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Composer: Gioachino Rossini Librettist: Cesare Sterbini
Benini; DiDonato, Flórez, Mattei, Del Carlo, RelyeaMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 4 min. 28 sec.
Audiences went wild for Bartlett Sher’s dynamic production, which found fresh and surprising ways to bring Rossini’s effervescent comedy closer to them than ever before. The stellar cast leapt to the challenge with irresistible energy and bravura vocalism. Juan Diego Flórez is Count Almaviva, who fires off showstopping coloratura as he woos Joyce DiDonato’s spirited Rosina—with assistance from Peter Mattei as the one and only Figaro, Seville’s beloved barber and man-about-town.
Composer: Gaetano Donizetti Librettist: Georges Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Jean-François Bayard
Armiliato; Dessay, Palmer, Flórez, CorbelliMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 4 min. 18 sec.
Madcap physical comedy and impeccable coloratura come together for Natalie Dessay’s indelible portrayal of the feisty tomboy raised by a regiment of French soldiers. Juan Diego Flórez is the young Swiss villager who conquers her heart—and a slew of high Cs. Also featuring uproarious performances by Felicity Palmer and Alessandro Corbelli, as well as a cameo by Tony Award winner Marian Seldes, this laugh-out-loud production was a runaway hit that left audiences exhilarated.
Composer: Richard Wagner Librettist: Richard Wagner
Levine; Mattila, Heppner, Polenzani, Morris, Allen, PapeMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 6 min. 50 sec.
Wagner’s enchanting Nürnberg has perhaps never looked as marvelous as in this production by Otto Schenk, with sets designed by Günther Schneider-Siemssen. James Levine’s conducting is as authoritative as it is affectionate, and the orchestra, the chorus, and the all-star cast which could not be equaled anywhere else in the world—respond with a riveting performance. James Morris is a wise, avuncular Hans Sachs; Ben Heppner’s beautifully sung Walther is a perfect match for Karita Mattila’s radiant Eva; and René Pape and Thomas Allen turn in stellar performances.
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi Librettist: Antonio Ghislanzoni
Gatti; Urmana, Zajick, Botha, Guelfi, ScandiuzziMetropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 30 min.
This high-definition broadcast of the Met’s sumptuous Sonja Frisell-Gianni Quaranta production brings Verdi’s beloved opera to breathtaking life. The spectacular sets and costumes, the thrilling triumphal scene, and the newly created choreography by Alexei Ratmansky all frame Verdi’s poignant story of impossible love in an incandescent way. Violeta Urmana is the slave girl of the title who loves the warrior Radamès (Johan Botha). Dolora Zajick sings Amneris, the Pharaoh’s daughter and Aida’s rival for Radamès’s affection. The love triangle ends in treason, imprisonment, and death.
Composer: Various Librettist: Various
Marco ArmiliatoMetropolitan Opera Orchestra
Approximate running time: 1 hrs. 47 min.
The Audition, directed by award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke, looks at the intense pressures young opera singers face as they struggle to succeed in one of the most difficult professions in the performing arts. The feature-length documentary takes you behind the scenes at the Metropolitan Opera’s National Council Auditions, where each year thousands of hopefuls compete for a cash prize, the chance to sing on the Met stage—and the opportunity to launch a major operatic career.
Composer: Charles Gounod Librettist: Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
Domingo; Netrebko, Alagna, Gunn, LloydMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 51 min.
The world’s most famous love story comes to operatic life with superstars Anna Netrebko and Roberto Alagna playing the star-crossed young couple. The abandon and ardor of their performances brought audiences to their feet in both the opera house and in movie theaters. And the unique, up-close-and-personal camerawork takes the viewer onstage to witness some of the production’s most memorable images and sultriest moments as never before.
Composer: Giacomo Puccini Librettist: Luigi Illica and Giuseppe Giacosa
Colaneri; Mattila, Álvarez, GagnidzeMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 17 min.
Puccini’s musical thriller of lust, murder, and politics is one of the most dramatically riveting operas in the repertoire. Luc Bondy’s production, with sets by Richard Peduzzi and costumes by Academy Award-winning designer Milena Canonero, opened the Met’s 2009–10 season. Karita Mattila stars as the beautiful and dangerously impulsive singer Floria Tosca. Marcelo Álvarez is her lover, the painter Cavaradossi, a political enemy of the powerful chief of police, Scarpia (George Gagnidze), who wants Tosca for himself.
Composer: Bedřich Smetana Librettist: Karel Sabina
Levine; Stratas, Gedda, Vickers, TalvelaMetropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 21 min.
Every bit of the spontaneous charm that infuses Smetana’s colorful opera is conveyed in this English-language performance by a spectacular cast. Teresa Stratas as Mařenka is determined to marry her lover Jenik (Nicolai Gedda), but her father is under obligation to Micha and wants her to marry Micha’s son—the stuttering, rather foolish Vašek (Jon Vickers in a tour-de-force comic performance). Fortunately Jeník has a secret of his own and it all ends well. James Levine and the Met orchestra bring out the Bohemian color and rhythm of this enchanting score, and Pavel Smok’s choreography adds a delightful flair.
