The Metropolitan Opera
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Composer: Gaetano Donizetti Librettist: Salvatore Cammarano
Armiliato; Netrebko, Beczala, Kwiecien, AbdrazakovMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 3 min. 49 sec.
Star soprano Anna Netrebko adds Donizetti’s hapless heroine to her growing list of Met triumphs in this production by Mary Zimmerman that updates the events to the 19th century. Rising young tenor sensation Piotr Beczala is Edgardo and Mariusz Kwiecien plays Lucia’s brother Enrico whose brutal authority forces her to deny her heart and marry for the sake of her family. The famous mad scene brilliantly depicts the cascading fragments of Lucia’s disintegrating mind.
Composer: Giacomo Puccini Librettist: Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Summers; Racette, Giordani, Zifchak, CroftMetropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet
Approximate running time: 3 min. 26 sec.
Anthony Minghella’s stunning production of Puccini’s opera opened the Met’s 2006–07 season and was seen by thousands of people around the world as part of the company’s Live in HD series. Patricia Racette is Cio-Cio-San, the trusting and innocent young geisha of the title, who disastrously falls in love with American Navy lieutenant B. F. Pinkerton (Marcello Giordani), only to be abandoned by him. Maria Zifchak is her loyal servant Suzuki and Dwayne Croft is Sharpless, the sympathetic American consul who does all he can but is unable to avert tragedy.
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Librettist: Lorenzo da Ponte
Levine; Fleming, Kringelborn, Hong, Groves, Terfel, Furlanetto, RelyeaMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 1 min. 26 sec.
Franco Zeffirelli uses his unique theatrical magic on Mozart’s dark opera about the legendary lover, Don Giovanni. The result is a thrilling production that underlines the dramatic flair of Mozart’s passionate score. Under James Levine’s stylish leadership, the cast delivers brilliantly: Bryn Terfel is Don Giovanni, the man who dares to be himself and pays the ultimate price. Renée Fleming, Solveig Kringelborn, and Hei-Kyung Hong are the women he pursues, and Ferruccio Furlanetto is Leporello, the Don’s servant and alter ego.
Composer: Giacomo Puccini Librettist: Marco Praga, Domenico Oliva, Luigi Illica, Giuseppe Giacosa, Giulio Ricordi
Levine; Mattila, Giordani, CroftMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 26 min.
One of today’s most compelling singing actresses, Karita Mattila takes on the irresistible role of Manon Lescaut, the headstrong young woman torn between a life of luxury and the call of her true love: the Chevalier des Grieux, played by Marcello Giordani. The young Puccini lavished some of his most sensual music on this early hit, conducted here by the Met’s beloved James Levine.
Composer: Benjamin Britten Librettist: Montagu Slater
Runnicles; Racette, Griffey, Michaels-MooreMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 48 min.
Anthony Dean Griffey creates a haunting portrait of the outcast fisherman who struggles under the burden of presumed guilt. This chilling production by Tony Award-winning director John Doyle also features the superb Patricia Racette as the sympathetic Ellen Orford and the Met chorus in a truly hair-raising performance as the oppressively judgmental fishing village.
Composer: Giacomo Puccini Librettist: Giuseppe Adami
Armiliato; Gheorghiu, Alagna, Oropesa, Brenciu, RameyMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 1 hrs. 54 min.
Puccini’s achingly beautiful score charmingly conveys the plight of Magda (the “swallow” of the title) who unexpectedly finds true love with the handsome young Ruggero. But their idyllic and happy life comes to an premature end as she is haunted by the fear that her checkered past will ruin his future. Real-life couple and operatic stars Angela Gheorghiu and Roberto Alagna portray Puccini’s star-crossed lovers. Ezio Frigerio’s elegant and sophisticated art deco sets add a dazzling touch to Nicholas Joël’s production, which premiered in 2008.
Composer: Richard Wagner Librettist: Richard Wagner
Levine; Voigt, DeYoung, Smith, Schulte, SalminenMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 4 hrs. 20 min.
James Levine’s love for this monumental opera shimmers throughout this exciting performance. It was an afternoon to remember: Met favorite Deborah Voigt singing her first run as the proud Irish princess opposite tenor Robert Dean Smith—making an astonishing Met debut in front of a live worldwide movie-theater audience. Michelle DeYoung was a sisterly Brangäne and Matti Salminen an imposing King Marke.
Levine; Stratas, Scotto, Carreras, StilwellMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 4 min.
