(Credit Fabrizio Sansoni)

This week the Teatro dell’Opera di Roma is set to open a new production of Janáček’s “From the House of the Dead” which will also mark the company premiere of the famed work. For this momentous occasion, the company has lined up a cast of veterans and rising stars including Mark S. Doss.

Doss will return to the Opera di Roma following his successful debut in 2015 in “The Bassarids.” This season he will make his role debut as Alexandr Petrovič Gorjančikov, the lead character in Janáček’s final opera. It will also mark the bass-baritone’s fourth Janáček role following his acclaimed turns as Jaroslav Prus in “The Makropoulos Case,” as well as Přemysl in “Šárka” and Sakristán “The Excursions of Mr. Brouček”. Remarkably, he has sung both Janaček’s first opera (“Šárka”) and his last one (“From the House of the Dead”)

Over the years, Doss has performed a diverse repertoire that includes the music of Verdi, Puccini, Wagner, Gerswhin, Boito, Strauss, Britten, Bizet, and more and has been acclaimed for his “depth of character” and “excitement.” This new role is one not to be missed.

And for those not in Roma for the occasion, the opera will be broadcast live on Rai Radio3 and then streamed through RaiCultura and Rai5 at a later date.

A Grammy award-winning artist, Doss will also continue in Italy for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at the Teatro La Fenice this summer and will return to the Welsh National Opera later in the fall. He also sings in the Boston premiere of “Eurydice.”

Recordings

To learn more about Doss’ artistry, the bass-baritone has  several albums including Boito’s “Mefistofele” from Oper Frankfurt and Nicholas Lens’ “Shell Shock.” He also has a recording of “Salome” from the Teatro Regio di Torino and “Aida” from La Monnaie.

Here are some clips of Doss in “The Flying Dutchman” & “Aida.”