Metropolitan Opera 2017-18 Preview: Latin Americans & International Artists Dominate ‘Le Nozze Di Figaro’ Revival

By David Salazar

It’s going to be a busy December with the Met showcasing a number of revivals leading up to a major new production on the final day of the year.

The first work to makes its return to the repertoire is one of its finest (it was even named the Greatest Opera of All Time in a recent survey) – Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.”

Starting on Dec. 5, the Met will showcase the work for a grand total of 11 performances with two decidedly different casts. Here is a look at them, with some unique twists and turns.

Decidedly International

The first group of performers of the production will be of the international variety with the three female leads featuring an American, a German, and an Italian. These include Rachel Willis-Sorensen as the Countess Almaviva, Christiane Karg as Susanna, and Serena Malfi as Cherubino.

Italian bass-baritone Luca Pisaroni brings his famed Count Almaviva to the stage while Czech Bass-Baritone Adam Plachetka interprets the title character.

This group, led by conductor Harry Bicket, kicks off on Dec. 6 and performs all the way through the 23, a total of seven performances.

Latin American Flavor

Then the Latinas take over. The three leading lady roles will be performed by three of opera’s leading Latin America superstars. Ailyn Pérez, hot off a successful run of “Thaïs” at the Met, steps into the role of the Countess Almaviva, while Nadine Sierra takes over the role of Susanna. Finally, Isabel Leonard returns to her signature Cherubino, a role she has owned at the Met over the last few years.

The cherry on top is that Colombian bass-baritone Valeriano Lanchas joins the cast as Don Bartolo.

The Latin flavor ends there with Polish baritone Mariusz Kwiecien taking on the role of the Count and Russian bass Ildar Abdrazakov appearing as Figaro, an interpretation Met audiences are very familiar with.

This cast starts its run of performances on Dec. 29 and runs through the 19th with soprano Caitlin Lynch taking over the role of the Countess on the final night.

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