Brendan Tuohy as Nemorino

Tenor, Brendan Tuohy is a native of the Pacific Northwest but is quickly making a name for himself in the singing world.  Most recently, Mr. Tuohy sang the role of Conte Almaviva in Houston Grand Opera’s new production of Il Barbiere di Siviglia.

Mr. Tuohy has spent the majority of last three seasons as a Houston Grand Opera Studio Artist.  While in Houston, he has performed such roles as Brighella in Ariadne auf Naxos, Ferrando in Così Fan Tutte, Goro in Madama Butterfly, Tchaplitsky and the Major Domo in Tchaikovsky’s Pique Dame and made his debut with the company as the 1st Noble in Wagner’s Lohengrin. In addition, he sang the role of Martin in Copeland’s The Tender Land with Vashon Opera, Pong in Turandot with Portland Opera, and Ulrich Eisslinger in Wagner’s Die Meistersinger with Cincinnati Opera.

Mr. Tuohy’s future engagements include Conte Almaviva again with HGO, a return to Chicago to sing the Tenor Soloist in The Spectre’s Bride by Dvo?ak with the Grant Park Music Festival, and Ferrando in Cosi Fan Tutte with Vashon Opera.

Sarah Shafer as Adina

Praised for her "luminous voice" and "intensely expressive interpretations," (The New York Times) soprano Sarah Shafer is quickly emerging as a sought-after operatic and concert artist.

On the concert stage, Sarah was recently heard as Sophie in Strauss' Suite from Der Rosenkavalier with the Quad City Symphony Orchestra. Other recently performed works include Mozart's Mass in C Minor and Requiem, Handel's Messiah and Dixit Dominus, Vaughan Williams' Dona Nobis Pacem, and Mahler's Fourth Symphony.

An avid performer of chamber music and lieder, Sarah recently appeared in recital with legendary pianist Richard Goode (Read the NY Times article here).  She will also be collaborating with renowned guitarist Jason Vieaux performing works of Dowland and Britten.  Sarah has also sung at Songfest in Malibu, CA where she was awarded the prestigious Craig Smith and Marc and Eva Stern Fellowships.

Jordan Shanahan as Belcore

A recent graduate of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Hawaiian baritone Jordan Shanahan has attracted the attention of the Metropolitan Opera, where he has been cast in five productions including the roles of Kallenbach in Satyagraha by Philip Glass and Oppenheimer in Dr. Atomic by John Adams. Some of the other companies who have engaged his services include the Santa Fe Opera, the Netherlands Opera, Opera Cleveland, Orlando Opera, Opera Memphis and Teatro di San Carlo Napoli.

Mr. Shanahan’s recent recordings include two CD’s of the music of Thomas Pasatieri; the title role in the one act opera Signor Deluso on the Grammy nominated “Divas of a Certain Age”, and “Songbook” a collection of songs both available from Albany Records. He is also featured in the Netherlands Opera production of Don Carlo available on DVD from Opus Arte, and in the international video broadcast of Terra on the RAI network, which will soon be released on DVD.

Ricardo Lugo as Dr. Dulcamara

Puerto Rican Bass, Ricardo Lugo, is a versatile international performer in demand. This season, he returns to the Metropolitan Opera for productions of Khovanshchina and Billy Budd.  His recent work at the Metropolitan Opera included productions of Ariadne auf Naxos and La fanciulla del West. With The Met, Mr. Lugo has also participated in the productions of Adriana Lecouvreur, Macbeth, The Nose, The Gambler and Salome.

Mr. Lugo made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Un Barnabotto in La Gioconda, conducted by Bertrand de Billy, and his Washington National Opera debut, singing Bonzo in Madama Butterfly, conducted by Maestro Plácido Domingo.

He was also featured as Jose Tripaldi in the acclaimed production of Osvaldo Golijov’s Ainadamar, directed by Peter Sellars, during Lincoln Center’s Festival entitled” The Passion of Osvaldo Golijov”.

Mr. Lugo performs regularly with all the opera companies of his native Puerto Rico. He has taken part in CulturArte, where he performed the roles of Dr. Grenvil in La traviata, opposite Carol Vaness and Plácido Domingo; and Ludovico in Otello opposite June Anderson and Placido Domingo, both conducted by Eugene Kohn.

Christine Amon as Gianetta

Ms. Amon recently appeared as a finalist in the Lotte Lenya Competition hosted by the Kurt Weill Foundation for Music.  She has been awarded first place in the Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Vocal Competition, the NATS Regional Auditions, and the Dr. Marjoree Conrad Art Song Competition.  She studied at the renowned Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires thanks to the sponsorship of Opera Grand Rapids.  Ms. Amon received a Master of Music from Bowling Green State University, performing the roles of Cherubino in LE NOZZE DI FIGARO and Desiree in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.  She received a Bachelor of Music from Grand Valley State University, where she appeared as Paquette in CANDIDE, Mother in RAGTIME, and Lily in THE SECRET GARDEN.  Ms. Amon is an Opera Memphis Artist-in-Residence, and she is pursuing an Artist Diploma at the University of Memphis.

Maestro David Hayes - Conductor

Mr. David Hayes received his Bachelor of Music in musicology from the University of Hartford and a Diploma in conducting from the Curtis Institute of Music, where he studied with Otto-Werner Mueller. He also studied with Charles Bruck at the Pierre Monteux School.

He is music director of the Philadelphia Singers, a member of the conducting staff of the Philadelphia Orchestra and Curtis Institute of Music, and director of orchestral and conducting studies at the Mannes College of Music.  Mr. Hayes recently led the East Coast Premiere performances of Tan Dun’s Tea for the Opera Company of Philadelphia.

Guest-conducting engagements include concerts with the Philadelphia Orchestra, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Richmond Symphony Orchestra, Los Angeles Master Chorale, Louisiana Philharmonic, and the Verbier Festival.

Ned Canty - Director

Ned Canty is a stage director with credits from companies such as Glimmerglass Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Santa Fe Opera and New York City Opera. The New York Times has described his stage direction as having "a startling combination of sensitivity and panache," and Opera News said in describing a recent production, "The future of American opera is in good hands." As Festival Director of the New York Television Festival since 2005, he helped the organization grow into a nationally recognized forum for the discovery of new television talent, as well as a leader in the exploration of digital and new media storytelling.

Canty's career in opera reflects a strong interest in working with emerging artists. He has helped to inspire a new generation of singers through his work with leading opera companies and major conservatories such as The Curtis Institute, The Juilliard School, the Israeli Vocal Arts Institute and the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. He has collaborated with a number of composers and librettists on the development of new works through American Opera Projects and has directed world premieres for AOP in New York and Tel Aviv. A self-described “pop culture omnivore,” Canty is a firm believer in the relevance of opera to all generations, and takes special interest in introducing opera to new audiences.

Before focusing on opera, Canty had a thriving career in theatre, working as an actor, director and stuntman at Hartford Stage Company, The McCarter Theatre and the New York Renaissance Festival among others. After pursuing postgraduate work in Shakespearean performance with The Acting Company in London, England, he spent a year touring the country with The National Players. Canty is a graduate of the Catholic University of America, where he graduated summa cum laude with a major in drama and classical philosophy.