2017-18 Live Broadcasts

“NORMA : Bellini
Original Air Date: 09/25/2017
Cast: Rizzi; Radvanovsky, DiDonato, Calleja, Rose
Media: SID.17400640 Tags: LIVE; 2017
Opening Night 2017-2018 Season – Soprano Sandra Radvanovsky and mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato star in the Met’s new production of Norma. Tenor Joseph Calleja is Pollione, Norma’s unfaithful lover, and Carlo Rizzi conducts. Sir David McVicar’s evocative production sets the action deep in a Druid forest where nature and ancient ritual rule. Production a gift of Veronica Atkins

Reviews
Anthony Tommasini (NY Times): www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/arts/music/norma-review-metropolitan-opera.html

Anne Midgette (The Washington Post) www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2017/09/26/for-once-the-met-opera-goes-traditional-for-season-opener/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.b63cc26e01e6

Russell Platt (The New Yorker) www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/norma-and-the-met-operas-leading-ladies

James Jorden (New York Observer) observer.com/2017/09/review-sondra-radvanovsky-sizzles-in-mets-norma-despite-all-odds/

Telegraph www.telegraph.co.uk/opera/what-to-see/norma-review-met-opera-live-hd-solid-unpretentious-spectacle/“

DIE ZAUBERFLÖTE : Mozart
Live in HD 

James Levine conducts Rene Pape, Golda Schultz, Kathryn Lewek, Charles Castronuovo and Markuys Werba in the Mozart classic

THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL : Adès
Original Air Date: 11/18/2017
Cast: Adès; Luna, Echalaz, Matthews, etc.

From metopera.org: Following the rapturous response to his last opera, The Tempest, the Met presents the American premiere of Thomas Adès’s The Exterminating Angel, inspired by the classic Luis Buñuel film of the same name. Hailed by the New York Times at its 2016 Salzburg Festival premiere as “inventive and audacious … a major event,” The Exterminating Angel is a surreal fantasy about a dinner party from which the guests can’t escape. Tom Cairns, who wrote the libretto, directs the new production, and Adès conducts his own adventurous new opera.

Music by Thomas Adès, libretto by Tom Cairns in collaboration with the composer, based on the screenplay by Luis Buñuel and Luis Alcoriza”

“REQUIEM : Verdi
Original Air Date: 12/02/2017
Cast: Levine; Stoyanova, Semenchuk, Antonenko, Furlanetto
Media: SID.17480640 Tags: LIVE; 2017, Levine, Verdi
“

“NORMA : Bellini
Original Air Date: 12/16/2017
Cast: Colaneri; Meade, Barton, Calleja, Rose
Media: SID.17500640 Tags: LIVE; 2017
Soprano Angela Meade and mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton star in the Met’s new production of Norma, reprising their acclaimed 2013 portrayal of the title role and Adalgisa, respectively. Tenor Joseph Calleja is Pollione, Norma’s unfaithful lover, and Joseph Colaneri conducts. Sir David McVicar’s evocative production sets the action deep in a Druid forest where nature and ancient ritual rule.LIVE BROADCAST “

“LE NOZZE DI FIGARO : Mozart
Original Air Date: 12/23/2017
Cast: Bicket; Plachetka, Karg, Willis-Sørensen, Pisaroni, Malfi
Media: SID.17510640 Tags: LIVE; 2017, Mozart
An exceptional ensemble of performers—including Ailyn Pérez, Nadine Sierra, Isabel Leonard, Luca Pisaroni, Mariusz Kwiecien, and Ildar Abdrazakov—share the stage in Mozart’s comic yet profound look at human nature and one crazy day in a wealthy Spanish household. Acclaimed Mozartean maestro Harry Bicket conducts Richard Eyre’s high-spirited production. – metopera.org”

“THE MERRY WIDOW : Lehár
Original Air Date: 12/14/2017
Cast: Stare; Graham, Groves, Chuchman, Stayton
Media: SID.17520640 Tags: LIVE; 2017
Susan Graham sings the title role of the fabulous woman of the world who sets out to conquer glamorous old Paris and get the one thing that has eluded her—a commitment from her playboy first love.

