FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Megan Ihnen, Director of External Communications
Email: megan@operabaltimore.org
Website: www.operabaltimore.org
Opera Baltimore Launches Season with Innovative Co-Production of Tosca Starring Soprano Emily Margevich, October 10 & 12
Baltimore, MD – Opera Baltimore launches its new season with one of opera’s most gripping thrillers: Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca. Fully staged with orchestra and performed at Stephens Hall in Towson, Tosca will be presented on Friday, October 10 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, October 12 at 3:00 p.m.
Set in politically turbulent Rome, Tosca tells the story of a glamorous and fiercely devoted singer caught between love, loyalty, and the ruthless ambitions of Baron Scarpia. With some of Puccini’s most unforgettable music and a finale that still takes audiences’ breath away, Tosca is the operatic equivalent of a page-turner you can’t put down.
This sweeping production continues the company’s co-production model with OperaDelaware, part of an ongoing, innovative partnership between the two companies that shares artists, designers, and resources without compromising artistic excellence. This lean, sustainable model—created by Opera Baltimore’s President & General Director Julia Cooke and OperaDelaware’s General Director Brendan Cooke—has become a national example of how collaboration can strengthen opera’s future.
“This partnership is a strategic advantage at a time when arts organizations are facing unprecedented challenges,” said Julia Cooke. “By working together, we ensure Baltimore audiences see and hear the kind of world-class artistry they deserve.”
“We are so happy to continue our partnership with Opera Baltimore – by pooling talents and resources and sharing expenses, we are able to bring more top-quality performances to the region,” said Brendan Cooke, OperaDelaware’s General Director. “It’s a true win-win.”
This powerhouse Tosca unites an all-star cast through Opera Baltimore and OperaDelaware’s innovative co-production model. Soprano Emily Margevich – hailed by The New York Times as “charismatic and commanding” and praised by Opera Magazine for her “vulnerability and intelligence… [with] a voice of liquid beauty” – makes her role debut as the fearless Floria Tosca. Tenor John Pickle, last heard bringing the house down during Opera Baltimore’s 2025 gala, returns as the idealistic painter Cavaradossi. Baritone Steven Condy, remembered by Baltimore audiences for his turn as Falstaff in the companies’ 2016 collaborative production (Falstaff in concert at Baltimore Concert Opera, then fully staged at OperaDelaware), now trades comic charm for chilling menace as the ruthless Baron Scarpia. On the podium, conductor Domenico Boyagian shapes Puccini’s sweeping score, while director Haley Stamats brings her inventive, detail-rich staging back to Baltimore. The cast also features Gerard Moon as the fugitive Angelotti and Brian James Myer as the bumbling yet endearing Sacristan.
Performance Information
Tosca
Music by Giacomo Puccini | Libretto by Giuseppe Giacosa & Luigi Illica
In Italian with English supertitles | Runtime: 2.5 hours with one intermission
Performances Information
October 10 & 12, 2025 – Opera Baltimore, Stephens Hall Theatre, Towson, MD
October 17 & 19, 2025 – OperaDelaware, The Grand Opera House, Wilmington, DE
Baltimore Performance Location
Stephens Hall Theatre
7900 Stephens Avenue, Towson, MD 21204
Tickets
Tickets available at www.operabaltimore.org or by calling 443-445-0226.
Press Night & RSVP Information
Journalists, critics, and members of the media are invited to attend the dress rehearsal on Wednesday, October 8, 2025, at 7:00 PM. Space is limited, and reservations are required. To RSVP or request additional materials, please contact Megan Ihnen at megan@operabaltimore.org.
About Opera Baltimore
Opera Baltimore is the city’s home team for world-class opera, dedicated to presenting compelling performances, community engagement, and educational initiatives that bring opera to audiences of all backgrounds. With a commitment to artistic excellence and accessibility, Opera Baltimore continues to grow as a vital part of the city’s cultural landscape.
For tickets and more information, visit www.operabaltimore.org.