The title character in Puccini's TOSCA is the quintessential diva--a grand performer ('goddess' in Italian) who thinks the world revolves around her, particularly when it comers to her lover, painter Mario Cavaradossi. The same might be said for soprano Angela Gheorghiu, who used to be a top attraction at the Met, until cancellations and other prima donna-ish actions saw her fall from favor, despite her fine singing and acting skills. Well, she came back for two performances of her well-traveled (and -received) Floria Tosca and the result was, well, disappointing.
Plácido Domingo, currently at the Met to conduct TOSCA, was admitted to the hospital yesterday, suffering from cholecystitis, or inflammation of the gallbladder. He is scheduled to undergo a laparoscopic cholecystectomy (gallbladder removal) early next week, and it is expected that this minimally invasive procedure will allow him to resume his activities after a brief hospital stay.
Roberto Aronica will sing Cavaradossi in the first five performances of Puccini's Tosca at the Met this season—October 16, 21, 24 matinee, 29, and November 2—replacing Massimo Giordano, who is ill. As originally scheduled, Aronica will also sing the role on November 25, 28 matinee, and December 1.
Barbara Frittoli will sing the role of Mimì in the first six performances of Puccini's La Bohème at the Met this season: November 23, 27, 30, December 5 matinee, 9, and 12.
On Sunday, June 14, San Francisco Opera begins a revival of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's sparkling comedy The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro) as part of the Company's 2015 Summer Season.
On Sunday, June 14, San Francisco Opera begins a revival of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's sparkling comedy The Marriage of Figaro (Le Nozze di Figaro) as part of the Company's 2015 Summer Season. The production, featuring a stellar cast of dynamic, young singers, is conducted by Principal Guest Conductor Patrick Summers and continues through Sunday, July 5 at the War Memorial Opera House. In conjunction with these performances, San Francisco Opera returns to AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants, for a free live simulcast of The Marriage of Figaro on Friday, July 3. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!
Handel's sensuous and sparkling opera Semele is coming to McCaw Hall for the first time this February. Composed to an English-language libretto, this Greek myth tells the story of a mortal woman, Semele, who aspires to live among the “beautiful people”—that is, to become a goddess. Abducted by Jupiter, king of the gods, Semele believes she has found endless love (not to mention endless pleasure!) in the divine realm. But dancing with the deities proves dangerous; Juno, Jupiter's jealous wife, will make this mere mortal pay dearly for her ambition and vanity in an opera that is both comic and tragic.
Puccini's LA BOHEME has that magical ability to change its shape depending on the cast. When Pavarotti sang, it became his opera, with a Mimi hard pressed to take the spotlight, even in her death scene. When Stratas, Carreras and Scotto (as Musetta) led the cast, it became a glittery ensemble of shooting stars. At this week's performance with rising star Bulgarian soprano Sonya Yoncheva as Mimi, there was no doubt that she was the evening's “it” girl, even though the other principal singers added mightily to the performance's success.
Francesco Demuro and Michael Fabiano will sing the role of Rodolfo in the remaining 2014 performances of La Bohème, replacing Ramón Vargas, who has withdrawn from the remainder of the performances due to illness.
Italian tenor Francesco Demuro will make his Met debut in the role of Rodolfo in this evening's performance of La Bohème, replacing Charles Castronovo who is ill. Demuro was scheduled to make his Met debut as Alfredo in La Traviata next month.
Bryan Hymel and Charles Castronovo will sing the role of Rodolfo in the next three Met performances of La Bohème, replacing Ramón Vargas, who is recovering from an illness.
In a last-minute substitution, American tenor Bryan Hymel will sing the role of Rodolfo in this evening's performance of La Bohème, replacing Ramón Vargas, who is ill. Hymel, who made a successful Met role debut as Rodolfo earlier this season, agreed yesterday evening to fly to New York from Chicago, where he is in rehearsal for a different opera.
Sonya Yoncheva will make her North American role debut as Violetta in Verdi's La Traviata at the Met this January. Yoncheva was originally scheduled to sing Musetta in La Bohème at the Met this season. Instead, she will sing Violetta, one of her most acclaimed roles, as a replacement for Marina Poplavskaya, who has withdrawn from the performances. Yoncheva sings the role on January 14, 17, 21, and 24.
The Metropolitan Opera will open its 130th season on Monday, September 22 with a new production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro, conducted by Met Music Director James Levine and directed by Richard Eyre.
The Metropolitan Opera's popular Summer HD Festival returns to Lincoln Center Plaza with screenings of ten acclaimed productions from the Met's Emmy Award-winning Live in HD series, including four new productions from the 2013-14 season.
From the depths of hell to the heights of paradise, the four great operas of Seattle Opera's 2014/15 season will take operagoers on a fantastic journey. During this important season, leadership will pass from Speight Jenkins, who has been General Director of Seattle Opera for a remarkable 31 years, to Aidan Lang, who was announced as Jenkins' successor in June, 2013.
On Monday, November 11, the Metropolitan Opera Guild's 79th Annual Luncheon presents "Welcome Home, Jimmy!" to salute music directorJames Levine on his triumphant return to the Met podium. A perennial highlight of the opera season, the luncheon will bring together a host of artists who have collaborated with the preeminent conductor over the course of his long and celebrated Met tenure, as well as opera fans and an array of New York's society, business, and civic leaders. "Welcome Home, Jimmy!" will feature musical tributes by Dolora Zajick, "a mezzo in a class by herself" (New York Times); Thomas Hampson, "America's foremost baritone" (International Herald Tribune); and Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone Eric Owens, all accompanied by the Met's Director of Music Administration, Craig Rutenberg. Proceeds from the event will benefit the Guild's education programs in New York City and throughout the country.
