Wagner’s “Parsifal” opens on Feb. 5, 2018, at the Metropolitan Opera in a revival of the successful production by François Girard with Yannick Nézet-Séguin in the pit. René Pape and Peter Mattei reprise the roles that they dominated the last time this production came to the Met, but the other two singers to take on major roles are perhaps less {…}
Martina Arroyo is one of the great sopranos of the 20th century. Even after her singing career, she has managed to carve out an exemplary career that continues to serve the opera world in major ways. Born on Feb. 2, 1936, Arroyo was born in New York where she would grow up exposed to the vast culture of New York. {…}
The Metropolitan Opera has fired the veteran British stage director John Copley after receiving a complaint about “inappropriate behavior in the rehearsal room.” According to the New York Times, Copley was directing a revival of his 1990 production of Rossini’s “Semiramide” when a member of the chorus reported that the director made sexually charged remarks in rehearsal. The Met immediately {…}
Justino Díaz had a tremendous career that rivals that of some of the other great singers of his era. Born on Jan. 29, 1940, Díaz’s singing career started off at a rather early age when he took classes in school at the age of eight. From there he would head over to the University of Puerto Rico and then the {…}
Elina Garanca has confirmed she will open the Metropolitan Opera in 2018-19. In an interview with the Informador, the mezzo-soprano noted that she will open the season singing the role of Dalila in “Samson et Dalila.” The mezzo-soprano also noted that she will be recording a new CD in November but did not confirm any repertoire. Garanca is currently on tour {…}
This review is for the performance on Saturday, January 20, 2018. Audiences at the Metropolitan Opera were in for a treat this evening as they gathered for Donizetti’s heartfelt comedy “L’Elisir D’Amore.” Bartlett Sher’s production faithfully held to tradition while creating an authentic experience of a small, connected village where events big or small ripple outwards and leave nothing untouched. {…}
Jonas Kaufmann will return to the Metropolitan Opera in 2018-19. The AP confirmed the news in an interview with Kaufmann. According to the interview “he is scheduled to return next season for Puccini’s ‘La Fanciulla del West.’” The interview also revealed that the coming seasons will see more stagings of “Otello” and the French version of Verdi’s “Don Carlos.” He is also {…}
On Jan. 22, 2018, the Metropolitan Opera will revive David McVicar’s production of Verdi’s “Il Trovatore.” The production runs until Feb. 15, a total of eight performances. This year’s production is set to offer up quite some delights for newcomers to Verdi’s mid-period masterpiece. Here’s a look at some reasons you must see this revival. Rising Stars Take the Lead {…}
Aleksandra Kurzak has canceled today’s performance of “Pagliacci.” The Metropolitan Opera announced via Twitter that Kurzak was ill and as a result, Danielle Pastin will be replacing her. Pastin made her Metropolitan Opera debut as Masha in “The Queen of Spades” in 2011 and was also featured as Frasquita in the Met’s production of “Carmen” in 2012 and 2013. This season she {…}
The Metropolitan Opera Guild has announced new programs for the 2018 season. Among the new programs added to the Schedule are “In the Mouth of the Wolf,” “Maria Callas at Ninety-Five – A Birthday Salute,” and “Celebrating Historic Met Moments.” “We are pleased to announce some new and additional programming for Spring 2018,” said Stuart Holt, Director of School Programs and {…}
George Gagnidze is one of today’s leading baritones and one of the Metropolitan Opera’s leading singers. Throughout the past few years, he has been invited to some of the most prestigious theaters in the world including Teatro alla Scala, Teatro Real Madrid, and the Deutsche Oper Berlin among others. This season he returns to the Met for a double bill {…}
