Met Opera General Manager Peter Gelb is set to continue to lead the company for years to come. The Metropolitan Opera announced that Gelb’s contract has been extended until the 2026-27 season, eventually making him the third-longest tenured general manager. The company’s board of directors approved a five-year contract with Gelb stating, “It gives me the freedom to execute future {…}
(Credit: Ray Burmiston / Decca Classics) There are few debuts at the Metropolitan Opera House in 2019-20 as hotly anticipated as that of soprano Lise Davidsen. Called a “voice in a million,” and a “Once in generation Wagnerian” by Opera Now, the Norwegian diva is renowned for her work in more dramatic repertory, including the works of Wagner and Strauss. {…}
(Credit: Columbia Artists) On Sept. 23, soprano Leah Hawkins, a member of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera, took part in the historic opening night performance of Gerswhin’s “Porgy and Bess” with the esteemed New York company. the Metropolitan Opera. While she was not one of the major headliners in a cast that feature Angel Blue, {…}
(Credit: Ray Burmiston / Decca Classics) Soprano Lise Davidsen is set to be a Met Opera star over the next few seasons. Per The New York Times, the soprano, who will make her debut this coming month in “The Queen of Spades” is set to perform in a number of major operas over the next three seasons. She will appear {…}
(Photo Credit: Marty Sohl / Met Opera) On Nov. 16, 2019, the Metropolitan Opera premiered this season’s production of Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Amidst the modern set of Richard Eyre’s production, the stellar cast of artists brought no shortage of laughter while delivering a musically splendid performance. Making his conducting debut with the company was Antonello Manacorda who was {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced that longtime Artistic Administrator Jonathan Friend will be stepping down from his position following the end of the 2019–20 season. The company announced Michael Heaston, the former Executive Director of the Met’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program will take over the position. Heaston is currently at both Houston Grand Opera and Rice University and will be {…}
(Credit: Daniel Denino) Lincoln Center has announced its 2020 Emerging Artist Award Winners, all of whom will be honored on Feb. 26, 2020 at Alice Tully Hall. The talents represent a wide array of different artistic discipline, including film, music, dance, composition, among others. In the opera world, mezzo-soprano Emily D’Angelo was selected to represent the Metropolitan Opera. The Canadian-Italian {…}
The Metropolitan Opera will revive Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro” this Saturday, Nov. 16, 2019. The famed worked has appeared at the Met 494 times to date with the first performance coming in 1894. This season’s revival will feature 15 total performances divided up between two conductors. Antonello Manacorda, in his company debut, will get the first slew of shows {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has announced a cast change for Rossini’s “La Cenerentola,” revealing that Vito Priante will replace Davide Luciano in the role of Dandini. Priante will make his company debut in the production which is set to open on March 12. He is a well-known baritone who specializes in the Bel Canto repertoire and has performed at the Royal {…}
The Metropolitan Opera and WQXR, New York City’s classical music station has announced a second season of “Aria Code.” The new season will debut on Wednesday, Nov. 13 and features host Rhiannon Giddens, the Grammy Award-winning artist and MacArthur “Genius.” The season will kick off with “Una macchia è qui tuttora,” the sleepwalking scene from Verdi’s Macbeth and will feature {…}
With the 2019-20 season fully underway, we have found this challenge of selecting a choice few operas every weekend increasingly challenging as there is really a lot of special work going on around North America. Nonetheless, as per usual, we have whittled it down to five works that we think will bring a balanced operatic diet for those who want {…}