Tosca Opera San José presents Puccini s passionate, political thriller

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1 News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 28, 2010 Press contacts: Virginia Perry, or Elizabeth Santana, Tosca Opera San José presents Puccini s passionate, political thriller SAN JOSÉ, CA Opera San José continues its 27 th Season with Giacomo Puccini s powerfully dramatic opera, Tosca. The story of a popular opera diva brought down by the chief of Rome s secret police, Tosca always leaves its audiences startled and breathless by the searing beauty of Puccini s melodies. Eight performances are scheduled from November 13 through 28 at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street in downtown San José. Tickets are on sale at the Opera San José Box Office, by phone at (408) or online at Tosca is made possible, in part, by a Cultural Affairs Grant from the City of San José. Set in Rome in June 1800, Tosca is the story of an opera diva, Floria Tosca. She is beautiful, brilliant and spoiled and madly in love with a young painter and revolutionary, Mario Cavaradossi. When he is arrested for helping an escaped political prisoner, Tosca subjects herself to the sexual desires of the sadistic chief of the secret police, Baron Scarpia, in a desperate but unsuccessful attempt to save her lover from death. Murder and suicide are her final acts of defiance and bring the story to a stunning conclusion. Tosca has become one of the most popular of all operas since its premiere in 1900 in Rome, Italy. Based on the dramatic play La Tosca written in 1887 by Victorien Sardou for the great actress, Sara Bernhardt, Tosca, at first glance, is an unlikely vehicle for Puccini. Murder, violence, and lust would seem to be unfamiliar themes for his typically tender, sentimental style expressed in his earlier successes, Manon Lescaut (1893) and La bohème (1896). But his genius triumphs in this political thriller full of arias that are as dramatic and compelling as they are lyrical and heart-breaking. This is an opera where no one escapes death and destiny, yet, for most, their downfall is so powerfully poignant that, indeed, "the stars fall down."

2 Opera San José presents Puccini s Tosca Italian composer Giacomo Puccini ( ) is distinguished as one of the most popular composers in opera history. After his early success with operas Manon Lescaut and La bohème, Puccini began work with librettists Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa to adapt Sardou s play for the opera stage. The pair had already worked with Puccini on La bohème and would again for Madama Butterfly in Tosca was Puccini s fifth opera and his first venture into verismo, a style of Italian opera noted for realistic depictions of daily life. Tosca was well-received by sold-out audiences when it debuted at the Teatro Costanzi in Rome and cemented Puccini s status as one of the great Italian composers. According to Opera America, Tosca is in the top ten operas performed in the United States. David Rohrbaugh, Opera San José s founding Music Director and Principal Conductor, will conduct Tosca. Dr. Rohrbaugh has conducted more than 60 productions and 600 performances, including company premieres of La rondine, Der fliegende Holländer, Falstaff, Un ballo in maschera, and Werther. He is a professor emeritus of voice and opera from San José State University, where he taught for 30 years and co-directed the Opera Workshops with Opera San José General Director, Irene Dalis. The November 20 and 21 performances will be conducted by Anthony Quartuccio, a principal conductor and assistant conductor for numerous productions at Opera San José since Mr. Quartuccio is music director of the South Valley Symphony and assistant conductor of the San Jose Chamber Orchestra. His conducting and instrumental appearances include the Spokane Symphony, Cabrillo and Brevard Festival orchestras, the Santa Cruz Symphony, and the San Francisco Symphony. Praised for her stage direction of Opera San José s recent productions of La Cenerentola and Carmen, Sandra Bengochea (Rubalcava) returns to the company as stage director for Tosca. Bengochea is well known to Opera San José audiences as a principal artist with the resident company from 2000 to 2004, singing more than 30 soprano roles. Elsewhere, she has performed with Bayshore Lyric Opera, Israeli Vocal Arts Institute, Opera Idaho, The Lewis and Clark Society, Bangkok Opera, and Rimrock Opera. Bengochea is joined by a distinguished creative team to bring Tosca to the opera stage ---- choreographer Lise La Cour, set designer Erik Flatmo, costume designer Elizabeth Poindexter, lighting designer Kent Dorsey, and wig and makeup designer Jeanna Parham.

