The Metropolitan Opera is set to present Gounod’s “Romeo et Juliette” for seven performances. The opera, which opens on March 7 and runs through March 30, is set to star Nadine Sierra and Benjamin Bernheim. The production also features Samantha Hankey, Will Liverman, Frederick Ballentine, and Alfred Walker. Music Director Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts the production by Bartlet Sher. which had {…}
On Feb. 27, the Metropolitan Opera inaugurated an exhibition of five costumes worn by soprano Victoria de los Ángeles. The exhibition coincided with the opening of “Madama Butterfly,” a role that she performed 23 times at the Met. The exhibition includes two kimonos and umbrellas from de los Ángeles’ 1955 Cio-Cio-San. The exhibition also includes the soprano’s costumes of Marguerite {…}
(Credit: Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera)) The Metropolitan Opera has announced the semifinalists for its 2024 Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. The semifinals are slated for March 11, 2024, starting at 10 a.m. on the Met stage. Audiences will be able to stream them on the Met Opera’s official website. Here is a rundown of the semifinalists: Name Voice Type {…}
(Credit: Karen Almond) It’s been a long time since “La Forza del Destino” got a chance on the Met stage. To be exact, it’s been about 18 years. Back then, in 2006, the Verdi melodrama was presented in an imposing traditionally-set production with a cast of Italianate voices. It was supposed to return a decade later in a new production {…}
(Credit: Ken Howard) The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for its production of “Madama Butterfly.” The company said that Aleksandra Kurzak will sing the title role replacing Eleonora Buratto for performances on Feb. 27, March 2, 6, 9, and 14 2024. Kurzak performed the first six performances of the run in January. She scored rave reviews with critics {…}
The Metropolitan Opera’s 2024-25 season was announced but due to financial constraints, the company delayed one major production previously announced. In an interview with The New York Times, the company noted that Claus Guth’s production of Händel’s “Semele” will be delayed for a future season. The company also noted that previously delayed stagings on track for future seasons include Bellini’s {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has its Live in HD series for the 2024-25 season. “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” opens the Live in HD season. The opera stars Benjamin Bernheim, Christian Van Horn, Clémentine Margaine, Pretty Yende, and Erin Morley. Marco Armiliato conducts. Screening Date: Oct. 5, 2024 Next up is “Grounded.” Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts a cast starring Emily D’Angelo, Kirsten MacKinnon, Ben Bliss, {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced its 2024-25 season. New Productions Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Verdi’s “Aida” in a new production by Michael Mayer. Angel Blue, Judit Kutasi, Piotr Beczała, Quinn Kelsey, Dmitry Belosselskiy, and Morris Robbinson. Alexander Soddy conducts the second cast with Christina Nilsson, Elīna Garanča, Brian Jagde, Eri Owens, Michael Chioldi, Amartüvshin Enkhbatyn, Alexander Vinogradov, and Krzysztof Bączyk. John {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is set to present Franco Zeffirelli’s production of Puccini’s “Turandot” for 17 performances. The production will showcase Ukrainian conductor Oksana Lyniv in her Met debut with two casts. The first cast will feature Elena Pankratova in the title role opposite tenor SeokJong Baek as Calàf. They will be joined by Aleksandra Kurzak as Liù and Vitalij Kowaljow {…}
During the Grammy’s premiere ceremony, the Academy announced the winners of the Classical Music Grammys. The award for Best Opera Recording went to Blanchard’s Champion featuring Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Ryan Speedo Green, Latonia Moore, and Eric Owens with David Frost as the producer (The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra; The Metropolitan Opera Chorus). Meanwhile, the Best Choral Performance was awarded to Saariaho’s “Reconnaissance’ {…}
The Metropolitan Opera is joining forces with National Sawdust to co-present a concert centered on excerpts from Paola Prestini’s upcoming opera “Sensorium Ex.” The event, which is part of the “Opera Evolved” series, features such artists as J’Nai Bridges, Hailey McAvoy, stage director Lileana Blain-Cruz, and Brenda Shaughnessy (librettist of “Sensorium Ex”), as they alternate between performance and discussion. Prestini {…}