Maniaci was also the first male soprano to win the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, which he did in 2003. Last season, he appeared at Glimmerglass Opera as Tirinto in Handel's Imeneo, and at Cleveland Opera and Chicago Opera Theater. He debuts with Santa Fe Opera and the Royal Danish Opera next year.

Pittsburgh Opera's Figaro also includes Richard Bernstein in the title role and Isabel Bayrakdarian as Susanna. John Mauceri is the conductor; the staging, directed by Christopher Alden, premiered at Dallas Opera in 2002. The production returns on November 16, 19, and 21.