Lehár’s delightful score of lush waltzes and beautiful ballads will sparkle with a supporting cast of Andriana Chuchman, Paul Groves, and the inimitable Sir Thomas Allen. Ward Stare conducts.
-metopera.org”

“HANSEL AND GRETEL : Humperdinck
Original Air Date: 01/06/2018
Cast: Runnicles; Oropesa, Erraught, Zajick, Siegel, Kelsey
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18010640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
A Met English-language holiday presentation, Richard Jones’s clever production of Humperdinck’s fairy-tale opera is based on the Brothers Grimm story. Donald Runnicles conducts the sweeping score and a delightful cast, including the legendary Dolora Zajick as the wayward siblings’ mother. Tara Erraught and Ingeborg Gillebo share the role of Hansel, and Lisette Oropesa and Maureen McKay share the role of Gretel.

The matinee performance on December 28 will feature a pre-curtain open house, at 11AM, where audiences can connect with some of the designers, singers, dancers, musicians, and technical wizards behind the production.
-metopera.org”

“CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA / PAGLIACCI : Mascagni / Leoncavallo
Original Air Date: 01/13/2018
Cast: Luisotti; Semenchuk, Alagna, Gagnidze, Kurzak, Arduini
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18020640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
Roberto Alagna takes on the leading tenor roles in both parts of opera’s most popular double bill. In Cavalleria Rusticana, Ekaterina Semenchuk is the woebegone Santuzza, with Aleksandra Kurzak as the hot-blooded Nedda in Pagliacci. Baritone George Gagnidze sings Tonio in Pagliacci and shares the role of Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana with Željko Lučić. Nicola Luisotti conducts Sir David McVicar’s production, which heightens the melodramatic action of this timeless verismo pairing.

Production a gift of M. Beverly and Robert G. Bartner, Mr. and Mrs. Paul M. Montrone, and the Estate of Anne Tallman

Major funding from Rolex Additional funding from John J. Noffo Kahn and Mark Addison, and Paul Underwood”

“THAÏS : Massenet
Original Air Date: 01/20/2018
Cast: Villaume; Pérez, Finley, Borras
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18030640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
Ailyn Pérez is the alluring courtesan and Gerald Finley is the holy man who tries to resist her powers of seduction in Massenet’s tale of sensuality versus spirituality. Emmanuel Villaume conducts. (metopera.org)”

“TOSCA : Puccini
Original Air Date: 01/27/2018
Cast: Villaume; Yoncheva, Grigolo, Lucic
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18040640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Puccini
Sir David McVicar’s “smashing new production” is “a grand triumph” (Huffington Post), featuring an exciting cast led by soprano Sonya Yoncheva in the title role of the fiery diva and Vittorio Grigolo as her passionate lover, Cavaradossi. The pair are “youthful, ardent, and innocent … their duets electric, their kisses hot and numerous” (Wall Street Journal). Yoncheva’s sound is “richly textured and shimmering,” and “Grigolo’s Mario is a true hothead … complete with thrilling top notes” (New York Times). Željko Lučić is “an imposing figure with a voice to match” (Wall Street Journal) as the villainous police chief, Scarpia, and Emmanuel Villaume conducts.

Production a gift of Jacqueline Desmarais, in memory of Paul G. Desmarais Sr; The Paiko Foundation; and Dr. Elena Prokupets, in memory of her late husband, Rudy Prokupets

Major funding from Rolex
-metopera.org”

“IL TROVATORE : Verdi
Original Air Date: 02/03/2018
Cast: Armiliato; Agresta, Rachvelishvili, Lee, Kelsey, Kocán
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18050640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Verdi
Verdi’s blazing depiction of life on the edge returns in Sir David McVicar’s compelling production, featuring Jennifer Rowley as the noble heroine, Leonora, Yonghoon Lee as the troubadour who loves her, Quinn Kelsey and Luca Salsi as his rival, and Anita Rachvelishvili as the gypsy Azucena, whose bloodthirsty curse propels the story. Marco Armiliato conducts.

Production a gift of The Annenberg Foundation

Co-production of the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and San Francisco Opera Association

World premiere: Teatro Apollo, Rome, 1853.
Met premiere: October 26, 1883.”

