TOSCA

March 3 (mat.), 7, 9,12,15,17; in Italian with projected English titles

One of the Lyric audience's favorite works, Puccini's fiery melodrama Tosca, will return for two series of performances. The title role of glarnorous diva Florin Tosca will be shared by sopranos Daniela Dessi and Sylvie Valayre (debut). Singing opposite Dessi will be tenor Marcello Giordani (debut) as Tosca's lover, the painter/revolutionary Marlo Cavaradossi, and bass Ruggero Raimonali as Baron Scarpia, the police chief who lusts after her. Valayre's stage partners will be tenor Vincenzo La Scola as Cavaradossi and bass-baritone Jean-Philippe Lafont as Scarpia. The Sacristan will be portrayed by bass-baritone Dale Travis, with tenor David Cangelosi as Scarpia's agent Spoletta. Conducting both series of performances will be artistic director emeritus Bruno Bartoletti, in the production by stage director John CopIey, designed by Tony Walton (sets) and Willa Kim (costumes). Duane Schuler is lighting designer.

THE BARBER OF SEVILLE

 Feb. 1, 3, 6, 9,12,16,18 (mat.), 21 (mat.), 24; in Italian with projected English titles

Gioachino Rossini's Il barbiere di Siviglia (The Barber of Seville), one of the most enthusiastically received Lyric productions of the past decade, returns with baritone Dwayne Croft in the title role of the wily Figaro. The opera centers on the machinations of the barber to unite Rosina (meZZO-soprano Vesselina Kasarova) with her beloved Lindoro (tenor Rockwell Blake), who tunas out to be the aristocratic Count Almaviva. Adding to the intrigue are Dr. Bartolo (bas-baritone John Del Carlo), Rosina's guardian, who'd like to marry her himself; Rosina's music teacher Don Basilio (bass Mark S. Doss Jan. 24-Feb. 6, and Raymond Accto Feb. 9-24); and Berta (mezzo-soprano Josepha Gayer), Bartolo's housekeeper. Yves Abel will conduct the production led by stage director John Copley, with set and costume designs by John Conklin, and lighting design by Dnane Schuler.

THE FLYING DUTCHMAN- New production

Feb. 10,14,17, 20, 23, 26; March 2, 6,10,14 (mat.), 18 (mat); in German with projected English tides

A new production of Richard Wagner's Der fliegende Hollander (The Flying Dutchman) will star bass James Morris in the rifle role of Philip Vanderdecken, the mariner who is cursed to sail forever until he finds a woman who will be faithful to him unto death. That woman is Senta (soprano Catherine Malfitano), the daughter of the seaman Daland (bass Franz Hawlata in his Lyric debut) and fiancee of Erik (tenor Kim Begley). The cast is completed by mezzo-soprano Susan Gorton as Senta's nurse Mary and tenor Endrik Wottrich (debut) as the Steersman. Sir Andrew Davis will conduct a production staged by Nikolaus Lehnhoff, with designs by the debuting team of Raimund Bauer (sets), Andrea Schmidt-Ffitterer (costumes), and Wolfgang Gobbel (lighting). This production is made possible by the Elizabeth Morse Genius Charitable Trust.