The 92^nd season opens with a double bill of two very different works, the verismo tragedy Pagliacci and the masterful comedy Gianni Schicchi, presented in an ingenious production from the Opéra de Montréal.

American tenor Frank Porretta leads the cast of Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci, bringing his “thrilling high notes” (Los Angeles Times) to the role of the cuckolded clown Canio. Soprano Kelly Kaduce, who “sings with bell-like purity and silvery sweetness” (Opera News), makes her Cincinnati Opera debut as the duplicitous Nedda. Hailed as an “impressive young baritone” (Cincinnati Enquirer) for his work in Don Carlo (2009), Croatian baritone Ljubomir Puskaric returns to Cincinnati Opera as Silvio, and internationally renowned baritone Roberto de Candia rounds out the cast as the fool, Tonio.

The young lovers of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi will be portrayed by a handsome pair of rising young European singers. Italian soprano Maria Luigia Borsi, who won Cincinnati audiences with her heartbreaking turn as Desdemona in Otello (2010), returns to the Music Hall stage as Lauretta. Her swain, Rinuccio, will be sung by Lithuanian tenor Edgaras Montvidas, who makes his company debut with a “sumptuously lyric tenor” (Le Figaro, Paris). Baritone Roberto de Candia sings the title role, and mezzo-soprano Catherine Keen will be featured as the scheming aunt, Zita. Bass-baritone Thomas Hammons returns to the stage as Simone, and mezzo-soprano Stacey Rishoi brings her “lustrous voice” (The Washington Post) to the role of La Ciesca. Alain Gauthier, hailed for his skillful work in recent Cincinnati Opera comedies Così Fan Tutte (2007) and L’Étoile (2006), will direct the production. The orchestra will be led by Richard Buckley, who last appeared with Cincinnati Opera for Don Carlo (2009)The 92nd season opens with a double bill of two very different works, the verismo tragedy Pagliacci and the masterful comedy Gianni Schicchi, presented in an ingenious production from the Opéra de Montréal..