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Everything you love about Italian Opera in 90 minutes
The Story
Turiddu, a soldier, returns home to find his beloved Lola married to another man. He seeks revenge through seduction. As Easter bells ring and the village celebrates, forbidden passions burn in the shadows, honor demands blood, and Turiddu pays the ultimate price.
Opera Santa Barbara’s new production of Cavalleria Rusticana draws you into the rugged beauty of 19th century Sicilyâthe sun-baked villages and orange groves. Against this backdrop, Mascagni’s melodies soar as real people face real consequences.
Performance Details
Cavalleria Rusticana
by Pietro Mascagni
Performances:
Friday, November 7th, 7:30PM
Sunday, November 9th, 2:30 PM
Venue
Lobero Theatre
33 E Canon Perdido St
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
Genre
Drama
Language
Sung in Italian with projected English supertitles
Running time
1 hour and 30 minutes including intermission.
artists

Max Potter
Santuzza
Max Potter

Praised by Opera News for her "relish and energy," mezzo-soprano Max Potter is an up-and-coming artist celebrated for her warmth of tone and dramatic presence.
The 2023 / 2024 season started with Max's performance as Mercedes in 'Carmen' and also included concert performances as Maddalena in excerpts from Verdi's 'Rigoletto' at Opera Santa Barbara. In the winter, she returned to the company for her role debut as Ines in 'Il Trovatore'. During the holiday season, Max debuted Max Bruch's rarely performed "Gruss an die heilige Nacht" and sang excerpts from Humperdinck's 'HĂ€nsel und Gretel' on tour with I Cantori di Carmel - concerts which were streamed on NPR as a part of their Christmas broadcast series. Next season Max makes her role debut as Cherubino in Mozart's 'Le nozze di Figaro' at Opera Santa Barbara.
Highlights from past seasons include Max's role debut as Octavian in 'Der Rosenkavalier' with Pacific Northwest Opera, her symphonic debut as the Alto soloist in Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' at the Washington National Cathedral, and her main stage debut with Chautauqua Opera as Jenny Reefer in 'The Mother of Us All.'
Previous notable roles include Sister Helen Prejean (Dead Man Walking), Dorabella (CosĂ fan tutte), Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni), Meg Page (Falstaff), Flosshilde & Fricka (Das Rheingold), Beggar Woman (Sweeney Todd), Tebaldo (Don Carlo), Charlotte (Werther), Second Lady & Papgena (Die Zauberflöte), Concepcion (Lâheure espagnole), and La Ciesca (Gianni Schicchi).
With a natural affinity for new works, Max collaborated with The American Opera Project as part of their Composers & the Voice series throughout 2021 and 2022, making her company debut in AOPâs âFirst Glimpseâ concert series. She returned the following season for "Six Scenes," a program featuring the world premieres of opera excerpts by emerging and established composers. She was featured in âThe Sacred Feminine,â an innovative performance piece celebrating the work of Emily Dickinson through spoken word and art song, with New Camerata Opera. At Des Moines Metro Opera, she sang Heggieâs âThe Breaking Wavesâ in recital for the composer.
Max is an alumna of The Aspen Opera Center, Des Moines Metro Opera Apprentice Artist Program, CoOPERAtive, and The Opera Southwest Apprentice Artist Program, among others. She has been named a semi-finalist for the Loren L. Zachary Competition, the Palm Springs Opera Guild Vocal Competition, Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition, Premiere Opera International Vocal Competition, Paris Opera Competition, Mildred Miller International Vocal Competition, and MIOpera Vocal Competition. She is a recipient of awards from the Young Musicians Foundation, CoOPERAtive, and the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions.
A bi-coastal resident of California and the New York City area, Max holds a Master of Music degree from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music and did her undergraduate work at Northwestern University's Bienen School of Music.

Xavier Prado
Turiddu
Xavier Prado


Todd Thomas
Alfio
Todd Thomas
Recognized by opera companies and critics alike as one of the true Verdi baritones gracing stages today, Todd Thomas continues his tenure as one of Americaâs most sought-after baritones. In an international stage career spanning more than four decades, the artist continues to earn accolades from the public and press alike. In the title role of Macbeth, Opera News depicted his performance as âwarm and centered in his tone with subtle phrasing that emphasized the introspective, almost poetic quality of the tormented king.â Performing the role of Iago in Lyric Opera of Chicagoâs season opening performance of Verdiâs Otello âearned him deservedly the largest ovation at the end of the night from the glittery opening night audienceâŠâ (The Chicago Classical).
