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

This season, OperaWire is spotlighting six major artists that have not performed on the Met stage in years and will be pleasant surprises to hear and see in 2019-20.

Kate Lindsey 

It’s been five years since Kate Lindsey stepped on the Met stage. For years the mezzo-soprano dominated the role of Nicklause in “Les Contes d’Hofmann and many Mozart roles. Since then she has released her first solo album and graced many of the world’s greatest stages. Now she returns as Nerone in “Agrippina” after dominating the baroque repertory for years.

Sir Bryn Terfel 

The Welsh bass-baritone has sporadically appeared at the Metropolitan Opera throughout his career singing lead roles and headlining new productions. After a seven-year absence, Terfel returns to headline a new production of “Der Fliegende Holländer,” one of his signature roles.

Ana María Martínez 

The Puerto Rican soprano is one of the most celebrated singers of her generation and has 16 performances at the Met to her credit. After four years she returns in her signature role as “Madama Butterfly,” an opera she has performed all over the world and which she last did at the Met three times.

Carlos Álvarez

The Spanish baritone made his Met debut in 1996 and went on to perform at the Met in 31 performances of Verdi operas. The last time the singer graced the Met stage was in 2008 in the title role of “Macbeth.” Eleven years later he returns to the Met in two roles. First, he sings Marcello in “La Bohème” and then in the title role of “Simon Boccanegra.”

Magdalena Kožená

The Czech mezzo made her Met debut in 2003 in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” and has since performed with the company 29 times. She last performed at the Metin 2011 in the title role of “Pelléas et Mélisande.” She returns as Octavian in “Der Rosenkavalier” for the first time in eight years alongside her husband Sir Simon Rattle.

Anthony Roth Costanzo

The American countertenor is one of the biggest stars in the world giving new life to the countertenor repertoire. After gaining great acclaim for his work in Philip Glass’ music, Costanzo brings Akhnaten to the Met for the first time and takes on his first Met performances since 2014.