Weekend Preview USA (3/24-26): Diana Damrau, Plácido Domingo & Vittorio Grigolo Open “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” at LA Opera

By David Salazar

Diana Damrau, Vittorio Grigolo, and Plácido Domingo will take the opera world by storm this weekend when they join forces for Offenbach’s “Les Contes d’Hoffmann” at the Los Angeles Opera.

The first performance of the six-show run takes place this Saturday evening. Damrau was originally scheduled to sing all four heroines but has since rescinded this commitment, opting for only the roles of Antonia and Stella. Grigolo stars in the leading role, one of his major warhorses, while Domingo conducts.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the country, the New Amsterdam Opera will give a one-night performance of Verdi’s “La Forza del Destino at the Riverside Theater in New York City.

As for the Metropolitan Opera, the famed company will showcase “Fidelio” on Friday, followed up by a Saturday performance of “Idomeneo,” which will be featured in cinemas around the world as part of its Live in HD series, and “La Traviata” starring Carmen Giannattasio.

A number of opera companies finish off runs this weekend, including the Florida Grand Opera, Dallas Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago and LoftOpera.

At Florida Grand Opera, a production of Jorge Martín’s “Before Night Falls” draws to a close on Saturday night. LoftOpera has two performances remaining of its current “Otello,” with one on Saturday and another on Monday.

Meanwhile, the Dallas Opera will finish off its run of Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” with performances on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. There are two performances on Saturday, including a 2 P.M. matinee. Hui He stars in the leading role with Gianluca Terranova, Lucas Meachem, and Manuela Custer rounding out the cast. Donato Renzetti conducts.

Finally, the Lyric Opera of Chicago has only one more performance of “Carmen” starring Brandon Jovanovich and Anita Rachvelishvili on Saturday night.

 

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