The Metropolitan Opera is set to present a Live in HD transmission of Terence Blanchard’s “Champion” on April 29, 2023. The opera stars Eric Owens, Ryan Speedo Green, Latonia Moore, Stephanie Blythe, Paul Groves, and Eric Greene. Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts. Lawrence Brownlee hosts the performance, which kicks off at 12:55 p.m. local time. Of the opening night performance, OperaWire raved {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced the winners of its 2023 Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. The winners include tenor Anthony León, mezzo-soprano Natalie Lewis, soprano Teresa Perrotta, mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino, bass-baritone Christian Simmons, and soprano Meredith Wohlgemuth. Each of the winners will receive a $20,000 cash prize. The other four finalists, including Eleomar Cuello, Yuntong Han, David Wolfe, and Sahel {…}
Ekaterina Semeunchuk will no longer sing in the Metropolitan Opera’s new production of Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino.” Semenchuk was initially announced to portray the role of Preziosilla when the 2023-24 season was presented but the website currently lists the role as TBA and has not announced a replacement. The mezzo-soprano recently performed a “Tribute to St Petersburg” at the {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced that Ryan Speedo Green is the winner of the 2023 Beverly Sills Award; this is the second time that he receives the distinction following a victory in 2021 when he was named alongside four other artists. The honor comes with a $50,000 cash award that recognizes major singers with rising Met Opera careers. Green is {…}
(Credit: Natalie Powers) The Metropolitan Opera has announced the 2023 Laffont Competition National Finalists. The 10 finalists are baritone Eleomar Cuello, tenor Yuntong Han, tenor Anthony León, mezzo-soprano Natalie Lewis, soprano Teresa Perrotta, tenor Sahel Salam, mezzo-soprano Sarah Saturnino, bass-baritone Christian Simmons, soprano Meredith Wohlgemuth, and baritone David Wolfe. The finals are set to be held on April 23 and {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to present 17 company premieres of contemporary works over the next five seasons. In a recent interview with Peter Gelb and Yannick Nezet-Seguin, the two said that the company was committed to bringing new works to the public and finding the right balance between the classics and the new operas. The article noted that the {…}
Terence Blanchard and Michael Cristofer’s “Champion” made its Met Opera premiere on April 10, 2023 to a nearly sold-out crowd. Just entering the main lobby, you were met with a 10-minute line to pick up tickets. But most importantly, you could feel the buzz in the space, a massive, diverse audience, ready to take in what is undeniably a major {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to present “Ainadamar” by Osvaldo Golijov during the 2024-25 season. The New York Times is reporting that Deborah Colker’s production, currently being performed at the Detriot Opera will be shown at the Met in two seasons. The new production is currently starring Gabriella Reyes, Daniela Mack, and Vanessa Vasquez and is also set to premiere {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Tosca.” The company said that “for the performances of Puccini’s Tosca today, April 8, and Wednesday, April 12, the title role will be sung by Liudmyla Monastyrska.” The change is due to Angela Gheorghiu testing positive for COVID. According to the soprano, the Met’s policy states that a {…}
Angela Gheorghiu has tested positive for COVID-19 and has canceled the April 8 performance of “Tosca” at the Metropolitan Opera. In a social media post the soprano said, “as much as I eagerly waited to return tomorrow on one of my most beloved stages, the wonderful Metropolitan Opera, after an absence of 8 years also because of the COVID Pandemic {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard) Over the past few seasons, few artists have gotten as much buzz as soprano Lise Davidsen. She’s been called “A Voice in a Million” by none other than Antonio Pappano and she’s become a major Met fixture, garnering top billing in numerous Strauss operas over the past few seasons. Perhaps none came with greater than anticipation than {…}