3 Opera San José presents Puccini s Tosca Alternating in the role of the fiery opera diva, Tosca, are sopranos Rebecca Davis and Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste. Davis appeared as a guest artist with Opera San José last season in the roles of Countess Almaviva in The Marriage of Figaro and Magda in La rondine. She was a member of the resident company in appearing as Tatyana in Eugene Onegin, Adina in The Elixir of Love, Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, and Micaela in Carmen. She has performed with Chicago Opera Theater, DuPage Opera Theater, Sarasota Opera, Kentucky Opera, Opera North, American Opera Group, Intimate Opera, Wagon Wheel Theater, Music by the Lake, and Opera Theatre North. Most recently she was a participant in San Francisco Opera s Merola Opera program. Haitian-American soprano, Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste is a first year member of Opera San José s resident company and debuted in the title role to critical acclaim in the company s West Coast premiere of David Carlson s Anna Karenina. She made her mainstage debut with Florida Grand Opera in the role of The Abbess in Suor Angelica and was a semi-finalist in The Jensen Foundation Vocal Competition. Previously, she sang with West Bay Opera, understudying the role of Cio-cio-san in Madama Butterfly. Other roles in the soprano's repertoire include Suor Angelica (Suor Angelica), Mother (Amahl and the Night Visitors) and Miss Rose (Lakmé). Tenors Christopher Bengochea and Alexander Boyer share the role of the painter and Tosca s lover, Mario Cavaradossi. They previously shared the role of Ruggero in Opera San José s company premiere of La rondine last season. An Opera San José favorite, Christopher Bengochea returned to Opera San José earlier this season as Stiva Oblonsky in the West Coast premiere of Anna Karenina. He was a member of the Opera San José resident company from 2005 to 2008 and appeared in numerous roles including Rodolfo in La bohéme, the title role in Roméo et Juliette, and Pinkerton in Madama Butterfly. In addition to Opera San José, Christopher Bengochea has appeared with Opera Idaho, Atlanta Opera, and Opera Saskatoon, to name a few, and was a featured soloist with the San Juan Symphony and Modesto Symphony. Boyer is in his third year as a member of the resident company and appeared earlier this season as Levin in Anna Karenina. Previous seasons have featured Mr. Boyer as Des Grieux (Manon), Nemorino (The Elixir of Love), Ferrando (Così fan tutte), and Don José (Carmen). He appeared as Alfredo in La traviata for Sacramento Opera and has sung the roles of Arkady in Lee Hoiby s A Month in the Country, Chevalier de la Force (Povlenc s Dialogues des Carmelites), and Luigi (Puccini s Il tabarro). Boyer also has participated in the Merola and Santa Fe Opera programs and is a winner of the Mario Lanza scholarship award.

4 Opera San José presents Puccini s Tosca Baritone Torlef Borsting and Bass Silas Elash alternate as the ruthless chief of the secret police, Baron Scarpia. Both are members of Opera San José s resident company. Borsting made his company debut this season as the lover, Alexei Vronksy, in Anna Karenina. Recent performances for Mr. Borsting include Sharpless (Madama Butterfly) for Verismo Opera, Marcello (La bohème) for Pacific Repertory Opera, the Marquis (La traviata) for Sacramento Opera, and the 2 nd Apprentice (Wozzeck) with Ensemble Parallele in San Francisco. He has also performed with Berkeley Opera, West Bay Opera, Trinity Lyric Opera, Capitol Opera, Martinez Opera, and San Francisco Opera. Elash appeared last season as Rambaldo in La rondine, Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro, Don Magnifico in La Cenerentola, and Count des Grieux in Manon. Previously, he performed the roles of Zuniga in Carmen, Dr. Dulcamara in The Elixir of Love, and Prince Gremin in Eugene Onegin. Mr. Elash was a finalist in the Fourth Annual Irene Dalis Vocal Competition and was the recipient of the Wagner Society Award. About Opera San José Opera San José, performing at the historic California Theatre in downtown San José, is a professional, regional opera company that is unique in the United States. Maintaining a resident company of professional artists, Opera San José specializes in showcasing the finest young professional singers in the nation. In addition to mainstage performances, Opera San José maintains extensive educational programs in schools and in the community at large, and offers Preview lectures and Introduction to Opera talks for all mainstage productions. Tosca Puccini s passionate, political thriller Sung in Italian with English Supertitles Cast: November 13, 18, 21, 23 November 14, 20, 26, 28 Floria Tosca Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste Rebecca Davis Mario Cavaradossi Alexander Boyer Christopher Bengochea Baron Scarpia Silas Elash Torlef Borsting Cesare Angelotti Krassen Karagiozov Krassen Karagiozov Sacristan Isaiah Musik-Ayala Isaiah Musik-Ayala Spoletta Michael Mendelsohn Michael Mendelsohn Sciarrone Stephen Boisvert Stephen Boisvert Jailer James Cowing James Cowing Shepherd Tori Grayum Megan Conroy Resident Company * Company debut

