The Opera Tattler

Reviews of Performances and their Audiences

Recent posts

SF Opera Casting Changes

PITTAS-Dimitri-2015Tenor Dimitri Pittas (pictured left) will replace Stephen Costello as Michele in La Ciociara at San Francisco Opera. Costello has withdrawn for personal reasons.

Baritone Vitaliy Bilyy will make his San Francisco Opera debut in the role of Miller in Luisa Miller. Bilyy replaces Thomas Hampson, who has decided not to add this particular Verdi role to his repertoire.

Soprano Elizabeth Futral will join the cast of Sweeney Todd in the role of the Beggar Woman.

La Ciociara | Luisa Miller | Sweeney Todd | San Francisco Opera Press Release

Posted in

4 responses to “SF Opera Casting Changes”

  1. Lilacrobin Avatar
    Lilacrobin

    Sad news for us regarding Stephen Costello… but J’comprehend…he’s going though a rough time in his life.. and no Tom Hampson? Darn… No doubt there will be more changes before May… Thank you for the updates! ♥

    Like

    Reply
  2. Papageno Avatar
    Papageno

    I feel bad for Stephen Costello as well. Divorce is never fun. I assume he’ll also pull out of singing Des Grieux in Manon next season at Dallas Opera (with his soon to be ex-wife).

    Like

    Reply
  3. jeanne Avatar
    jeanne

    Hopefully the one to cancel the Manon will be the soon to be ex-Mrs. Costello….Rumor has it that she has grown VERY close to Maestro Luisotti… No wonder Mr Costello pulled out of the opera… Who can blame him?

    Like

    Reply
  4. Sacto OperaFan Avatar
    Sacto OperaFan

    I wish Stephen Costello well. Poor guy – divorce makes even the nicest people crazy. It can’t help that he and his soon to be ex work in the same industry and interact with colleagues and associates that know him and Ailyn well. I hope he returns to SFO very soon. I’ve not heard him live and would like to hear him in the house.
    I can’t say I’m too disappointed Mr. Hampson has decided not to add Miller to his repertoire. I love him to death, but I don’t think of him as a Verdi baritone. I did like his Renato in Ballo, but I think even that was a stretch – his voice doesn’t have that cutting edge you need to do Verdi justice. He is another artist I hope will be returning the War Memorial very soon.

    Like

    Reply

Leave a reply to Sacto OperaFan Cancel reply