Photo Flash: First Look at Tatiana Serjan, Brian Jagde, Evgeny Nikitin & More in Lyric Opera of Chicago's TOSCA

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the fiery melodrama Tosca by Giacomo Puccini (1858-1924) conducted by Dmitri Jurowski in a new production by John Caird. It opens on Saturday, January 24 with 10 performances through Saturday, March 14. Performance dates are Jan. 24, 27, Feb. 2, 27, Mar. 3, 14 at 7:30pm; and Jan. 30, Feb. 5, Mar. 8, 11 at 2pm. Check out a first look at the production below!

One of the Lyric audience's favorite works, Tosca returns for two series of performances during the company's 60th season. The title role of glamorous diva Floria Tosca will be shared by sopranos Tatiana Serjan (debut, Jan. 24-Feb. 5) and Hui He (Feb. 27-Mar. 14). Tosca's lover, the painter/revolutionary Mario Cavaradossi, will be sung by tenors Brian Jagde (pronounced "Jade," debut, Jan. 24-Feb. 5) and Jorge de León (debut, Feb. 27-Mar. 14). Portraying the sadistic chief of police, Baron Scarpia, who lusts after Tosca, are baritones Evgeny Nikitin(debut, Jan. 24-Feb. 5) and Mark Delavan (Feb. 27-Mar. 14). Spoletta, Scarpia's henchman, will be sung by tenors Rodell Rosel (Jan. 24-Feb. 5) and David Cangelosi (Feb. 27-Mar. 14), both alumni of the Ryan Opera Center. Supporting roles will be performed by Dale Travis and by current Ryan Opera Center members Richard Ollarsaba, Bradley Smoak, and Anthony Clark Evans, with 13-year-old Annie Wagner making her solo role debut as the Shepherd Girl.

Conducting all performances is Dmitri Jurowski (debut). The director is John Caird, sets and costumes are designed by Bunny Christie (debut), and the lighting is designed by Duane Schuler. Michael Black is chorus master and Josephine Lee is children's chorus master.

"Tosca will be wonderful for audiences to experience in John Caird's insightful production," notes Anthony Freud, Lyric's general director. "It also gives us the opportunity to introduce to Chicago a new conductor, Dmitri Jurowski, and to Lyric audiences several principal artists in their company debuts, including Tatiana Serjan, who created a sensation at the CSO last season. And we're delighted to bring back Hui He, who was so exciting in her Lyric debut as Aida three seasons ago."

Tosca will be sung in Italian with projected English texts.

For tickets and information call (312) 827-5600 or go to lyricopera.org/Tosca. Learn more about this production at lyricopera.org/InsideTosca. Follow the conversation on Twitter: #LyricTosca.

The January 24 opening night performance will be broadcast live on 98.7WFMTand streamed on wfmt.com starting at 7:15pm. For those listening to the broadcast, live mobile titles will be available at lyricoperalive.org.

Lyric Opera coproduction generously made possible by the Harris Family Foundation, Marlys A. Beider, Stefan Edlis and Gael Neeson, ITW, and
Mr. and Mrs. Michael Polsky. Tosca is a coproduction of Lyric Opera of Chicago and Houston Grand Opera.

Photo Credit: Todd Rosenberg