5 Opera San José presents Puccini s Tosca What: Who: Opera San José continues its 27 th Anniversary Season with Puccini s dramatic and compelling opera, Tosca. The story of a popular opera diva brought down by the chief of Rome s secret police, Tosca always leaves its audiences startled and breathless by the searing beauty of Puccini s melodies. Eight performances are scheduled from November 13 through 28 at the California Theatre, 345 South First Street in downtown San José. Tickets are on sale at the Opera San José Box Office, by phone at (408) or online at Tosca is made possible, in part, by a Cultural Affairs Grant from the City of San José. Composer: Giacomo Puccini Libretto: Giuseppe Giacosa and Luigi Illica; based on La Tosca by Victorien Sardou Conductors: David Rohrbaugh; Anthony Quartuccio (November 20 and 21 performances) Stage director: Sandra Bengochea Chorus master: David Kurtenbach Designers: Erik Flatmo (sets); Elizabeth Poindexter (costumes); Kent Dorsey (lighting); Jeanna Parham (wigs/makeup) Dates: November 13, 14m, 18, 20, 21m, 23, 26, 28m; 2010 Time: Location: m indicates matinee at 3pm; all other performances are at 8pm California Theatre, 345 South First Street between San Carlos and San Salvador streets, downtown San José Tickets: $51 $101 (includes city facility usage fee) from Opera San José Box Office, 2149 Paragon Dr., San José, CA 95131; ; fax; Available 90 minutes prior to curtain at the California Theatre box office only: Seniors (65 and older) 10% discount; Students 25 and under (with student ID) $11 Photos: Press Room: To learn more about Tosca, please visit and consider these opportunities: National Opera Week: October 29-November 7. Opera San José celebrates National Opera Week with a free Tosca preview and lecture at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in downtown San Jose. November 2 at 12 noon. Library 2 nd floor, room 225/229. Tosca Preview/Lecture: November 2, San Jose Woman s Club. Doors open at 6:30pm for wine and light hors d oeuvres; program 7-8pm. Vocal preview with members of the cast, followed by a lecture by general manager, Larry Hancock. For tickets ($25), call Introduction to Opera: Before each performance (except opening night), general manager, Larry Hancock, will present a free 45-minute talk about the opera at the California Theatre, beginning at

6 Opera San José presents Puccini s Tosca :30pm prior to evening performances and at 1:30pm prior to Sunday matinees. No reservations required. Opening Night Pre-Fix Dinner: A special pre-fix dinner for Opera San José patrons before the opening night performance on Saturday, November 13. The Grill on the Alley at the Fairmont Hotel located at 172 South Market Street, downtown San José. $40 per person for a three-course dinner. For menu and reservations, call The Grill on the Alley at The Grill will continue the pre-fix offering through the run of Tosca. Meet the Artists: Meet members of the cast, the stage director, and the conductor immediately after the close of the opening Sunday matinee, November 14, at the California Theatre. Free for matinee attendees. Amici Night: November 18. Members of Opera San José s Amici Club (young professionals 35 and younger) are invited to the VIP Lounge at the California Theatre for wine and light hors d oeuvres at 7pm, prior to attending the 8pm performance. # # #

7 Synopsis: Tosca Act I: Church of Sant Andrea della Valle An escaped political prisoner, Cesare Angelotti, takes refuge in the family chapel where his sister, the Marchesa Attavanti, has left women s clothing for his disguise. When the painter Mario Cavaradossi arrives to work on his painting, Angelotti recognizes him as a fellow sympathizer and asks for his help. Cavaradossi enthusiastically agrees, gives him food and urges him back into the chapel as his lover, the beautiful and tempestuous opera singer Floria Tosca, is heard outside. She jealously questions Cavaradossi and reminds him of their rendezvous that evening. Recognizing the likeness of the Marchesa Attavanti in her lover s painting her suspicions are aroused, but he reassures her and she leaves. A cannon shot signals the discovery of Angelotti s escape, and the two men flee to Cavaradossi s villa. Baron Scarpia, chief of secret police, arrives in search of Angelotti. When Tosca returns looking for Cavaradossi, Scarpia shows her a fan that he has found. It bears the Attavanti crest and her suspicions are renewed. Thinking Cavaradossi faithless, Tosca tearfully vows vengeance and leaves the church. Scarpia sends his agents to follow her. Act II: Scarpia s Apartments in the Farnese Palace Scarpia relishes the thought of having Tosca within his grasp. The agent Spoletta arrives having failed to find Angelotti. He has, however, arrested Cavaradossi, who is brought in and interrogated while Tosca is heard singing at the royal gala downstairs. Summoned by Scarpia, she arrives just as her lover is led away to be tortured. Completely distraught at the sound of her lover s suffering, she reveals Angelotti s hiding place. Cavaradossi is carried in and, realizing what she has done, he denounces her angrily. At that moment, a messenger arrives announcing that Napoleon has won the battle of Marengo, a defeat for Scarpia s side. Cavaradossi, jubilant and defiant, is dragged out to await execution. Tosca, alone with Scarpia, agrees to yield to him in exchange for the life of her lover. Spoletta interrupts with the news that Angelotti has killed himself. Scarpia pretends to order a mock execution for Cavaradossi and Spoletta leaves. At the insistence of Tosca, Scarpia writes a safe conduct for the lovers. As he attempts to embrace her, Tosca fatally stabs him and makes her escape. Act III: Castel Sant Angelo At dawn on the ramparts of the Castel Sant Angelo, Cavaradossi prepares for his execution. Having bribed the jailer to deliver a farewell note to Tosca he is overcome with despair as he attempts to write. Suddenly, Tosca arrives with the safe conduct and the story of her encounter with Scarpia. She tells Cavaradossi of the mock execution and the firing squad arrives to carry it out. The soldiers fire and depart, and Tosca discovers the treachery of Scarpia - the bullets were real. Spoletta, having discovered Scarpia s corpse, arrives with other agents to arrest her. Tosca, in a final act of defiance, flings herself from the parapet to her death.

