| January 10, 2019
| January 10, 2019
On January 14 & 18, Kristine Opolais returns to the Wiener Staatsoper in the title role of Puccini’s Tosca. Evelino Pidò conducts Margarethe Wallmann’s production, with set and costume design by Nicola Benois. A signature role for Ms. Opolais, a previous performance as Tosca was recorded live from the Easter Festival Baden-Baden and released on DVD in 2017. More details and purchase links are available via her Recording’s page.
In this upcoming production, Ms. Opolais sings opposite star tenor Vittorio Grigolo as Cavaradossi. The pair have previously shared the stage, in 2014 as the star-crossed lovers Mimì and Rodolfo from Puccini’s La bohème at the Metropolitan Opera, where Opolais made her unexpected debut just 18 hours after her debut as Madama Butterfly to fill in for an ailing colleague. At the Wiener Staatsoper, Opolais shares the stage with Marco Vratogna as Scarpia, who also sings the role in the Easter Festival Baden-Baden DVD of Tosca.
Critical acclaim as Tosca:
“[Kristine Opolais’] Tosca is even more impressive: vocally secure, dramatically confident and with just the right number of individual touches to show that she’s thought about the role. The pious woman of the second act was as convincingly put across as the jealous diva of the first (most singers whom I have seen tackle the role have only managed one of those two aspects) and her mixed feelings after despatching Scarpia were beautifully telegraphed. Having colllected golden opinions in London, at the New York Met and in other international opera centres, Opolais now bids fair to be the Puccuni soprano of the next decade.” (Bachtrack)
“Opolais was a triumph in the title role, showcasing her talents with flexibility not just as an actress, but also vocally.” (OperaWire)
November 30, 2024
Orquesta del Desierto Natanael Espinoza, conductor Kristine Opolais, soprano Stephen Costello, tenor