(Image source: Pittsburgh Opera official website)

Pittsburgh Opera has announced its 2020-21 resident artists.

The roster will include sopranos Madeline Ehlinger and Véronique Filloux, mezzo-soprano Maire Carmack, bass Jeremy Harr, baritone Yazid Gray, tenor Angel Romero, and stage director Kaley Karis Smith.

The Resident Artist singers will be the main cast for all Pittsburgh Opera’s productions in the new season, due to the COVID-19 related circumstances.

“Our investment in our Resident Artists will pay even bigger dividends than usual this season,” said Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn in a press release. “It will be impractical, because of COVID-19, to have a revolving door of guest artists from all over the world flying to Pittsburgh to sing in our 2020-21 productions.

“Our Resident Artists have always played significant roles on stage for us; we are excited that this season they get to take it to the next level,” added Hahn.

The notable alumni of the Pittsburgh’s opera Resident Artists program include tenors Rolando Villazón and Sean Panikkar, soprano Audrey Luna, and mezzo-soprano Marianne Cornetti, among others.

Pittsburgh Opera has recently revised and rescheduled its 2020-21 season, featuring four productions in total.