George Gagnidze makes his Teatro La Fenice debut as Scarpia when the company brings Giacomo Puccini’s “Tosca” to Shanghai on October 22 and 24. Renato Palumbo conducts Joan Anton Rechi’s production at the Shanghai Grand Opera House.

One of today’s most authoritative interpreters of Scarpia, the Georgian baritone has sung the role at the Metropolitan Opera, Teatro alla Scala, the Wiener Staatsoper, Opéra national de Paris, Teatro Real Madrid, Gran Teatre del Liceu, Staatsoper Unter den Linden, Deutsche Oper Berlin, and Teatro San Carlo.

Reviewing his portrayal, the *Los Angeles Times* wrote that George Gagnidze “made the biggest impression with his booming, authoritarian Scarpia, who could also ooze false gallantry.” *The New York Times* described him as “an exceptionally menacing Scarpia, singing with robust, earthy power and seductive lyricism when the villain turns on the charm.”