“L’ELISIR D’AMORE : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 02/10/2018
Cast: Hindoyan; Yende, Polenzani, Luciano, D’Arcangelo
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18060639 Tags: LIVE; 2018
Pretty Yende debuts a new role at the Met with her first Adina opposite Matthew Polenzani, who enthralled Met audiences as Nemorino in 2013 with his ravishing “Una furtiva lagrima.” Bartlett Sher’s production is charming, with deft comedic timing, but also emotionally revealing. Domingo Hindoyan conducts. (metopera.org) “

“PARSIFAL : Wagner
Original Air Date: 02/17/2018
Cast: Nezet-Seguin; Herlitzius, Vogt, Mattei, Nikitin, Pape
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18070639 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Wagner
Met Music Director Designate Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts Wagner’s transcendental score, in François Girard’s remarkable production, a mystical theatrical journey. Tenor Klaus Florian Vogt, renowned across Europe, returns to the Met following his appearances in the 2016–17 season as Florestan in Fidelio. Evelyn Herlitzius is Kundry, and Peter Mattei and René Pape bring back their highly praised interpretations of Amfortas and Gurnemanz, respectively.

Production a gift of the Gramma Fisher Foundation, Marshalltown, Iowa; Major funding from Rolex; Additional funding from Marina Kellen French, and the Edgar Foster Daniels Foundation; Revival a gift of Marina Kellen French”

“LA BOHÈME : Puccini
Original Air Date: 02/24/2018
Cast: Armiliato; Yoncheva, Phillips, Fabiano, Meachem, Lavrov, Rose, Plishka
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18080640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Puccini
“

“MADAMA BUTTERFLY : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/03/2018
Cast: Armiliato; Jaho, Aronica, Zifchak, Frontali, Stevenson
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18090640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Puccini
Anthony Minghella’s stunning production of Puccini’s heartbreaking opera, an instant Met classic since its 2006 premiere, returns with Hui He and Ermonela Jaho in the tragic title role of the trusting geisha. Roberto Aronica and Luis Chapa alternate as her callous American lover, Pinkerton, and Jader Bignamini and Marco Armiliato conduct. (metopera.org)

See the Program for the Program Notes by Albert Innaurato.”

“SEMIRAMIDE : Rossini
Original Air Date: 03/10/2018
Cast: Benini; Meade, DeShong, Abdrazakov, Camarena
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18100640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
This masterpiece of dazzling vocal fireworks makes a rare Met appearance—its first in nearly 25 years—with Maurizio Benini on the podium. The all-star bel canto cast features Angela Meade in the title role of the murderous Queen of Babylon, who squares off in breathtaking duets with Arsace, a trouser role sung by Elizabeth DeShong. Javier Camarena, Ildar Abdrazakov, and Ryan Speedo Green complete the stellar cast.

Production a gift of the Lila Acheson and DeWitt Wallace Fund for Lincoln Center, established by the founders of The Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

Revival a gift of Ekkehart Hassels-Weiler”

“ELEKTRA : Strauss
Original Air Date: 03/18/2018
Cast: Nezet-Seguin; Goerke, van den heever, Schuster, Morris, Petrenlo
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18110640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Strauss
“

“TURANDOT : Puccini
Original Air Date: 03/24/2018
Cast: Armiliato; Serafin, Álvarez, Yu, Tsymbalyuk
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18120640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Puccini
Puccini’s grand spectacle of legendary China stars Oksana Dyka and Martina Serafin in the role of the ice princess and Aleksandrs Antonenko as the unknown prince who must thaw her heart or die. Maria Agresta, Hei-Kyung Hong, and James Morris are among the other remarkable artists featured in this cherished Franco Zeffirelli production, led by Carlo Rizzi and Marco Armiliato.

Although the Met presented the American premiere of Turandot in 1926, Puccini’s last work didn’t become an audience favorite until the opening of Cecil Beaton’s 1961 production, which featured Birgit Nilsson and Franco Corelli. Their dynamic (and highly competitive) appearances together helped secure the opera’s box office appeal.

