer as Cassio
Simona Genga as Emilia
Gabriel Sanchez-Ortega as Ludovico
Matthew Bermudez as Roderigo
George Theodorakopoulos as Montano and a Herald