Experience Met Player

Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Librettist: Marco Praga, Domenico Oliva, Luigi Illica, Giuseppe Giacosa, Giulio Ricordi

Levine; Mattila, Giordani, Croft

Metropolitan 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-Moore

Metropolitan 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, Ramey

Metropolitan 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, Salminen

Metropolitan 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.

Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Librettist: Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Levine; Stratas, Scotto, Carreras, Stilwell

Metropolitan 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.

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo da Ponte

Levine; Vaness, Battle, von Stade, Allen, Raimondi

Metropolitan 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.

Composer: Giacomo Puccini
Librettist: Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa

Sinopoli; Behrens, Domingo, MacNeil

Metropolitan 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, Wells

Metropolitan 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, Siepi

Metropolitan 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, Giaiotti

Metropolitan 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.

Composer: Richard Wagner
Librettist: Richard Wagner

Levine; Mattila, Heppner, Polenzani, Morris, Allen, Pape

Metropolitan 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, Guelfi

Metropolitan 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.