The current Franco Zeffirelli production was first seen in 1987 with Eva Marton, Plácido Domingo, and Leona Mitchell.(from metopera.org)”

“COSÌ FAN TUTTE : Mozart
Original Air Date: 03/31/2018
Cast: Robertson; Majeski, Bliss, Malfi, Plachetka, O’Hara, Maltman
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18130639 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Mozart
“

“LUCIA DI LAMMERMOOR : Donizetti
Original Air Date: 04/07/2018
Cast: Abbado; Peretyatko-Mariotti, Grigolo, Cavalletti, Kowaljow
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18140640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
The role of the fragile title heroine who teeters between love and madness is shared by sopranos Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti and Pretty Yende, who have each impressed audiences with dazzling bel canto portrayals at the Met. Vittorio Grigolo and Michael Fabiano share the role of her lover in this chilling production by Tony Award-winning director Mary Zimmerman. Roberto Abbado conducts.

Production a gift of The Sybil B. Harrington Endowment Fund

Revival a gift of the Metropolitan Opera Club “

“LUISA MILLER : Verdi
Original Air Date: 04/14/2018
Cast: de Billy; Yoncheva, Beczala, Domingo, Vinogradov, Belosselskiy, Petrova
Media: Live in HD SID.18150640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Domingo, Verdi
Plácido Domingo adds yet another role to his legendary Met career in this rarely performed Verdi gem, a heart-wrenching tragedy of fatherly love. Sonya Yoncheva sings the title role opposite Piotr Beczała in the first Met performances of the opera in more than ten years. Bertrand de Billy conducts.

Production a gift of Catherine and Ephraim Gildor

Revival a gift of Rolex and Mrs. Jayne Wrightsman
“

“THE EXTERMINATING ANGEL : Adès
Original Air Date: 11/18/2017
Cast: Adès; Luna, Echalaz, Matthews, etc.
Media: SID.18160640 Tags: LIVE; 2018
From metopera.org: Following the rapturous response to his last opera, The Tempest, the Met presents the American premiere of Thomas Adès’s The Exterminating Angel, inspired by the classic Luis Buñuel film of the same name. Hailed by the New York Times at its 2016 Salzburg Festival premiere as “inventive and audacious … a major event,” The Exterminating Angel is a surreal fantasy about a dinner party from which the guests can’t escape. Tom Cairns, who wrote the libretto, directs the new production, and Adès conducts his own adventurous new opera.

Music by Thomas Adès, libretto by Tom Cairns in collaboration with the composer, based on the screenplay by Luis Buñuel and Luis Alcoriza”

“CENDRILLON : Massenet
Original Air Date: 04/28/2018
Cast: de Billy; DiDonato, Coote, Kim, Blythe, Naouri
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18170640 Tags: LIVE; 2018

observer.com/2018/04/joyce-didonato-shines-in-luminous-cendrillon-at-met-opera-review/“

“ROMÉO ET JULIETTE : Gounod
Original Air Date: 05/05/2018
Cast: Domingo; Perez, Deshayes, Hymel, Hopkins, Youn
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18180640 Tags: LIVE; 2018, Domingo
Bartlett Sher’s production of Gounod’s sumptuous Shakespeare adaptation was a hit of the 2016–17 Met season (“a revelation” declared the Huffington Post). Now the sweeping tragedy returns with Ailyn Pérez and Charles Castronovo as the star-crossed young lovers. Plácido Domingo conducts.

Production a gift of The Sybil B. Harrington Endowment Fund

Revival a gift of Role”X

AIDA : Verdi
LIVE IN HD 
Luisotti; Netrebko, Rachvelishvili, Antonenko, Kelsey, Belosselskiy, Speed Green
Media: Live in HD SID.18400600 

NYT Review   (Tommassini)  Last spring at the Metropolitan Opera, the soprano Anna Netrebko took on the title role of Puccini’s “Tosca” for the first time. She claimed that touchstone part for her own, and put her mark on the whole season. On Wednesday at the Met, Ms. Netrebko did it again, this time in the title role of Verdi’s “Aida.” She is still fairly new to this challenging part, which she introduced at the Salzburg Festival a year ago. There was something fresh and exploratory about her performance on Wednesday. Yet it also felt fully formed, dramatically deep. And she sang magnificently.

