We are extremely fortunate to present tomorrow's Scarpia, Richard Hobson! Richard Hobson, baritone, is acclaimed for "the strong dramatic persona" he brings to his performances. Mr. Hobson has sung professionally for over twenty years in Europe, Australia, the United States, Canada an in South America. Mr. Hobson has sung on the roster of The Metropolitan Opera for ten consecutive seasons in operas including Madama Butterfly, Carmen, Rigoletto, Boris Goudanov, Les Troyens, Andrea Chenier, Le Rossignol, Was And Piece, Macbeth, Samson Et Dalila, Doktor Faust, Don Carlo, The Nose and Die Frau Ohne Schatten. At New York City Opera, Mr. Hobson was heard in the title role of Porgy in Porgy And Bess, as Zuniga in Carmen, Count Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro and Schaunard in La Boheme. (fb)

Meet our Santuzza, the one and only Melissa Marshall! Melissa is a New Orleans native and versatile performer and scholar of international recognition known for her vocal range, who was living in Germany and was actively performing in Europe. She was seen singing the role of Carlotta Guidicelli in the Original Broadway Production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s, The Phantom of the Opera in Germany. Melissa received her Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance and Drama at Loyola University College of Music, and her Masters of Music Degree and Post Graduate Degree in Voice from the Mannes Conservatory of Music in New York City. She was fortunate to perform with renown artists from the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center and Broadway legends at Carnegie Hall. Melissa also holds an Artist’s Diploma from the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy. Melissa is well known to opera and musical theatre audiences in and around the New Orleans area as a performer, teacher, and music director. (fb)