James Levine News

The New York Philharmonic will present The Russian Stravinsky: A Philharmonic Festival conducted by Valery Gergiev on April 21-May 8, 2010. The three-week festival - one of several initiatives launched during Alan Gilbert's first season as Music Director - will offer an in-depth look at Stravinsky, exploring how his Russian roots informed his works. Led by the Russian-born Mr. Gergiev, the festival will feature eight programs over three weeks, including concerts, lectures, pre-concert talks, radio broadcasts, podcasts and an Archives exhibit.

Broadway Bass-Baritone David Pittsinger recently talked to the New York Times about his uniquely demanding schedule. Pittsinger is currently performing eight times per week in the Tony Award-winning revivial of South Pacific at the Vivian Beaumont Theater as Emile de Becque as well as portraying the ghost' of Hamelt's father in 'Hamlet' at the Metropolitan Opera.

Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet returns to the Met stage for its first performances since 1897, with the powerful pairing of Simon Keenlyside in the title role and Marlis Petersen as Ophélie. Keenlyside's acclaimed interpretation of Hamlet in Geneva, London and Barcelona finally arrives in the United States, with a performance in the Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser production that was hailed by the British press as 'magnificent . . . sheer vocal genius.' Petersen, who steps in for Natalie Dessay, brings her haunting portrayal of Ophélie to the Met; she earned praise for the role during a 2006 run of Hamlet in Düsseldorf. Louis Langrée conducts a cast that includes Jennifer Larmore as Gertrude, Toby Spence in his Met debut as Laërte, and James Morris in the role of Claudius. Jane Archibald, in her Met debut, sings the role of Ophélie on April 5 and 9. The creative team is rounded out by Christian Fenouillat with set designs, Agostino Cavalca with costume designs, and Christophe Forey with lighting designs, all in their Met debuts. Performances run through April 9, with the March 27 matinee shown worldwide as part of The Met: Live in HD

Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet returns to the Met stage for its first performances since 1897, with the powerful pairing of Simon Keenlyside in the title role and Marlis Petersen as Ophélie. Keenlyside's acclaimed interpretation of Hamlet in Geneva, London and Barcelona finally arrives in the United States, with a performance in the Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser production that was hailed by the British press as 'magnificent . . . sheer vocal genius.' Petersen, who steps in for Natalie Dessay, brings her haunting portrayal of Ophélie to the Met; she earned praise for the role during a 2006 run of Hamlet in Düsseldorf. Louis Langrée conducts a cast that includes Jennifer Larmore as Gertrude, Toby Spence in his Met debut as Laërte, and James Morris in the role of Claudius. Jane Archibald, in her Met debut, sings the role of Ophélie on April 5 and 9. The creative team is rounded out by Christian Fenouillat with set designs, Agostino Cavalca with costume designs, and Christophe Forey with lighting designs, all in their Met debuts. Performances run through April 9, with the March 27 matinee shown worldwide as part of The Met: Live in HD

On Sunday, March 7 at 2:00pm pianist Adam Golka will make his Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Youth Symphony conducted by Ryan McAdams in Rachmanioff's Concerto No .3

Alto Polis Music Management & Positive Motions Foundation in association with the Glendale Philharmonic Association and "Positive Motions" Concert Series, Ruslan Biryukov, Producer and Artistic Director will present "Limor Toren & Friends," A Chamber Concert Celebrating the Romantic Period With The Music of Antonin Dvo?ak, Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn featuring members of the Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra, including: Violinists Limor Toren, Hovhannes Meghrikyan, Shushan Akopyan and Levon Mkrtchyan; Violists Laura Pearson and Brianna Bandy; and Cellists Maksim Velichkin and August Lee accompanied by Guest Artist Pianist Leonid Levitsky.

