Thomas Hampson has returned to the Santa Fe Opera for the first time in nearly three decades, where he performs the role of the villainous Scarpia in Puccini’s Tosca (five performances beginning Saturday, August 11). Hampson’s performance of the role at Zurich Opera alongside Jonas Kaufmann in 2009 has since been issued on DVD from Decca, inspiring Opera Today to report that “Hampson’s take on Scarpia has freshness and edge,” and Opera Britannia to dub him “a suave and slimy Baron Scarpia.”  Returning to the company prompted special memories from Hampson:  “The 1983 production of Don Pasquale – coming on the heels of the much acclaimed production of Così fan tutte in St. Louis – remains a cherished milestone in my early career. Santa Fe has always been a mecca to young singers, and it is exciting how they continue to expand their repertoire and casting to become one of the major summer opera festivals in the United States.”

Rehearsal Photo of "Tosca" at Santa Fe Opera.