Ken Howard News

Sir David McVicar's “smashing new production” is “a grand triumph” (Huffington Post), offering a splendid backdrop for two extraordinary sopranos sharing the title role of the jealous prima donna: Sonya Yoncheva and Anna Netrebko. Vittorio Grigolo and Yusif Eyvazov alternate in the role of Tosca's revolutionary artist lover Cavaradossi, with Željko Lu?i? and Michael Volle as the depraved police chief Scarpia. Emmanuel Villaume and Bertrand de Billy share conducting duties

The Met's new CENDRILLON is a Cinderella of a production, finally allowing Massenet's take on the classic tale of the girl from the cinders who finds her Prince Charming to reach the Met's stage 119 years after its premiere at the Opera-Comique in Paris.

BroadwayWorld has a first look at CENRILLON at The Met - now on stage through May 11th! Check out the photos below!

The final production of the Met's 2017-18 season, Gounod's Roméo et Juliette opens on April 23, 2018, with Bryan Hymel and Ailyn Pérez as the star-crossed lovers, conducted by Plácido Domingo and directed by Bartlett Sher. The cast also includes Karine Deshayes as Stéphano, Joshua Hopkins as Mercutio, and Kwangchul Youn as Frère Laurent, with six performances through May 12, 2018.

Verdi's Luisa Miller returns to the Met for the first time since 2006, starring Sonya Yoncheva as the title character and Piotr Beczala as her lover, Rodolfo.Placido Domingo adds a new role to his Met repertory as Miller, Luisa's father, a role he shares with Luca Salsi. Olesya Petrova sings the widowed duchess Federica, Alexander Vinogradov is the lord Walter, and Dmitry Belosselskiy sings the role of Wurm. Bertrand de Billy conducts all performances of the revival which runs for 7 performances from March 29 through April 21, 2018.

Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor returns to the Met starring Olga Peretyatko-Mariotti and Pretty Yende as the title character. Vittorio Grigolo and Michael Fabiano share the role of Lucia's lover Edgardo, with Massimo Cavalletti, Luca Salsi, and Quinn Kelsey as Enrico, her villainous brother. Vitalij Kowaljow and Alexander Vinogradov share the role of the chaplain Raimondo.

On March 11, 2018, Los Angeles Opera presented Christoph Willibald Gluck's ORPHEUS AND EURYDICE in conjunction with Joffrey Ballet Chicago at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. Having previously presented the Italian version of the opera with a mezzo-soprano as Orfeo, L. A. Opera offered the 1774 French version with a tenor Orpheus and a great deal more dance this time

A lot of risk, fast rotations in perfect unison, a precarious balance point. No, I'm not talking about doing a twizzle in Olympic ice-dancing--but starring in SEMIRAMIDE by Gioacchino Rossini, a man who believed there was no such thing as too many runs, roulades and high notes. Neither did soprano Angela Meade, who fearlessly stars in the Met's current run of this dazzlingly difficult piece.

Rossini's Semiramide is presented at the Met for the first time in 25 years, with eight performances beginning February 19, 2018, led by Maurizio Benini. The cast, comprised of artists considered by many to be amongst the world's leading bel canto singers, includes Angela Meade in the title role, Elizabeth DeShong as Arsace, Javier Camarena as Idreno, Ildar Abdrazakov as King Assur and Ryan Speedo Green as the High Priest Oroe. On March 10, 2018, the production will be transmitted to cinemas throughout the world as part of the Met's Live in HD series.

Richard Wagner's last opera, PARSIFAL, is a tough nut to crack. With its highly religious overtones, lack of action and incredible length (it ran about 5 hours 40 minutes the other night), it's not exactly a 'light night' at the opera--even if for those of us who consider opera to be a 'light night'. Still, with the right cast and conductor, it can be transcendent. The Met's new revival came pretty close to getting us there.

The SAG-AFTRA National Board of Directors overwhelmingly approved a Code of Conduct on Sexual Harassment as part of a broader program to combat sexual harassment and achieve workplace equity.

Klaus Florian Vogt will sing the title role in the first revival of one of the most acclaimed Met productions in recent years, Wagner's final opera, Parsifal, conducted by Yannick Nézet-Séguin and directed by François Girard.

LA Opera will present its premiere of Candide, Leonard Bernstein's 1956 musical comedy classic. Music Director James Conlon will conduct a cast led by Emmy winner Kelsey Grammer and Tony winner Christine Ebersole, both making their company debuts. Performances take place at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion (135 North Grand Avenue, Los Angeles CA 90012).

Due to ticket demand, LA Opera has scheduled an additional matinee performance of Candide, Leonard Bernstein's 1956 Broadway classic. The added performance will take place on Saturday, February 17, at 2pm.

On January 27, 2018, Los Angeles Opera presented the Bernstein work at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion with a cast that included Emmy-winning television star Kelsey Grammer. He is best remembered for his two-decade-long portrayal of psychiatrist Dr. Frasier Crane on the situation comedies Cheers, Wings, and Frasier. As Voltaire and Pangloss, Grammer had a huge speaking role that he acquitted with a commanding personality and considerable wit. Surprisingly, he sang quite well, too.

The Unique Panel Discussion will celebrate a new book by Ronald Rand, "CREATE! How Extraordinary Artists Live to Create and Create to Live" at the historical theatrical club, The Lambs 3 West 51st Street, New York City, Monday, March 12th, 2018, 7:00-8:00pm. There is no charge for the Event. Seating is limited - reservations are necessary at: (212) 586-0306 or RSVP@The-Lambs.org     

The trials and tribulations of the Met's new take on Puccini's TOSCA have been well documented--with all three principals replaced along with two conductors--and it would be nice to be able to say that everything came out happily-ever-after. Alas. There's nothing wrong with the company's surprise-free new take on one of Italian opera's most famous works that a stronger director couldn't come in and cure.

Emmanuel Villaume will conduct the Met's new production of Puccini's Tosca, on December 31, 2017, and January 3, 6, 9, 12, 23, and 27, 2018, replacing James Levine.

The best new production of the Gelb era is now ten years old. And it still has the power to please.

American soprano Ailyn P rez makes her role debut as the glamorous courtesan in the title role of Tha s, opening November 11 for seven performances.