Michael Levine News

Those of us who keep an eye on the comings and goings of singers at major opera houses around the world, have known that Friday’s debutant, Lithuanian soprano Asmik Grigorian, was going to be one to watch. And it was. No worries about whether her voice would translate from Europe’s smaller houses to the Met’s enormous hall: Grigorian may have been singing Puccini’s Cio-Cio-San/Madama Butterfly this time around, but she’s a well-schooled Lady Macbeth and Turandot as well, bringing a notably large voice with her. She survived the Met’s notoriously short rehearsal time for revivals (particularly for the second cast of the season). Lastly, she even made it through the final curveball, when tenor Jonathan Tetelman became ill and standby Chad Shelton had to take over as Pinkerton; he did well considering the circumstances, but he was no match for her.

Watch Asmik Grigorian sing an excerpt from Cio-Cio-San’s Act II aria in a stage rehearsal for the Met Opera's Madama Butterfly, running through May 11, in the video here!

Watch tenor Michael Fabiano sing an excerpt from Don José’s Act II aria in a stage rehearsal in the video here!

Albery’s revival of his Flying Dutchman simply works: with a great cast and a smooth atmosphere created by a dreamlike ship-inspired set, it all builds towards a Gesamtkunstwerk that Wagner might have enjoyed himself. A great success, all around.

Watch as During intermission of the Live in HD transmission of Bizet’s Carmen, host Matthew Polenzani speaks with mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina about her experience singing the title role. 

Watch an all new trailer for English director Carrie Cracknell's Met debut with a new modern-day staging of Carmen, one of opera’s most enduringly powerful works.

The National Theatre has announced new productions for all three South Bank stages this summer: Alan Bleasdale’s Boys from the Blackstuff and Mnemonic in the Olivier theatre and The Grapes of Wrath in the Lyttelton theatre, alongside the previously announced The Hot Wing King in the Dorfman theatre. 

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2023–24 Live in HD season continues with a live transmission of Bizet’s ever-popular Carmen on Saturday, January 27, at 19:55 at Rialto Theatre.

Watch Angel Blue speak with mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina about her portrayal of the title role of Bizet’s Carmen below!

The Met: Live in HD presents a daring new production of Bizet’s Carmen on January 27. Learn how to purchase tickets!

Get a first look at Puccini’s Madama Butterfly which returns to the Met stage for 16 performances, starting January 11.

Sometimes you hear a singer who embodies a role so completely that it’s hard to imagine her in anything else. That’s how I felt about the wonderful mezzo Aigul Akhmetshina, who’s singing the title role in the Met’s new production of Bizet’s CARMEN, which I saw at its second performance. Her portrayal was as full-bodied as her voice and she sizzled, filling up the stage as much as one can imagine. It’s little surprise that she’s considered the Carmen of the moment, having appeared in seven other productions (with two to come).

Puccini’s Madama Butterfly will return to the Met stage for 16 performances, starting January 11.

Get an extended look at The Met Opera's highly anticipated new production of Carmen.

Get a first look at The Met Opera's highly anticipated new production of Carmen. For the winter run of performances through January 27, young mezzo-soprano Aigul Akhmetshina stars in the complex and volatile title role.

What did critics think of The Met's new production of Carmen? In her highly anticipated Met debut, Cracknell reinvigorates the classic story of deadly passion with a staging that moves the action to modern day and explores themes that could not be more relevant today: gendered violence, abusive labor structures, and the desire to break through societal boundaries.

Get a first look at photos of Carmen at The Metropolitan Opera!

The Met celebrates the new year with a new production of Bizet's Carmen by acclaimed English director Carrie Cracknell, opening on Sunday, December 31, at 6:30PM. In her highly anticipated Met debut, Cracknell reinvigorates the classic story of deadly passion with a staging that moves the action to modern day and explores themes that could not be more relevant today: gendered violence, abusive labor structures, and the desire to break through societal boundaries.

Director Carrie Cracknell discusses the creative approach to the title character in her new production of Bizet’s Carmen. The production opens on Sunday, December 31, at 6:30PM. Watch the interview here!

The Met's new production of Bizet's Carmen, directed by Carrie Cracknell, opens on December 31.