Observer (Jorden)  “Ritorna vincitor!” cries the Egyptian throng in the first scene of Aida as they send their hero off to war: “Return in triumph!”  And that’s what the Met’s undisputed prima donna Anna Netrebko did last night in her first local performance of the protean title role of this opera: she came, she sang and she conquered.

Reviews 

MOBY DICK
Jake Heggie amd Geme Scheer
Three hours, including one intermission
SUNG IN ENGLISH
LA Opera On Air

“Call it a success… A whale tale with staying power” – Los Angeles Times
“Theatrically stunning… epic in scale. A vibrant, compelling piece of musical theater” – San Francisco Chronicle

Epic in every sense of the word, Moby-Dick comes to Los Angeles after a series of sold out triumphs around the world. Returning as Captain Ahab is the sensational Jay Hunter Morris, whose “fiery brilliance in his resplendent upper range captured both Ahab’s inner strength and demonic possession” (SanDiego.com). Based on Herman Melville’s classic novel, Jake Heggie’s sweeping, gorgeously detailed score has already taken its rightful place as a true contemporary masterpiece.

With astonishing visual effects and a magnificent musical score, one of the very greatest of all American novels comes thrillingly to life on the stage. A fanatical sea captain’s unrelenting obsession for revenge drives his entire crew into the face of death and destruction as they explore the vast and mysterious oceans in search of a monster.

CAST
CAPTAIN AHAB ….. Jay Hunter Morris
GREENHORN ….. Joshua Guerrero
STARBUCK, FIRST MATE ….. Morgan Smith
QUEEQUEG, A HARPOONER ….. Musa Ngqungwana
PIP, CABIN BOY ….. Jacqueline Echols
STUBB, SECOND MATE ….. Malcolm MacKenzie
FLASK, THIRD MATE ….. Matthew O’Neill
CAPTAIN GARDINER ….. Nicholas Brownlee
TASHTEGO, A HARPOONER ….. Sal Malaki
DAGGOO, A HARPOONER ….. Babatunde Akinboboye
NANTUCKET SAILOR ….. Todd Strange
SPANISH SAILOR ….. James Martin Schaefer

COMPOSER ….. Jake Heggie
LIBRETTIST ….. Gene Scheer
CONDUCTOR ….. James Conlon

SAMSON ET DALILA:Saint-Saëns
Original Air Date: 10/20/2018
Elder; Garanca, Algana, Naouri, Azizov, Belosselskiy
Live in HD SID.18420600

LA FANCIULLA DEL WEST : Puccini
Armiliato; Westbroek, Kaufmann, Bosi, Lucic, Simpson, Rose, Gradus
Live in HD

PROGRAM 

Soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek sings Puccini’s gun-slinging heroine in this romantic epic of the Wild West. Tenor Yusif Eyvazov portrays Dick Johnson for opening night (Oct 4, 8, 12)  Jonas Kaufmann returns to the MET for performances on Oct 17, 20, 23, and 27.   Baritone Željko Lučić is the vigilante sheriff Jack Rance, and Marco Armiliato conducts.

NYTimes Review: Jonas Kaufmann, Back at the Met, Is Good, Not Great

BWWReview:  Kaufmann Returns to the Met with a ‘Heigh-ho Silver’ in Puccini’s FANCIULLA DEL WEST

MARNIE : Nico Muhly
Original Air Date: 11/10/2018
Cast: Spano; Leonard, Kelly, Graves, Davies, Maltman
Media: Live Broadcast SID.18450600

SYNOPSIS

Composer Nico Muhly unveils his second new opera for the Met with this gripping reimagining of Winston Graham’s novel, set in the 1950s, about a beautiful, mysterious young woman who assumes multiple identities. Director Michael Mayer and his creative team have devised a fast-moving, cinematic world for this exhilarating story of denial and deceit, which also inspired a film by Alfred Hitchcock. Mezzo-soprano Isabel Leonard sings the enigmatic Marnie, and baritone Christopher Maltman is the man who pursues her—with disastrous results. Robert Spano conducts.

Music by Nico Muhly, libretto by Nicholas Wright, based on the novel by Winston Graham
Commissioned by the Metropolitan Opera
A co-production of the Metropolitan Opera and English National Opera
By special arrangement with Universal Pictures