Opera Catalog

Composer: Jacques Offenbach
Librettist: Jules Barbier and Michel Carré

Dutoit; Bradley, Alexander, Troyanos, Shicoff, Morris

Metropolitan 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: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo da Ponte

Levine; Vaness, Hadley, Mentzer, Croft, Bartoli, Allen

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 3 hrs. 11 min.

Mozart’s sophisticated opera about two men seeing just how faithful their fiancées are has seldom been so marvelously done. Lesley Koenig’s production, designed by Michael Yeargan, is as witty and charming as the music, conducted by James Levine. Carol Vaness and Susanne Mentzer are the two sisters being tested by their fiancées, Jerry Hadley and Dwayne Croft, who supposedly have gone off to war. The cheeky maid Despina is sung by Cecilia Bartoli (who made her Met debut in the role barely two weeks before), who falls right in with the scheming men, led by Thomas Allen.

Composer: Hector Berlioz
Librettist: Almire Gandonnière and Hector Berlioz

Levine; Graham, Giordani, Relyea

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, Chorus and Ballet

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 22 min.

Conducted by James Levine, Robert Lepage’s stunning production—with its brilliant marriage of art and technology—thrilled HD audiences around the world. In Berlioz’s rarely performed vision of the immortal Faust legend, Marcello Giordani is a fiery title hero whose impulsive bargain with Méphistophélès (a commanding John Relyea) proves fatal. Susan Graham is a lovely and tragic Marguerite, the woman who gives everything to the man she loves.

Composer: John Adams
Librettist: Peter Sellars

Gilbert; Finley, Cooke, Fink, Glenn

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 46 min.

John Adams’s mesmerizing score, in the powerful production of Penny Woolcock, tells the story of one of the pivotal moments in human history—the creation of the atomic bomb. Conducted by Alan Gilbert in his Met debut, this gripping opera presents the human face of the scientists, military men, and others who were involved in the project, as they wrestled with the implications of their work. Baritone Gerald Finley gives a powerful star turn in the title role as the brilliant J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenzo da Ponte

Levine; Fleming, Kringelborn, Hong, Groves, Terfel, Furlanetto, Relyea

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 59 min.

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: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Librettist: Lorenza da Ponte

Levine; Vaness, Mattila, Upshaw, Hadley, Ramey, Cokorinos

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 58 min.

Every woman wants him, every man wants to be him: Mozart’s version of the irresistible rogue who brings excitement with him and leaves destruction it his wake has always attracted top singing actors, as in this performance brilliantly led by James Levine. Samuel Ramey is Don Giovanni, pursued by the incandescent Karita Mattila (Donna Elvira) in her Met debut season and role, and by the white-hot avenging fury of Carol Vaness (Donna Anna.) Ferruccio Furlanetto delivers a masterful comic turn as the Don’s servant, Leporello.

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Librettist: Giovanni Ruffini and Gaetano Donizetti

Rescigno; Sills, Kraus, Hagegård, Castel, Bacquier

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 13 min.

This John Dexter production, designed by Desmond Heeley, was a parting gift to the great American soprano Beverly Sills, who bid farewell to the Met as Norina, the smart young widow at the center of Donizetti’s comedy. The sensational Alfredo Kraus sings her beloved Ernesto. Håkan Hagegård, in his Met debut role and season, is Dr. Malatesta, the man who helps the young couple trick the crusty old bachelor of the title (Gabriel Bacquier at his comical best) into a fake marriage. This being a Donizetti comedy, it all turns out perfectly well at the end—and getting there is pure operatic fun.

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Librettist: Felice Romani

Rescigno; Blegen, Pavarotti, Ellis, Bruscantini

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 11 min.

John Copley’s charming production, designed by Beni Montresor, provides an ideal setting for Donizetti’s sparkling comedy. And who better to bring to life this bel canto gem than the great Luciano Pavarotti in one of his most endearing roles, the gentle Nemorino? Kathleen Battle is Adina, the object of Nemorino’s affections, who seems to be more interested in Sergeant Belcore (Juan Pons) and his flashy uniform. But Dr. Dulcamara (Enzo Dara) has a magical love potion (actually a bottle of cheap wine) that does the trick. Under James Levine the orchestra is as enchanting as the singers.

Composer: Gaetano Donizetti
Librettist: Felice Romani

Levine; Battle, Pavarotti, Pons, Dara

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 7 min.

John Copley’s colorful production, with designs by Beni Montresor, was created around the beloved superstar Luciano Pavarotti. As the simple, good-hearted Nemorino, he enchanted audiences with his larger-than-life personality as well as his golden voice. Enzo Dara as the quack Dr. Dulcamara provides the elixir of the title that helps Nemorino win the heart of Adina, the girl of his dreams, sung with youthful energy by Kathleen Battle.

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Librettist: Francesco Maria Piave

Levine; Mitchell, Pavarotti, Milnes, Raimond

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 19 min.

Pier Luigi Samaritani’s romantic production beautifully captures the sweep and passion of Verdi’s music. With James Levine’s marvelous conducting, this cast makes a spectacular case for Verdi’s opera. The great Luciano Pavarotti is at his stunning best in the title role as the wronged nobleman turned bandit. A beautiful and heartbreaking Leona Mitchell is Elvira, the woman he loves. But she is also pursued by two other men: King Don Carlo (Sherrill Milnes in one of his greatest roles) and her aged guardian, Don Ruy Gomez de Silva (a superb Ruggero Raimondi).

Composer: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Librettist: Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Konstantin Shilovsky

Gergiev; Fleming, Vargas, Hvorostovsky, Aleksashkin

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 51 min.

The pain of unrequited love is portrayed unforgettably by two of today’s greatest stars. Renée Fleming is musically and dramatically radiant as the shy Tatiana, who falls in love with the worldly Onegin, played with devastating charisma by Dmitri Hvorostovsky. Their mesmerizing vocalism and chemistry explode in one of opera’s most heartbreaking final scenes. With Valery Gergiev on the podium conducting Tchaikovsky’s passionate score, this performance is one for the ages.

Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Librettist: Arrigo Boito

Levine; Freni, Horne, Plishka, Pola, Bonney

Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and Chorus

Approximate running time: 2 hrs. 8 min.

All the humor of Boito’s libretto (taken from Shakespeare) is superbly brought to life by a cast of great singing actors in Franco Zeffirelli's classic production. Paul Plishka is the lecherous, aging, fat knight Falstaff. Marilyn Horne’s delicious Dame Quickly gets the best of him, with some help from Mirella Freni (Alice Ford) and Susan Graham (Meg Page)—both at the top of their game. An adorable Barbara Bonney and ardent Frank Lopardo are the young lovers. James Levine’s deft conducting brings out all the nuance of the quicksilver score.