Gheorghiu Takes Over as Mimi in Met Opera's LA BOHEME, 3/20

Opera star Angela Gheorghiu will take over the role of Mimi in the Puccini Opera LA BOHEME at the Metropolitan Opera beginning on March 20th. Gheorguhiu will replace the current star, Anna Netrebko, in the role.

Gheorghiu is currently at the Met rehearsing the title role in La Traviata which opens March 29, and has graciously agreed to step in as Mimì on short notice. She made her Met debut as Mimì in 1993. The Romanian soprano was heard last season at the Met as Magda in Puccini's La Rondine and as Adina in Donizetti's L'Elisir d'Amore. In the Met's 2010-11 season, she will sing Juliette in Gounod's Roméo et Juliette.

Marco Armiliato conducts La Bohème, with Piotr Beczala as Rodolfo. Fellow bohemians in the cast are portrayed by Nicole Cabell as Musetta, Gerald Finley as the painter Marcello, Massimo Cavalletti makes his Met debut as the musician Schaunard, and Shenyang as the philosopher Colline. In later performances, Ruth Ann Swenson will perform Musetta and George Petean makes his Met debut as Marcello. Oren Gradus will perform the role of Colline. Paul Plishka sings the roles of Benoit and Alcindoro.

La Bohème will be experienced by millions of people around the world this season on the radio and the internet, through distribution platforms the Met has established with various media partners. The February 24, 27, March 2, 10, and 17 performances will be broadcast live on the Metropolitan Opera Radio on SIRIUS channel 78 and XM channel 79. The February 27 matinee will also be broadcast live over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network. The February 24 and March 10 performances will be streamed live via RealNetworks internet streaming on the Met's website www.metopera.org.

Under the leadership of General Manager Peter Gelb and Music Director James Levine, the Met has a series of bold initiatives underway that are designed to broaden its audience and revitalize the company's repertory. The Met has made a commitment to presenting modern masterpieces alongside the classic repertory, with highly theatrical productions featuring the greatest opera stars in the world.

Building on its 78-year radio broadcast history-currently heard over the Toll Brothers-Metropolitan Opera International Radio Network-the Met now uses advanced media distribution platforms and state-of-the-art technology to attract new audiences and reach millions of opera fans around the world.

For more information, visit www.metoperafamily.org.

Photo Credit: AngelaGheorghiu.com

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