Every year the Metropolitan Opera throws in some surprises whether in repertoire or in casting choices. Sometimes those casting choices are curveballs that include important returns to the stage.

This season, OperaWire pointed out six major artists that have not performed on the Met stage in years and will be pleasant surprises to hear and see in 2018-19.

Denyce Graves 

One of the iconic mezzo-sopranos our time returns to the Met for the first time since 2006. At one point, Graves was a Met favorite singing such roles as “Samson et Dalila” and “Carmen.” She also appeared in such Verdi favorites as “Luisa Miller” and “Rigoletto.” Now after so many years the soprano returns in her role debut as Marnie’s Mother giving Met audiences to experience her voice again in the modern opera “Marnie.”

Jonas Kaufmann

Kaufmann is now well-known for his cancellations and for not having sung in the new productions of “Manon Lescaut” or “Tosca.” After years of missing from the Met stage, audiences will get to see him in four performances of “La Fanciulla del West,” including an HD broadcast.

Angela Denoke 

It’s been more than a decade since the German soprano stepped on the Met stage. Her only performances were seen in 2005 when she made her successful debut Marschallin in “Der Rosenkavalier.” Since then she has taken Europe by storm and now she returns for a run as Judith in Bartok’s masterpiece “Bluebeard’s Castle.”

Juan Diego Flórez 

The last time the Peruvian star stepped on the Met stage was in 2015 when he performed “La Donna del Lago.” Since then a lot has changed from repertoire choices to a growing voice. In this new assignment Met audiences will get to see Flórez step in heavier vocal challenges in Verdi’s ever-popular “La Traviata.”

Karen Cargill 

The seminal Wagnerian mezzo-soprano hasn’t set foot on the Met stage since 2014 since her turn in “Die Meistersinger von Nuremberg.” While she did perform with the orchestra last season, this season will mark her return to the stage performing the role of Mère Marie and Erda in the Ring Cycle.

Pavol Breslik

It has been nine years since the Slovak tenor graced the Met stage. Breslik made his Met debut in 2009 in the role of Don Ottavio and later sang Ferrando in “Così Fan Tutte.” Since then he has built a successful career in Munich and Zurich, performing all the major Mozart and Donizetti roles. Now he returns for just three performances in the role he debuted with at the Met.