Hailed as an extraordinarily versatile artist, the Italian superstar joins Wichita Grand Opera in his only US staged appearance outside of the Metropolitan Opera.  The New York Times praised Giordani for wielding “his immense voice with tremendous authority, accuracy and solidity.”  He opened the Metropolitan Opera's 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons singing Pinkerton in the company's new production of Madama Butterfly and as Edgardo in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor, in a new production by Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman respectively.  He will also appear in a revival of Puccini's Manon Lescaut which will be shown live in movie theatres throughout the U.S., Europe and Japan, on February 16^th as part of the Met’s new series of live performance transmissions “Metropolitan Opera: Live in HD.” 

In the spring of 2008, Giordani will join the Boston Symphony Orchestra for his debut in the role of Enée in Berlioz’ Les Troyens under the direction of James Levine.  He recorded the first studio recording of Verdi’s Jérusalem for Phillips and has two solo recordings for labels Naxos and VAI.  He can also be seen on DVD as Pinkerton in Franco Zeffirelli’s 2004 production of Madama Butterfly from the Arena di Verona and as Rodolfo in a 2005 production of La Bohème from the Zürich Opernhaus on EMI.

Winner of the Luciano Pavorotti Vocal Competition, Kallen Esperian was featured in the film Distant Harmony and has emerged as the Verdi soprano of choice by all international opera houses.  The Chicago Tribune hailed her for “often touching the heart with the melting purity of her timbre and smoothness of her legato.”  She has performed leading soprano roles at the Met, Covent Garden, La Scala, and the Paris opera with Placido Domingo, Luciano Pavorotti and Jose Carreras.  Highlights from recent season include Desdemona at the Teatro Comunale Bologna, Liu in Chicago, and both Desdemona and Amelia at Covent Garden.  Early career highlights include Desdemona beside Placido Domingo’s Otello with the Opera National de Paris Bastille and the soprano lead Lina for La Scala’s first-ever Stiffelio with Jose Carreras.  She has an album of America Folk Songs out on the Pro Organo label.