Making his Opera Philadelphia debut, tenor Dimitri Pittas tackles the title role in in our new production of Verdi's Don Carlo, opening April 24 at the Academy of Music. A native New Yorker, Dimitri has performed internationally, including debuts with the Vienna State Opera, the Royal Opera House Convent Garden, and the Canadian Opera Company. He is a graduate of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and has been heard on the Met stage as Rodolfo in La bohème, Macduff in Macbeth, Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore, and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte.

Here Dimitri talks about his favorite musical moments in Verdi's opera; Don Carlo's complicated relationship with his stepmother, Elisabeth; how he chose a career in opera; and the importance of creativity.