Cincinnati Opera kicks off its 105th season with passion, drama and timeless music. The lineup features two iconic Italian operas — Verdi’s Rigoletto, a tale of love, lust and revenge, and Puccini’s Tosca, a high-stakes story of power and sacrifice backed by one of Puccini’s most stirring scores. Rounding out the season is Fiddler on the Roof, the beloved American musical about tradition, resilience and family in a changing world.
Each production features artists at the top of their respective games, many appearing in Cincinnati for the first time. Cincinnati Opera artistic director Evans Mirageas says the season’s casts are what he calls “an ideal combination of debuts and returning artists.”
The season opens June 12 with Verdi’s Rigoletto in a production from the Atlanta Opera, with a traditional 17th-century setting, directed by Elio Bucky and conducted by John Fiore. Rigoletto is the hunchback jester in the court of the Duke of Mantua. Today, the Duke would be labeled a serial rapist; back in Verdi’s time, he was a nobleman who could get away with anything. Rigoletto vainly attempts to shield his daughter, Gilda, from contact with the outside world, but of course, she falls for the Duke with tragic results.
The Duke sings the opera’s most famous aria, “La donna è mobile,” but Gilda gets a showpiece with the blissful “Caro nome,” and the third-act quartet is a dramatic vocal masterpiece.
Baritone Michael Chioldi has performed the title role throughout the world, and in 2022, he scored a triumph at the Metropolitan Opera, stepping in for an ailing Quinn Kelsey. “I’m very happy we’re finally working with Michael,” says Mirageas. “He’s one of the leading Rigolettos in the world today.”
Kathryn Lewek also makes her Cincinnati Opera debut as Rigoletto’s daughter, Gilda. Lewek, an acclaimed coloratura soprano, holds the Metropolitan Opera’s record for the most performances as Mozart’s Queen of the Night. I saw one of those performances and she was astounding.
Mirageas says that Lewek is broadening her repertoire and one of her favorite roles is the unfortunate Gilda. In real life, Lewek is married to tenor Zach Borichevsky, who portrays the Duke. Borichevsky stole the show as Eisenstein in the 2016 production of Strauss’s Die Fledermaus. Cincinnati-favorite bass Morris Robinson sings the assassin Sparafucile, partnering with Ghanaian-American mezzo Tesia Kwarteng making her Cincinnati Opera debut as his partner in crime, Maddalena.
Art sings truth to power in Puccini’s Tosca, in a revival of Cincinnati Opera’s production staged by Jose Maria Condemi, an alum of the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) and newly appointed CCM associate professor of opera. Three returning artists take on the principal roles. Soprano Karah Son, the sensational Butterfly from the 2023 production, is the fiery diva Tosca. “She’s perfect for the role, not only vocally but dramatically,” Mirageas says. “Karah is petite and powerful and with that gorgeous Puccini voice — she’s a tigress!”
Tenor Matthew White portrays her lover, the revolutionary artist Cavaradossi. It’s his first time back in Cincinnati since his debut in 2019. White is one of those tenor rarities: a beautiful lyric voice matched with solid acting chops and the looks of a surfer guy — which he is.
Kentucky native Anthony Clark Evans takes on the role of police chief Baron Scarpia, whose lust for Tosca spells doom for everyone.
“I think he’s one of the great baritones of our generation, and he’s coming into his prime now,” says Mirageas. “He’s become a house favorite and a wonderful colleague. I think the three of them are going to create incredible chemistry.”
Neapolitan conductor Clelia Cafiero makes her U.S. debut and Mirageas looks forward to her working with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in the pit.
“I watched her rehearse a production of La Boheme in London, a production we’d done, and in two minutes, I knew she was the conductor for our Tosca. She tackled complex staging and came through with flying colors,” he says.
The season concludes with four performances of Fiddler on the Roof with music by Jerry Bock and lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, with a book by Joseph Stein. Based on stories by the Yiddish writer Sholem Aleichem, Fiddler is one of the most revived Broadway musicals. For all its specificity about a poor Jewish village in Russia, its themes of traditional values and ways of life confronting a changing world are universal.
German actor, singer and director Max Hopp portrays Tevye, a role he’s played in Barrie Kosky’s production for the Komische Oper Berlin.
“He’s the Tevye of my dreams, because he’s such a noble actor,” says Mirageas. “After seeing him on stage in the role in Berlin, I was in tears in less than 20 minutes.”
Hopp not only makes his Cincinnati Opera debut, but he also makes his debut singing the role in English.
Joining him in the cast are Victoria Livengood as Tevye’s wife, Golde; Rachel Kobernick, Rachel Blaustein and Jennifer Zetlan as their daughters; Janice Meyerson as Yente, the village matchmaker; and members of the Cincinnati Ballet.
The new production is staged by Crystal Manich with CCM alum Levi Hammer conducting and sound design by David Bullard.
Three studio sessions offer 90-minute cabaret performances in the intimate setting of the Harry T. Wilks Studio. The series kicks off June 17 with “Soul and Sound: Dueling Pianos and Artistic Tributes to the Harlem Renaissance,” with pianists Kevin Day and Kevin Miller combining forces to present a spectrum of music heard in Harlem during the 1920s and ‘30s, curated by poet Tifara Brown.
Baritone Anthony Clark Evans presents a recital and reflections on his career path on July 10, accompanied by pianist James Maverick.
“From Avenue A to Broadway: Songs and Stories of Tin Pan Alley” concludes the series on July 17. Queen City Cabaret singer Sarah Folsom and pianist Matthew Umphreys, along with special guests, present songs from the vibrant meshing of cultures that produced the Great American Songbook.
Beyond Cincinnati Opera’s 105th anniversary, this season marks Mirageas’ 20th year as the company’s artistic director. His comment on 20 years of outstanding performances, world premieres and navigating a pandemic? “It’s really amazing how the time has flown by.”
The Cincinnati Opera’s 105th anniversary season runs from June 12-July 27. More info: cincinnatiopera.com.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s May 28 print edition.
This article appears in May 28 – Jun 10, 2025.