Upcoming performances include a return engagement in the Fall of 2025 at Opera Santa Barbara as Alfio in Cavaleria Rusticana. Still making company debuts, he is thrilled to be making his Opera Montana debut in one of his several signature roles of Scarpia in Tosca in April of 2026. The versatile singing actor will make his Equity Stage debut with the historic Walnut Street Theater (Americaâsâ oldest professional theater) in their much anticipated production of 1776 which will be part of the the countryâs Sesqui- centennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
Additionally, he has added independent film credits to his resume with starring roles in Revere Street (Rose Gendelman) and Breast and Thighs (Golde Films)
Recently, Thomas returned to the Shanghai Opera House for his captivating portrayal of Der fliegende HollĂ€nder, reprised his signature role of Rigoletto with Amarillo Opera, and performed the role of Scarpia in Tosca with Florida Grand Opera, Opera Memphis, Opera on the James, and Charlottesville Opera, as well as Amonasro in Tulsa Operaâs Aida. Additionally, Todd was seen in concert at Opera Southwest and with Maryland Opera. Last season, Thomas was invited back to China for concert performances of RomĂ©o et Juliette with the Suzhou Symphony Orchestra, and he performed in two concerts with New York City Opera.
In recent seasons, Mr. Thomas performed the title role in Nabucco with Theater Erfurt in Germany, the title role in Rigoletto for both Florentine Opera and Florida Grand Opera and Michele in Il tabarro with Opera Santa Barbara. Additionally, he sang Rigoletto for Tulsa Operaâs outdoor baseball stadium production, as well as for Shreveport Operaâs production. Mr. Thomas has performed Michele/Schicchi in Il trittico with Pacific Opera Victoria, his Opera Shanghai dĂ©but as the title role in Wagnerâs Der fliegende HollĂ€nder, Tonio/Alfio in Pagliacci/ Cavalleria rusticana for Opera Omaha, the title role of Gianni Schicchi with Opera Memphis, Scarpia in Tosca with New Jersey Festival Orchestra, Melchoir in Amahl and the Night Visitors with Steamboat Springs Symphony, the title role in Wagnerâs Der fliegende HollĂ€nder with Baltimore Concert Opera, performed in Opera Santa Barbaraâs Gala Concert, performed as a soloist in âVerdi in the Valleyâ with Maryland Opera, and as a soloist in Ocean City Popâs âStar Spangled Spectacular concert.â He also performed at Theater Erfurt in a ground-breaking production of Der fliegende HollĂ€nder and sang the title role of Falstaff with the Crested Butte Festival, in addition to his role there as Artist-in-Residence.
Engagements have also included returns to the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Monterone in Rigoletto, the title role of Verdiâs Falstaff with Manitoba Opera, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly and Renato in Un ballo in maschera with Florida Grand Opera, the title role in Rigoletto with Atlanta Opera, Scarpia in Tosca and Rolando in La battaglia di Legnano with Sarasota Opera, Germont in La traviata with Des Moines Metro Opera, Alberich in Das Rheingold with Pacific Opera Victoria in Canada, and Iago in Otello with Arizona Opera. Mr. Thomas made his Metropolitan Opera dĂ©but as Dr. Metivier in War and Peace and subsequently returned for RomĂ©o et Juliette. He sang Conte di Luna in Il trovatore and Falstaff with the Seattle Opera; the title role in Rigoletto at Detroit Opera, Opera Birmingham, Manitoba Opera, Palm Beach Opera, The Atlanta Opera, and Austin Lyric Opera; Scarpia in Tosca at New York City Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera Lyra Ottawa, Detroit Opera, Florentine Opera, Orlando Philharmonic, and Opera Carolina; the title role in Falstaff with Opera Santa Barbara; Tonio/Alfio in Pagliacci/Cavalleria rusticana with Arizona Opera and Opera Omaha; Conte di Luna in Il trovatore at the Manitoba Opera and Indianapolis Opera; Sharpless in Madama Butterfly with Opera Carolina, Opera Omaha, and Florida Grand Opera; and Amonasro in Aida with Opera Carolina and North Carolina Opera.
