Seattle Opera Presents Puccini's Tosca

On Opening Night, American soprano Lisa Daltirus makes her Seattle Opera debut as Tosca, a role that she has sung in numerous previous productions in the United States. Frank Porretta, an American tenor also making his Seattle Opera debut in Tosca, sings the role of Cavaradossi. Porretta comes by his talent naturally—he's the son of two opera singers, Frank Porretta Jr. and Roberta Palmer (Palmer made her own Seattle Opera debut as Tosca in 1977). Greer Grimsley, last seen here as Wagner's cursed Dutchman, portrays

Baron Scarpia in this cast. Daltirus, Porretta, and Grimsley appear on February 23, 27, March 1, 5, and 8.

For the Sunday/Friday performances, Canadian soprano Michele Capalbo makes her West Coast debut as Tosca. Tenor Brandon Jovanovich sings the role of Cavaradossi in his Seattle Opera mainstage debut. A member of the 1998 Seattle Opera Young Artists Program (the first year of the program), Jovanovich won the prestigious 2007 Richard Tucker Award for the most promising American tenor under the age of 40. American baritone Gary Simpson sings Baron Scarpia, a role that he has sung at the Deutsche Oper Berlin, Toledo Opera, Opernair Festival, and Graz Austria. Capalbo, Jovanovich, and Simpson can be heard in Tosca on February 24 and 29 and March 2 and 9.

Following the sold-out success of the Pagliacci Family Day, Seattle Opera is offering a Tosca Family Day at the March 9 matinee, with $15 student tickets and special family activities . Young opera-goers can pick up temporary tattoos and even craft their own "diva tiara" during intermission. The KING FM Instrument Petting Zoo will be set up at McCaw Hall to allow kids to explore a world of instruments, from bass violins to xylophones.

Tosca sets its action in the Rome of 1800. The personal drama of the three principal characters plays out in the church of Sant' Andrea della Valle, the Palazzo Farnese, and the Castel Sant'Angelo, all locations that may still be explored today in Rome. On February 22 and 23, Seattle Opera is participating in A Roman Holiday, a weekend of events centered around Seattle Art Museum's Roman Art from the Louvre exhibit featuring 180 pieces of ancient Roman art. On February 22, at 7:00 p.m. at Seattle Art Museum, Seattle Opera Education Director Perry Lorenzo will lecture on The Three Faces of Rome: Ancient, Christian, and Opera. Lorenzo will also be speaking at SAM on February 23 at 1:00 p.m. during SAM's Family Day: Rome the World event. -- www.seattleopera.org