8 OPERA SAN JOSE David Rohrbaugh Music Director/Principal Conductor David Rohrbaugh is a founding member of Opera San José's artistic staff. He has conducted more than 63 productions and 612 performances for Opera San José, including La rondine, Werther, The Crucible, Un ballo in maschera, ll barbiere di Siviglia, La bohème, Carmen, Così fan tutte, L'elisir d'amore, Eugene Oñegin, Falstaff, Faust, Die Fledermaus, Der fliegende Holländer, Gianni Schicchi, Lucia di Lammermoor, Die lustige Witwe, Madama Butterfly, The Medium, Le nozze di Figaro, Les Pêcheurs de perles, Rigoletto, Roméo et Juliette, Suor Angelica, Tosca, La traviata, and Die Zauberflöte. During the season, Dr. Rohrbaugh will conduct Tosca and La bohème. Dr. Rohrbaugh works closely with the company's resident artists, coaching them in preparation for their operatic roles. Many have studied voice with him and have become professional singers throughout North America and Europe. In addition, he has mentored numerous assistant guest conductors. Dr. Rohrbaugh has been on the faculties of Oberlin College and the University of Akron, where, as chair of the voice department, he developed a comprehensive opera workshop-theater program. Dr. Rohrbaugh has also recorded for Orion Records and the Musical Heritage Foundation. Most recently, he recorded a revival of Lou Harrison's Scenes from Cavafy, a work originally written for him by the composer. While a professor of music at San José State University, he taught voice and codirected the opera workshop program for 24 years. In addition to teaching master classes, conducting research, and adjudicating, he teaches privately at his voice studio in Palo Alto.

9 OPERA SAN JOSE Sandra Bengochea Stage Director Praised for her stage direction of the company's recent productions of La Cenerentola and Carmen, former OSJ resident artist Sandra Bengochea (Rubalcava) returns to Opera San José as stage director for Tosca. Ms. Bengochea has earned rave reviews for her spirited interpretations of the lyric-coloratura repertoire, having performed over thirty operatic roles ranging from the comic ones of Susanna (The Marriage of Figaro), Norina (Don Pasquale), Rosina (Il Barbiere di Siviglia), and Adina (The Elixir of Love) to the dramatic ones of Gilda (Rigoletto), Mimì (La bohème), Marguerite (Faust), and Leila Les Pêcheurs de perles) for Opera San José, Bayshore Lyric Opera, Israeli Vocal Arts Institute, Opera Idaho, The Lewis and Clark Society, Bangkok Opera, and Rimrock Opera. Equally comfortable on the concert and recital stage, she has sung Orff s Carmina Burana, Schubert s Mass in g minor with the Santa Clara Chorale, was a soloist in Mendelssohn s Midsummer Night's Dream with the San Jose Cleveland Ballet and has sung excerpts from Don Giovanni with Symphony Silicon Valley. She has also had the distinct honor of singing Mozart s Requiem at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco with The Midsummer Mozart Festival in 2002 and 2003 to honor those lost on September 11, Ms. Bengochea also performed with The Midsummer Mozart orchestra at Villa Montalvo where she appeared as a last minute replacement for Frederica Von Stade. Engagements in 2007 and 2008 include Pamina (Die Zauberflote) with Intermountain Opera, Adina (The Elixir of Love) with Opera Idaho, Beethoven's Ninth Symphony with the Winchester Orchestra, and Mozart's Requiem with the Sacramento Chorale Society where Ms. Bengochea will make her debut at the Disney Hall in Los Angeles, California Ms. Bengochea is a recipient of the Friends of Music Scholarship, National Hispanic Scholarship, a Palm Beach Opera Finalist and Gerda Lissner finalist. She received her Bachelor's degree from San José State University, and holds a Master's Degree from The Manhattan School of Music. For more information, please visit Ms. Bengochea's website:

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