Dmitri Shostakovich's The Nose has its Metropolitan Opera premiere on March 5 at 8:00 pm, conducted by Valery Gergiev, in a visually arresting new production by artist William Kentridge that features original collage, film, sculpture, and massive projections of the artist's drawings and prints. Making his Met debut, baritone Paulo Szot performs the role of Kovalyov in the story of the Russian official who wakes one morning to discover his nose has disappeared (and taken on a higher bureaucratic rank). Based on the short story of the same name by Nikolai Gogol, the opera is what Kentridge has called an exploration of "learning from the absurd." In this production, visuals include renderings of Soviet workers, snatches of newspaper, and projections of propaganda - as well as the missing appendage in adventures ranging from delivering a speech to riding a horse.

Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre celebrates the 10th anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures' "Fantasia 2000" with a special limited engagement of the film from February 17 to 27. The music for "Fantasia 2000" was conducted by James Levine, and performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

The Metropolitan Opera's new production of Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann, conducted by Met Music Director James Levine and directed by Tony Award winner Bartlett Sher, premieres on THIRTEEN'S Great Performances at the Met series.

Violin superstar Sarah Chang, with pianist Andrew Von Oeyen, is making theIr only Canadian recital appearance at Markham Theatre on February 24 at 8 PM.

Seven new productions, including two company premieres and the first two parts of a new Ring cycle, featuring many of the world's greatest singers and conductors, will highlight the Metropolitan Opera's 2010-11 season.

Franco Vassallo will sing the role of Ezio in Verdi's Attila on March 19, 22, and 27, replacing Carlos Alvarez, who is ill. Vassallo is currently appearing at the Met as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, the role of his 2005 company debut. Last season the Italian baritone was Belcore in L'Elisir d'Amore, and in 2007, audiences around the world saw him as Riccardo in The Met: Live in HD transmission of I Puritani, now available in DVD.

Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez star in La Fille du Régiment, Donizetti's comedy about the tough-hearted young woman who was rescued and raised by the 21st regiment of the French army, and her romance with a hapless soldier-suitor.

Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP), in association with The National Yiddish Theater-Folksbiene, presents ZALMEN MLOTEK on Sunday, February 21 at 3pm in the Claire Shulman Playhouse Main Stage Theatre at Queens Theatre in the Park, Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY. Tickets are $33 and are available at www.queenstheatre.org or by phone at 718-760-0064. ZALMEN MLOTEK is part of the American Express Cultural Heritage Series and a talkback will follow the performance.

Puccini's love story La Bohème returns to the Metropolitan Opera on Saturday, February 20, with Russian soprano Anna Netrebko and Polish tenor Piotr Becza?a as Puccini's star-crossed lovers, Mimì and Rodolfo.

Alto Polis Music Management & Positive Motions Foundation in association with the Glendale Philharmonic Association and "Positive Motions" Concert Series, Ruslan Biryukov, Producer and Artistic Director will present "Limor Toren & Friends," A Chamber Concert Celebrating the Romantic Period With The Music of Antonin Dvo?ak, Johannes Brahms and Felix Mendelssohn featuring members of the Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra, including: Violinists Limor Toren, Hovhannes Meghrikyan, Shushan Akopyan and Levon Mkrtchyan; Violists Laura Pearson and Brianna Bandy; and Cellists Maksim Velichkin and August Lee accompanied by Guest Artist Pianist Leonid Levitsky.

On Sunday, March 7 at 2:00pm pianist Adam Golka will make his Carnegie Hall debut with the New York Youth Symphony conducted by Ryan McAdams in Rachmanioff's Concerto No .3

Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre celebrates the 10th anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures' 'Fantasia 2000' with a special limited engagement of the film from February 17 to 27. The music for 'Fantasia 2000' was conducted by James Levine, and performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre celebrates the 10th anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures' "Fantasia 2000" with a special limited engagement of the film from February 17 to 27. The music for "Fantasia 2000" was conducted by James Levine, and performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.

Hollywood's El Capitan Theatre celebrates the 10th anniversary of Walt Disney Pictures' "Fantasia 2000" with a special limited engagement of the film from February 17 to 27. The music for "Fantasia 2000" was conducted by James Levine, and performed by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra.