Michelle F. Solomon, ATCA, FCCC

When soprano Kara Shay Thomson makes her Florida Grand Opera debut as the seductive diva, Tosca, one of the performances will have a special place in the singer’s heart: It will be the 80th time of her career she’s sung Tosca. “Yes, it’s a milestone,” she says by phone from her home in Cincinatti. She has performed the role with the Atlanta Opera, Portland Opera, Opera New Jersey, Santa Fe Opera, Pensacola Opera, Sarasota Opera, and Kentucky Opera, just to name a few.

When asked why she’s become a go-to for Tosca, the answer is fairly simple: “She is the perfect fit for me, and she’s always been a part of who I am.” By singing the role in so many diverse productions, Thomson says she’s performed it on big stages and small stages. “I hit the mark,” she says.

But no matter how many times she sings the demanding role, there’s always something thrilling. “I know where to give more and where I really have to pay attention — when I have to look at the conductor, for instance. It’s live theater, after all. This show has fire, live flames, knives; it’s really quite a circus.”

FGO’s Tosca features a second cast, who will perform at selected shows. The second cast features one of FGO’s own young artists from the Young Artist Residency Program, Jouvanca Jean-Baptiste in the title role of Tosca. Jean-Baptiste is a local Miamian of Haitian decent and landed the title role, which is a large accomplishment for a young artist.

The FGO Young Artist Residency Program is renowned for preparing young singers for opera house main stages and developing careers for those talented in opera.

As a member of the Florida Grand Opera Young Artist 6-8 month residency program, Jean-Baptiste has performed recitals and concerts for the community and outreach programs for students, as well as performed in supporting (comprimario) roles in FGO mainstage performances. However, her refined skills have landed her this coveted title role.

She recently made her debut with Orchestra Miami in the role of The Mother in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors, and completed her second and final year as a Principal Resident Artist with Opera San Jose. During her time there, she appeared as Marguerite in Faust, Violetta Valery in La Traviata, Nedda in I Pagliacci, Mimi in La Bohème, and the title roles in Tosca and Anna Karenina. She has sung in master classes for Marilyn Mims and Sherrill Milnes, and was a finalist and Wagner Society of Northern California Award Winner in the 2011 Irene Dalis Vocal Competition.

Another FGO Young Artist, Adam Lau will play two roles in the production – Angelotti and Sciarrone.

Music director Ramón Tebar says Tosca is one of his favorite operas to conduct. “I find myself totally immersed when I am conducting Puccini. In his operas, the voices are heavier, more lyrical; in the music, there are huge orchestrations. My conducting is so much more physical for Puccini.”

Tosca will be performed March 29 through April 5 at the Ziff Ballet Opera House at the Adrienne Arsht Center, Miami. And at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, Fort Lauderdale, on April 10 and 12. Pre Opera lectures are open to ticket holders one hour before every performance; post-opera talk back follows every performance. For tickets and information, go to www.fgo.org.