Takesha Meshé Kizart will make her Met debut as Musetta in Puccini's La Bohème on October 16. She also sings performances on October 20, 23, 28, November 1, and 5, replacing Kristine Opolais, who has withdrawn.
Kizart's recent engagements include Mimì in La Bohème and the title role of Respighi's rarely-performed Marie Victoire at the Deutsche Oper Berlin. The Chicago native has also sung Leonora in Il Trovatore in Stuttgart, the title role of Tosca with
Opera North and Dallas Opera, Leonora in La Forza del Destino at the Caramoor Festival, and Lucrezia in I Due Foscari with Opera Orchestra of New York.
La Bohème is conducted by Roberto Rizzi Brignoli in his Met debut and also features the company debuts of tenor
Vittorio Grigolo as Rodolfo and baritone Fabio Capitanucci as Marcello. Maija Kovalevska is Mimì, and the cast also includes Edward Parks as Schaunard, Shenyang as Colline, and
Paul Plishka as Benoît/Alcindoro.
