Autumn engagements at San Francisco Opera

Brian Jagde begins the 2018/19 season with a return to San Francisco Opera. He is a featured soloist on the annual Opera in the Park concert, hosted at Golden Gate Park, on September 9. On October 3, he stars as Cavaradossi in a new production of Puccini’s Tosca, set to be a highlight of San Francisco Opera’s 96th season. With stage direction by Shawna Lucey, the performances continue through October 30, and feature soprano Carmen Giannattasio in her debut as Floria Tosca, with Scott Hendricks as Baron Scarpia, Dale Travis as A Sacristan, Hadleigh Adams as Angelotti,  Joel Sorensen as Spoletta, Andrew Manea sings Sciarrone, and Christian Pursell is A Jailer. Conductor Leo Hussein leads the SFOpera Orchestra for all dates.

Mr. Jagde has previously starred as the ill-fated revolutionary in two runs of Tosca at San Francisco Opera to great acclaim, in 2012 and 2014:

“… Brian Jagde, took top honors among the alternating casts.  The artist’s large, well-placed tenor sounded supple in “Recondita armonia,” virile in “Vittoria!” and tender in “E lucevan le stelle.” (Opera News)

“In Act III, as Cavaradossi looked up at the sky prior to singing “E lucevan le stelle,” the sight of a tall, handsome, doomed romantic tenor in awe of the approaching dawn was startling in its honesty and emotional simplicity. Brian Jagde’s robust tenor marks him as a talent to watch in the future.” (Huffington Post)

Image: Cory Weaver / San Francisco Opera