Mr. Thomas remains a house favorite for several opera companies. For Nashville Opera, he has he has appeared in two productions of Pagliacci as Tonio, as Amonasro in Aida, as Rigoletto, and in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Lâenfant et les sortilĂšges, and The Lighthouse (Davies). With Des Moines Metro Opera, performances have included Germont in La traviata, King Melchior in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Captain Balstrode in Peter Grimes, Rigoletto, Macbeth, Iago in Otello, and Renato in Un ballo in maschera. With the Chautauqua Opera: Miller in Luisa Miller, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Conte di Luna in Il trovatore, Sharpless in Madama Butterfly, and Scarpia in Tosca. Mr. Thomas also appeared in more than 50 performances with the Sarasota Opera including Jack Rance in La fanciulla del West, Ezio in Attilla, Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor, Scarpia in Tosca, and the title roles of Falstaff, Nabucco, and Macbeth. Of a recent Falstaff performance, Opera News said, âThomas's forthright vocalism (featuring wonderful top notes) and apt physique give him a leg up in this part, but he also captured the generous, earthy spirit of Shakespeareâs creation, giving the evening its comic and emotional fulcrumâŠitâs hard to imagine there are many better Falstaffs working on North American stages today.â
In concert, Mr. Thomasâ most recent engagements include Leoniâs Lâoracolo and Montemezziâs Lâincantesimo with Teatro Grattacielo at Avery Fisher Hall; his Carnegie Hall dĂ©but in DuruflĂ©âs Requiem and Mark Hayesâ Te Deum and Spirit Suite followed by returns for Handelâs Messiah and Mozartâs Coronation Mass. He enjoyed great success in the world premieres and subsequent performances as the baritone soloist in Bob Aldridgeâs Parables with the Topeka Symphony. He also sang Beethovenâs Symphony No. 9 with the Evansville Philharmonic and numerous pops concerts with the Ocean City Pops Orchestra. Recital dates have included appearances on the various concert series of Elmira College, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Wednesday Music Club Series of Harrisburg PA, and the Glenridge Series of Sarasota. He also sang a solo recital entitled âIf Music be the Food of Loveâ in Winnipeg, Manitoba as part of a fundraising event for the Community Ministries of The Westminster Church of Winnipeg. Early in his career, Mr. Thomas was a member of the MusikTheater Ensemble for Stadttheater Giessen. During his years in Europe, he was a guest artist in Basel, Switzerland and Heidelberg, Germany, and made his dĂ©but with Macedonia Opera as Amonasro in Aida. Mr. Thomas also appeared in Hong Kong, Fiesole, Pisa, Cagnes-sur-Mer, Sarlat, Luzerne, and Utrecht, under the auspices of Stichting Pagliacci of Utrecht University. He is currently on faculty of the Westminster Choir College at Rider at Rider University. He is a Frequent clinician and guest master teacher at universities, conservatories and Young Artists Prorgrams Mr. Thomas can be heard on the Naxos recording of Menottiâs Amahl and the Night Visitors. He also recorded a solo album, Crown Him Lord of All, with organist Jon Spong.

Adrien Roberts
Mamma Lucia
Adrien Roberts

Adrien Roberts recently found herself performing Countess Almaviva in Le Nozze di Figaro last season at Opera Santa Barbara. Adrienâs operatic roles include: Marguerite in Faust, Cio Cio San in Madame Butterfly, Mimi in La Boheme, Rosalinda in Die Fledermaus. You may have seen her here at OSB as Franca in The Light in the Piazza, the Rooster in The Cunning Little Vixen, Yvette in La Rondine, and/or Annina in La Traviata. Roberts has performed in Sweeney Todd, Vivaldi's Gloria, and many other choral concerts and projects in Ventura. Adrien also performs with Pacific Chorale in Orange County and recently performed Holstâs Neptune at the Hollywood Bowl. One of the coolest memories was singing for the Star Wars convention and standing backstage with Ewan McGregor. Every Christmas, Ms. Roberts performs in the Beatles Rock-Gospel project BOTH with the Open Fist theater.  adrienroberts.com
Angeline Petronijevic
In 2008, when Angeline Petronijevic was in her teenage years, she saw her very first opera. It was Opera
Santa Barbaraâs production of Cavalleria rusticana with Layna Chianakas as Santuzza. During that
performance, Angeline decided to pursue a career as an opera singer. Angeline has been a part of the Opera
Santa Barbara chorus since 2019 and made her role debut with OSB in 2022 in Speed Dating Tonight as the
Bus girl.
