Il Trovatore preview from San Francisco Opera

Nicola Luisotti makes his debut as San Francisco Opera’s music director with this audience favorite, in which fast-paced action is propelled by an irresistible stream of melody. Verdi’s favorite themes of destiny and desire are threaded through this suspenseful story of a corrupt count, a dashing warrior and a Gypsy who plots to avenge her mother’s wrongful death. David McVicar’s visually striking new production is inspired by the haunting imagery of Francisco de Goya. Tenor Marco Berti and baritone Dmitri Hvorostovsky, whose beautiful tone and emotional intensity thrilled audiences in last season’s Simon Boccanegra, head a charismatic cast featuring mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe and soprano Sondra Radvanovsky.