Nicole Cabell News

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.

The Metropolitan Opera has reason to celebrate; $2.5 million worth of tickets were sold on Sunday, the first day of sales, through its box office, telephone call center and Web site, up from $2 million on the first day of sales last year, according to the Associated press.

The LA Phil presents Porgy and Bess, a tale of early 20th-century African-American life, deep in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, on the Hollywood Bowl stage July 19, at 7:30 PM. Principal Guest Conductor Bramwell Tovey leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Pacific Chorale in the well-known songs of this American classic including 'Summertime' and 'It Ain't Necessarily So.'

The LA Phil presents Porgy and Bess, a tale of early 20th-century African-American life, deep in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, on the Hollywood Bowl stage July 19, at 7:30 PM. Principal Guest Conductor Bramwell Tovey leads the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Pacific Chorale in the well-known songs of this American classic including 'Summertime' and 'It Ain't Necessarily So.'

Nicole Cabell will sing the role of Adina in L'Elisir d'Amore this evening replacing Angela Gheorghiu, who is ill. Cabell will also sing performances on April 18 and 22 as originally scheduled.

Donizetti's comic masterpiece L'Elisir d'Amore returns to the Met with Angela Gheorghiu reprising her acclaimed portrayal of Adina and three tenors singing the role of Nemorino for the first time with the company: Massimo Giordano, Rolando Villazón, and Joseph Calleja. Other members of the cast also making role debuts include Franco Vassallo as Belcore and Simone Alaimo as the quack Doctor Dulcamara.

American soprano Nicole Cabell, winner of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2005, makes her Roy Thomson Hall debut on Sunday, March 8 at 2 pm. She is joined by pianist Spencer Myer for a captivating program of art songs by Liszt, Obradors, Guastavino and Gordon, plus Leonard Bernstein's delightful song-cycle I Hate Music, and a selection of spirituals. The concert, part of Roy Thomson Hall's International Vocal Recitals, will be recorded live by CBC Radio for future broadcast. Ms. Cabell will be exclusively outfitted for the occasion by Canadian designer Rosemarie Umetsu.

A slew of entertainment is coming to Toronto's Massey Hall & Roy Thompson Hall in March and April of 2009.

Eight new productions, four of which are company premieres, will highlight the Metropolitan Opera's 2009-10 season. General Manager Peter Gelb and Music Director James Levine jointly announced plans that include: the Met premieres of Rossini's Armida, Verdi's Attila, Jan?ček's From the House of the Dead, and Shostakovich's The Nose; new productions of Bizet's Carmen, Offenbach's Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Thomas's Hamlet, and Puccini's Tosca; and 18 revivals from the company's repertory. The season is the first to be entirely planned under Gelb's leadership, in collaboration with Levine (the past three seasons were planned before Gelb became General Manager in 2006-07 but included some productions, repertoire, and casting changes made by Gelb).

American soprano Nicole Cabell, winner of the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition in 2005, makes her Roy Thomson Hall debut on Sunday, March 8 at 2 pm. She is joined by pianist Spencer Myer for a captivating program of art songs by Liszt, Obradors, Guastavino and Gordon, plus Leonard Bernstein's delightful song-cycle I Hate Music, and a selection of spirituals. The concert, part of Roy Thomson Hall's International Vocal Recitals, will be recorded live by CBC Radio for future broadcast. Ms. Cabell will be exclusively outfitted for the occasion by Canadian designer Rosemarie Umetsu.

Julie Taymor's hit production of Mozart's The Magic Flute returns to the Met as this season's special holiday presentation beginning December 22. The abridged, English-language version is specially priced to appeal to families and will have four matinees and one holiday evening performance, running through January 1.

The Orange County Performing Arts Center presents 'Stephen Schwartz and Friends' October 2nd through the 5th at the Samueli theater. Sondheim's music will be performed by Liz Callaway, Scott Coulter, and Tony Award winner Debbie Gravitte. The Orange County Performing Arts Center is located at 600 Town Center Drive in Costa Mesa, CA. Call (714) 556-2787 visit www.OCPAC.org for tickets, which are priced at $68.

Simone Alaimo will sing the role of Dr. Dulcamara in 'L'Elisir d'Amore' for the Met's 2008-09 season, replacing Bryn Terfel, who has decided to retire the role from his repertoire.

Ravinia Festival's Box Office officially opens for walk-up sales on Saturday, May 17 during a day filled with discounts, the chance to purchase pavilion seating to some sold-out concerts and promotions and samples from some of Ravinia's sponsors.