Some of her previous performing highlights include: soloist in Vivaldi âGloriaâ Tour with Alan Hancock
College Choir, SBCC Concert Choir, St. Markâs In The Valley Choir. Singing as a Soprano Ringer for
Kismet with Santa Barbara Symphony. Soloist, âMÄsĂÄku na nebi hlubokĂ©mâ, Rusalka with AIMS Festival
Orchestra in Graz, Austria. Lâenfant and Maman (on alterate performace day) in Ravelâs Lâenfant et les
sortilĂšges and Soloist in Bach Magnificat in D, with Varna International Music Academy in Varna,
Bulgaria. Dido in Dido and Aeneas with Chicago Summer Opera. Monica in The Medium with Chicago
College of Performing Arts. Milkman in BrundibĂĄr with Chicago College of Performing Arts. Gertrud
from HĂ€nsel und Gretel with Chicago Summer Opera. Soloist in Villa-Lobosâs Bachoanas brasileiras No.5,
Cello recital in Ganz Hall, Chicago. Soloist, Beneath The Quince Tree Oratorio, by Nicholas Turnberrez,
Ganz Hall, IL (Premiere ). Mrs. Peachum, The Beggarâs Opera, Chicago College of Performing Arts,
Soloist, Let It Be Forgotten, by Hanee Park, Ganz Hall (Premiere). Soloist, Susie Asado, by Jonathan
Hannau, Ganz Hall (Premiere). Lay Sister, Suor Angelica, Opera San Jose. Ernesto, Billy Goats Gruff,
Opera San Jose - Outreach Program. Santuzza, Cavalleria rusticana, International Opera Institute of CA.
Dorabella in CosĂŹ fan tutte at the Pollock Theatre. Prince Orlofsky in Die Fledermaus with the Pollock
Theatre, Lola in Cavalleria rusticana with Opera Institute of California at the Palm Desert Civic Center
Park.
Other notable opera scenes, covers, and chorus: Giulietta, "Finale" I Capuletti e i Montecchi, AIMS Concert Series in Graz, Austria. Rosalinda and Chorus, Die Fledermaus, New Philharmonic. Contessa, Le
nozze di Figaro, Chorus, Carmina Burana, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Hall at Symphony
Center, Chicago. Chorus, Mozart Requiem, Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Hall at Symphony
Center, Chicago. Chorus, Bernstein Chichester Psalms, Auditorium Theatre, Chicago. Magda, The Consul,
Mabel, Pirates of Penzance, Chorus, A Midsummer Nightâs Dream, Chicago Symphony Orchestra,
Orchestra Hall at Symphony Center, Chicago. Inez*, Il Trovatore, Opera San Jose, Carmen (Carmen),
Chorus, Opera San Jose 2012-2014
Angeline received her Bachelor of Music Degree at the Conservatory at Chicago College of Performing
Arts. Angeline is an alumna of the American Institute of Musical Studies (AIMS), Varna International
Music Academy, OC Ars Vocalis Academy, Chicago Summer Opera, and Bel Canto Institute. Angeline
was named a Semi-Finalist in the AIMS Meistersinger Competition and awarded the Young Artist
Encouragment Award for the Palm Springs Opera Guild Competition.
Angeline feels very honored to be a part of the opera company that inspired her dreams.
DIRECTION
EMILY SENTURIA, Conductor
JOSHUA SHAW, Stage Director and Set Designer
HELENA KUUKKA, Lighting Designer
CAST
COLIN RAMSEY, Julius Caesar
ANASTASIA MALLIARAS*, Cleopatra
KELLY GUERRA, Sesto
CHRISTINA PEZZAROSSI, Cornelia
LOGAN TANNER, Tolomeo
MATTHEW PETERSON, Achilla
ALEXANDRA BASS*, Nireno
*denotes OSB Mainstage Debut
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS 
STAGE DIRECTOR SPONSOR
Fred and Nancy Golden
ARTIST SPONSORS
Colin Ramsey, Julius Caesar
Chrisman Emerging Artist Fund
Anastasia Malliaras, Cleopatra
Bella Domani
Kelly Guerra, Sesto
Chrisman Emerging Artist Fund
Christina Pezzarossi, Cornelia
Chrisman Emerging Artist Fund
Lighting Design by Helena Kuukka
Nick Burlett & Jessie Dove
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