Tosca Program

Page 1

2015–2016 SEASON SEASON SPONSOR: GLORIA A. RASMUSSEN

TOSCA Welcome to this performance of Puccini’s masterpiece, Tosca, which opens San Diego Opera’s 2015-2016 season, and my first as General Director. This production marks the ninth time San Diego Opera audiences have thrilled to this wonderful work, one of the most favored by opera lovers throughout the world. With soaring arias and stirring ensembles, Tosca is guaranteed to move you. This production opens a season that combines the familiar with the new: conductor Massimo Zanetti and stage director Lesley Koenig have both been strong artistic voices in San Diego and return to lead a remarkable cast that includes the company debuts of soprano Alexia Voulgaridou as Tosca and tenor Gwyn Hughes Jones as Cavaradossi, as well as the return of San Diego Opera veteran Greer Grimsley as the villain Scarpia. Our season continues in March with the American concert debut of one of San Diego’s favorite artists, the wonderful Ferruccio Furlanetto, accompanied by musicians of the San Diego Symphony at the Jacobs Music Center. We return to the Civic Theatre in April with a new production of another favorite of Puccini’s operas, Madama Butterfly, featuring the return of soprano Latonia Moore as Cio-Cio San. We close our season in May with the west coast premiere of Great Scott, a wonderful new opera by composer Jake Heggie and librettist Terrance McNally, and directed by another of San Diego’s favorite artistic voices, Jack O’Brien. Great Scott will feature the San Diego Opera debuts of a number of important artists, including the renowned mezzo-soprano Frederica von Stade, and baritone Nathan Gunn. Next year, we will continue to combine the familiar and new, with an exciting season of traditional operas at the Civic Theatre that opens in October, combined with smaller-scale works in other venues throughout San Diego. We will announce our 2016-2017 season soon, so stay tuned for more information. I’m very grateful for all of you that are part of San Diego Opera’s family, and that you have shown your support by buying tickets and making donations to keep opera alive and well in San Diego. I’m thrilled to work with you to build on the artistic legacy of this amazing company and continue to engage audiences long into the future. Sincerely,

David Bennett General Director, San Diego Opera PERFORMANCES MAGAZINE P1


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.