Franco Zeffirelli’s sensational production of Puccini’s haunting opera of young love is one of the great classics in the history of the Met. Many great singers have appeared in it over the years, but there is something especially endearing about this magical first cast: the touching and fragile Teresa Stratas as the dying Mimi, and young, handsome José Carreras as her passionate lover, Rodolfo. A flamboyant Renata Scotto is the irrepressible Musetta. James Levine conducts with his special combination of sensitivity and verve.
Levine; Vaness, Battle, von Stade, Allen, RaimondiMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 3 hrs. 12 min.
Jean-Pierre Ponnelle’s landmark production of Mozart’s most human comedy provides the perfect setting for this superb cast under James Levine’s ebullient leadership. The philandering and arrogant Count Almaviva (Thomas Allen) is no match for his wily servant Figaro (Ruggero Raimondi), whose soon-to-be-wife Susanna (Kathleen Battle) is as manipulative as she is charming. Add in one beautiful, disillusioned Countess (Carol Vaness) and one irrepressible, testosterone-laden teenage boy (Cherubino, played by Federica von Stade), and it’s no wonder some critics say this is the perfect opera.
Sinopoli; Behrens, Domingo, MacNeilMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 3 min.
Franco Zeffirelli’s productions are legendary—and for good reason. This new production of Puccini’s intensely dramatic opera had opened only two weeks before this performance and the excitement is palpable. Zeffirelli captures the overwhelming grandeur of Rome, as well as the dark undercurrent of decadence and corruption in the drama. Under his direction, the cast of great singing actors crackles with intensity. Hildegard Behrens as Tosca, the passionate singer in love with Cavaradossi (Plácido Domingo), who agrees to a night with Scarpia, the evil chief of police (Cornell MacNeil), in exchange for Cavaradossi’s freedom. Giuseppe Sinopoli conducts.
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi Librettist: Salvatore Cammarano
Levine; Marton, Zajick, Pavarotti, Milnes, WellsMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 13 min.
Luciano Pavarotti brings his spectacular voice and artistry to one of the most famous of all tenor roles—Manrico, the ardent troubadour, trapped in an impossible situation by forces beyond his control. The sensational Dolora Zajick, only days after her Met debut, gives an incandescent performance as the demented gypsy Azucena, thirsting for revenge against Count Di Luna (Sherrill Milnes). Eva Marton is the passionate Leonora, desired by both Manrico and the Count, and James Levine brilliantly leads the Met’s orchestra and chorus in some of Verdi’s best-known music.
Composer: Gioachino Rossini Librettist: Cesare Sterbini
Erede; Peters, Valletti, Merrill, Corena, SiepiMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 14 min.
This is a cast to cherish in one of opera’s greatest comic masterpieces. Robert Merrill’s wily Figaro combines brio with one of the most beautiful baritone voices ever—heard here in its prime. No wonder the clueless Almaviva (an elegant Cesare Valletti) begs him to help win the beautiful Rosina (Roberta Peters at her virtuosic best) and to outwit her determined guardian and the scheming singing teacher (Fernando Corena and Cesare Siepi).
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave and Andrea Maffei
Santi; Dalis, Morell, MacNeil, GiaiottiMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 6 min.
Verdi’s masterful setting of Shakespeare’s famous tragedy is filled with dark colors and vivid emotions. The music brilliantly depicts the souls of troubled Macbeth and his conniving, relentless wife. Bringing Verdi’s vision to life requires not only great singers, but great actors as well—Cornell MacNeil and Irene Dalis excel in the challenge. From the first encounter with the witches to the murder of the King and the gradual disintegration of their souls, this couple masterfully conveys all the horror and pathos both Verdi and Shakespeare intended.
Levine; Mattila, Heppner, Polenzani, Morris, Allen, PapeMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 4 hrs. 39 min.
Not many companies have the resources to put on Wagner’s only comedy with all the élan it deserves. The Met does, particularly when Music Director James Levine is conducting: his affection for the work is matched only by his skill at bringing it to life. Levine leads a top-flight cast of solo singers, plus a huge chorus and orchestra. James Morris conveys all of Hans Sachs wisdom, and humanity; Karita Mattila sparkles as Eva, the young woman in love with Walther, the impetuous knight, ardently sung by Ben Heppner.
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi Librettist: Arrigo Boito
Bychkov; Fleming, Botha, GuelfiMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 19 min.
Shakespeare and Verdi, two colossal creators at the height of their dramatic genius, unite to create an overwhelming masterpiece. Clarion-voiced tenor Johan Botha is Otello, the acclaimed warrior, hero, and ruler, who is insidiously destroyed by his own inner weakness and insecurity. Carlo Guelfi is his malicious, conniving aid, Iago, and Renée Fleming sings his beautiful wife Desdemona. This is tragedy at its most searing.