Stage Director

Opera’s iconic double bill—Mascagni’s Cavalleria Rusticana and Leoncavallo’s Pagliacci—brings timeless tales of love, jealousy, honor, infidelity, and murder to San José in February 2026. Filled with some of the most recognizable music of all time, including Cavalleria’s intermezzo and the haunting ‘Vesti la Giubba’ from Pagliacci, showcasing Italian Versimo at its best. Maria Natale makes a powerful return to Opera San José as the passionate Santuzza, joined by audience favorite Kidon Choi, who brings intensity and heart to the role of Tonio. Celebrated composer Alma Deutscher returns to conduct with Opera San José CEO and General Director Shawna Lucey directing this landmark production.

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Cavalleria Rusticana | Pagliacci

California Theatre

Prince Orlofsky is throwing the costume party of the century, and everyone is determined to be there. Dr. Falke invites his friend Eisenstein for a gentleman’s night out on the town. Little do they know that Eisenstein’s wife, Rosalinde, and her maid, Adele, each have their own mischievous plans. What starts as a harmless prank soon escalates into an epic battle of the sexes, filled with disguises, flirtations, and comedic deceptions. No matter how the evening ends, one thing is for sure — you can blame it on the champagne!

Die Fledermaus (2025)

Webster University

This all-new production of Bartók’s haunting Bluebeard’s Castle will have audiences on the edge of their seats. Directed by OSJ General Director/CEO Shawna Lucey and conducted by OSJ Music Director Joseph Marcheso, this powerful one-act opera presented in English follows Judith as she abandons a peaceful existence to marry the mysterious Duke Bluebeard. Unlocking rooms in her eerie new home, she discovers her new husband’s dark past, delving into the frightening corners of his troubled imagination.

Bluebeard’s Castle

Violetta Valéry is the queen of Parisian nightlife for now, but she knows that life in the fast lane can't last forever. The arrival of a fresh-faced suitor offers her an unexpected taste of true love, until society’s disapproval threatens to tear them apart.

Rachel Willis-Sørensen, one of the most acclaimed American sopranos of her generation, returns as the glamorous Violetta, whose time is quickly running out. Rising star Liparit Avetisyan is the enamored Alfredo, with Kihun Yoon as his disapproving, controlling father. Verdi master James Conlon conducts one of opera’s most enduring tragedies in this vibrant and luxuriously rich new-to-L.A. production that shines the spotlight on Violetta’s tragic attempts to outrun her fate.

La Traviata

Los Angeles Music Center

Turiddu returns from war to find his love, Lola, married to another. In a scheme to induce jealousy, he seduces Santuzza. As swiftly as she is beguiled, Santuzza is discarded while Turiddu begins an affair with his old flame. After the conclusion of Easter Mass, passions erupt and expose the ugliness of jealousy. With stirring melodies as iconic as the story, Cavalleria rusticana reveals the consequences of infidelity and the lengths we might go to for revenge.

Cavalleria rusticana | Pagliacci

Lyric Opera of Kansas City

Back for the first time in almost 20 years,  OSJ opens its ambitious 40th anniversary season with Gounod’s classic adaptation: Romeo et Juliette. This Romantic love story arrives at the California Theatre in a new production created by Shawna Lucey, her first collaboration since the visionary director became Opera San José’s 4th General Director. Its impassioned french music, famous melodies and timeless story will inaugurate a new season, featuring new residents and guests making role debuts. Music Director Joseph Marcheso conducts the Opera San José Orchestra. 

Romeo & Juliet

Fame. Power. Fortune. Violetta Valéry has it all as Paris’ most admired courtesan. But never has she allowed herself to experience true love. All that changes when a naive young man enters her Paris salon and offers her a romance full of tenderness and compassion. But can their love ever be free from the social stigmas of her past?

Oracle Park

War Memorial Opera House

Sir John Falstaff finds himself a bit short on cash, so he hatches a scheme: seduce two merry (and wealthy) wives of Windsor and live out his days in luxury. Too bad this bumbling knight happened to send both his targets the same love letter! Now Alice Ford and Meg Page are set on teaching Falstaff a lesson, and it's not long before a long list of his adversaries join in. Audiences are in for a whirlwind of disguises and deceptions, and maybe even an unexpected dip in the River Thames.

James Conlon conducts one of his personal favorites, Verdi's utterly delightful comic masterpiece. Longtime company favorite Craig Colclough stars as the boastful Falstaff, leading a brilliant ensemble cast that includes Nicole Heaston, Ernesto Petti and Hyona Kim among the pranksters all too happy to take the errant knight down a peg, with Deanna Breiwick and Anthony León as the young lovers desperate to steal a private moment to themselves among the madness. This classic comedy gets an equally classic staging by Lee Blakeley, with atmospheric sets and sumptuous period costumes designed by Adrian Linford.

Stage Director

Shawna Lucey

Events

Upcoming events

Apr 18 - May 10, 2026

Falstaff · LA Opera

Past events

Feb 15 - Mar 1, 2026

Cavalleria Rusticana | Pagliacci · Opera San Jose

15 - 28 Jun, 2025

Die Fledermaus (2025) · Opera Theatre of Saint Louis

About

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