Meet the Cast of Anna Bolena
Donizetti’s Tudor tragedy, Anna Bolena, returns to Pittsburgh for the first time in 25 years Do you have your tickets yet? Based on historic events, Anna Bolena explores the intertwining fates of Anne Boleyn and Jane Seymour as they navigate the whims of the oppressive King Henry VIII. Fans of Wolf Hall, The Tudors, Six The Musical, The Other Boleyn Girl, and more will love this thrilling work of historical fiction!
Let’s meet (and hear!) the artists who will bring this incredible opera to life.
Katy Lindhart as Anne Boleyn
Lauded as a "vocal revelation" (Houston Chronicle), soprano Katy Lindhart was last seen on the Resonance Works stage as Maguelonne in Pauline Viardot's charming Cinderella. A versatile and compelling artist, Katy has delighted audiences in repertoire ranging from Verdi to Sondheim. She has performed across the United States with companies such as the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Opera Omaha, Odyssey Opera, Kentucky Opera, Opera Columbus, Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Dayton Opera, Central City Opera, Resonance Works, Little Opera Theatre of New York, New Amsterdam Opera, Opera in The Heights, Salt Marsh Opera, Loft Opera, NY Choral Society, Lexington Philharmonic, Winter Opera St. Louis, and Raylynmor Opera, among others.
Tahanee Aluwihare as Jane Seymour
Tahanee Aluwihare was previously seen as a soloist in last season's This Love Between Us, and we are so thrilled to welcome her back to Pittsburgh. Celebrated for her “magnificently rich, earthy mezzo-soprano” (Boston Music Intelligencer) and “impeccable” singing (OperaWire), Sri Lankan-American performer Tahanee Aluwihare is regularly sought out for her unique vocal timbre and vibrant stage presence. Recently, Ms. Aluwihare sang Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro in her debut with Opera San Jose; performed with Cambridge Chamber Ensemble in the title role of Holst’s seldom performed opera, Savitri; and returned to Opera Idaho for the role of Ježibaba in Rusalka, and Boston Camerata for the title role in Dido and Aeneas.
Jason Zacher as King Henry VIII
Bass-baritone Jason Zacher makes his Resonance Works debut as King Henry VIII. Zacher is quickly gaining national attention as a rising new talent and versatile performer. This season, he returned to The Atlanta Opera Studio for La bohème, The Magic Flute, and Macbeth. Additional engagements included performances with South Florida Symphony as Pangloss/Voltaire in Candide, Worcester Chorus for Messiah, Montclair State University for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, gala concerts with both Central City Opera and Tulsa Opera, and singing Enrico VIII in Anna Bolena with Resonance Works. This summer, Mr. Zacher returns to Central City Opera to perform the role of the Wizard in Once Upon a Mattress.
Dane Suarez as Lord Percy
Tenor Dane Suarez makes an exciting Pittsburgh debut as Lord Riccardo Percy! Praised for his “big, heroic voice” (LA Weekly) and “powerful emotions,” Dane has developed an exciting and varied career. Planned engagements for the 2024-2025 season include a number of assignments with OperaDelaware as one of their inaugural Company Artists, and debuts with the Brooklyn Symphony Orchestra, the Erie Philharmonic (Verdi’s Requiem), and Opera Southwest for the world premiere of Llantos 1492. He returns to Opera Memphis for Don José (Carmen) and Newport Classical for Opera Night: An American Tapestry. He also covers Steuermann (Der fliegender Holländer) with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra
Benjamin Sieverding as Lord Rochefort
Possessing a “big, rich bass voice” that “brings chills” (MinnPost), bass Benjamin Sieverding makes his Resonance Works debut as Lord Rochefort! He has gained notice for his "resonant, expressive bass" (StarTribune) and for a range of characterizations spanning from "wickedly charming" (l'étoile magazine) to "genuinely threatening" (Phindie). During the 2024-2025 season, Mr. Sieverding returned to the Metropolitan Opera, singing The Jailer in Tosca and covering José Tripaldi in Ainadamar. He also returned to Minnesota Opera as Colline in La bohème, and sang Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni for Edmonton Opera.
Donovan Elliot Smith as Sir Hervey
Donovan Elliot Smith, a Pittsburgh native, has been previously seen on the Resonance Works stage as The Lamplighter in The Little Prince, Serano in La donna del lago and as Prince Charming in Viardot’s Cinderella. He spent several years as a full-time tenor at Opernhaus Zürich and Theater Basel, where he sang chorus and solo roles, including Armed Man in Die Zauberflöte and Iaryzhkin in Shostakovich's The Nose. His other solo credits throughout Europe include roles such as Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Beppe in Donizetti's Rita, the title role in Idomeneo, and Beppe in Pagliacci. He has also appeared in concert as the tenor soloist in Britten's Serenade for Tenor, Horn, and Strings, Purcell's King Arthur, and solo recitals.
Sarah Austin as Smeton
Acclaimed for her “rich mezzo” (South Florida Classical Review), Sarah Austin was previously seen on the Resonance Works stage as The Page in our 2022 production of Rigoletto. Austin is an advocate for the music of living composers, recently singing roles such as Sister Helen Prejean in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking and Dorothy in Kamala Sankaram’s Looking at You. Sarah is the recipient of a District Encouragement Award from the 2024-25 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. She holds an MM in vocal performance from Carnegie Mellon University.
