It's that time of year again. It's Opera season here in Charlotte. I absolutely love attending and Opera Carolina never disappoints with their line up of fantastic shows thru the season. This is the 64th season at Opera Carolina. It opened last weekend with Puccini's Italian drama, Tosca which features internationally acclaimed opera stars Jill Gardner, Raul Melo and Todd Thomas in the leading roles.
Todd Thomas – Scarpia (top credit, The Metropolitan Opera)
Conductor: James Meena
Director: Jay Lesenger
Brief Synopsis Rome. 1800. An escaped political prisoner seeks shelter in the private chapel of his wealthy sister. The painter Cavaradossi arrives to work on a fresco of Mary Magdalene, he soon finds his old friend and vows to help him, all while keeping him in hiding from his lover, the celebrated singer Floria Tosca, who demands consoling over the beautiful woman in the painting. In this tangle of reunions, hiding, discoveries and the soothing of a jealous lover's passion, the chief of police, Baron Scarpia uses Tosca's passions against her in a series of deceits that result in torture, betrayal, salacious proposals, dirty deals, murder, execution, despair and suicide!
All performances are at the Belk Theater, North Carolina Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Season tickets begin at $33 and single tickets start as low as $15. Opera Carolina provides significant discounts for subscribers, as well as the new Youth Discount to encourage adults to bring young people to the Opera, plus Student Rush tickets, and Group Discounts. www.operacarolina.org