San Francisco Opera Welcomes Efrain Solis to Cast of LA CENERENTOLA

San Francisco Opera today announced a cast change for Gioachino Rossini's La Cenerentola (Cinderella), running November 9-26, 2014 at the War Memorial Opera House. Mexican-American baritone Efraín Solís will sing the role of Dandini, replacing Italian baritone Fabio Capitanucci who has withdrawn from the production for health reasons. Solís, a first-year San Francisco Opera Adler Fellow, is the assigned cover (understudy) for the role and can currently be seen as Sciarrone in the Company's presentation of Puccini's Tosca.

As Dandini, the prince's valet, Solís joins La Cenerentola's acclaimed cast including French mezzo-soprano Karine Deshayes in the title role of Angelina (Cinderella); American tenor René Barbera as the prince Don Ramiro; and Spanish baritone Carlos Chausson as Cinderella's stepfather Don Magnifico. Esteemed Spanish conductor Jesús López-Cobos returns to lead the San Francisco Opera Orchestra and Chorus for the first time since 1974. American opera and theater director Gregory Fortner makes his Company debut directing Jean-Pierre Ponnelle's iconic San Francisco Opera production.

Efraín Solís made his Company debut this summer as Prince Yamadori (Madama Butterfly) and also appeared as Christian (Un Ballo in Maschera) this fall. In the spring of 2013, the California native joined Opera Santa Barbara as a member of their Studio Artist Program, where he sang the role of Il Notario and covered Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale. As a participant of the 2013 Merola Opera Program, he sang Junius in The Rape of Lucretia and covered Count Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro. Chosen as a finalist for the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions and the 2013 Houston Grand Opera's Eleanor McCollum Competition, Solís holds degrees from Chapman University and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, where he performed the title role of Don Giovanni, Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, and the title role of Gianni Schicchi.

Tickets for performances of Rossini's La Cenerentola at the War Memorial Opera House are priced from $25 to $370 and may be purchased at sfopera.com or through the San Francisco Opera Box Office [301 Van Ness Avenue (at Grove Street), or by phone at (415) 864-3330]. Standing Room tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. on the day of each performance; tickets are $10 each, cash only.

The War Memorial Opera House is located at 301 Van Ness Avenue at Grove Street. Patrons are encouraged to use public transportation to attend San Francisco Opera performances. The War Memorial Opera House is within walking distance of the Civic Center BART station and near numerous bus lines, including 5, 21, 47, 49 and the F Market Street. For more public transportation information, visit bart.gov and sfmuni.com.

Casting, programs, schedules and ticket prices are subject to change. For further information about La Cenerentola and San Francisco Opera's 2014-15 Season, please visit sfopera.com.