Composer: Jacques Offenbach Librettist: Jules Barbier and Michel Carré
Dutoit; Bradley, Alexander, Troyanos, Shicoff, MorrisMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 46 min.
Otto Schenk’s brilliant production captures both the dark romanticism of the story as well as its fairy-tale magic. It is a superb setting for Neil Shicoff’s vivid portrayal of the tortured poet Hoffmann, as he recounts the loves of his life and the way he has been foiled by his nemesis—a marvelous James Morris in a tour-de-force performance of the opera’s four villains. Gwendolyn Bradley is the doll Olympia, Tatiana Troyanos sings the courtesan Giulietta, and Roberta Alexander portrays the innocent Antonia.
Composer: Johann Strauss Librettist: Karl Haffner and Richard Genée
Tate; Te Kanawa, Blegen, Troyanos, Rendall, Hagegård, DevlinMetropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 38 min.
“A sumptuous fantasy out of some grand hotel of the Belle Epoch”—this was one critic’s comment when this production of the most Viennese of all operettas opened at the Met. Staged by Vienna’s own Otto Schenk (who also does a star turn as the jailer Frosch), with gorgeous sets and costumes by Günther Schneider-Siemssen and Peter J. Hall, it’s the essence of a carefree, slightly naughty take on the myth of the Imperial city by the Danube. Of course it helps to have an all-star cast: from Tatiana Troyanos’s arch, smoldering Prince Orlofsky to Kiri Te Kanawa’s dreamy, elegant Rosalinde to Judith Blegen’s pert Adele. No wonder all the men invo...
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave and Arrigo Boito
Levine; Te Kanawa, Domingo, Chernov, LloydMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 20 min.
This evocative production by Giancarlo Del Monaco sumptuously captures the look and feel of 14th century Genoa and is a perfect compliment to Verdi’s setting of this story of searing conflict between public duty and private grief. Plácido Domingo is Gabriele Adorno, sworn enemy of the doge of Genoa, Simon Boccanegra (Vladimir Chernov). Gabriele is in love with the beautiful Amelia (Kiri Te Kanawa at her most affecting) who turns out to be none other than the long-lost daughter the doge. James Levine’s authoritative conducting of the Met orchestra and chorus reveals the dark power of Verdi’s score.
Composer: Umberto Giordano Librettist: Luigi Illica
Cleva; Milanov, Elias, Lipton, Tucker, WarrenMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 1 hrs. 52 min.
Who could resist the passionate tale of a poor but high-minded poet who falls for an aristocratic lady, only to end up persecuted by the very revolution he himself supported? Mix in one jealous rival for the lady’s hand, who also happens to wield enormous power with the revolution. With the right singers, the drama just leaps from the page—or the speakers. Zinka Milanov, Richard Tucker, and Leonard Warren all more than deliver the vocal goods in this performance.
Composer: Georges Bizet Librettist: Henri Meilhac and Ludovic Halévy
Pelletier; Albanese, Swarthout, Kullman, WarrenMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 31 min.
The glamorous Gladys Swarthout seemed destined to play Bizet’s enticing gypsy. An exceptionally beautiful woman, she possessed a rich contralto voice that perfectly captured Carmen’s personality—caressing, beguiling, and demolishing all defenses against her will. Charles Kullman is a winning Don Jose and the young Leonard Warren sings a virile Escamillo. Licia Albanese gives an unusually passionate and three-dimensional portrayal of Micaëla.
Composer: Giacomo Puccini Librettist: Giacosa and Illica
Adler; Steber, Bergonzi, LondonMetropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus
Approximate running time: 1 hrs. 53 min.
Tosca, the beautiful, glamorous singer who has all of Rome at her feet, is one of the iconic soprano roles of the Italian repertoire. She’s caught between two men—her lover, the handsome, idealistic painter Cavaradossi, and the villainous Baron Scarpia, Rome’s all-powerful chief of police, who will stop at nothing to win Tosca for himself. Puccini’s story of torture, attempted rape, murder, suicide, and general mayhem is as thrilling and dramatic as anything seen on the operatic stage. Thanks to Eleanor Steber’s impetuous title heroine, George London’s malevolent Scarpia, and Carlo Bergonzi’s romantic Cavaradossi, this Tosca still sends chills down y...
Mitropoulos; Harshaw, Schech, Thebom, Vinay, Edelmann, BöhmeMetropolitan Opera Orchestra
Approximate running time: 3 hrs. 3 min.
This most popular part of Wagner’s Ring cycle has it all—a pair of impetuous lovers who will stop at nothing to be together; a young half-goddess who changes from a sassy girl to a strong woman when she learns the meaning of love; and her father, the leader of the gods, trapped in a quagmire of his own making, who has to sacrifice the person dearest to him to retain his position. This searing drama is brilliantly conducted here by the legendary Dimitri Mitropoulos.
© 2010 The Metropolitan Opera
