Richard Margison News

The Metropolitan Opera celebrates the 40th anniversary of James Levine's company debut with James Levine: Celebrating 40 Years at the Met, two special boxed sets of 21 DVDs and 32 CDs featuring highlights from the longtime Music Director's record-breaking career with the company.

As China seeks to cultivate the arts for a growing middle-class, Western producers are looking for ways to build audiences and earn more money, according to a recent New York Times article.

On February 8, at 8pm EST the Bravo! Network will air 'Des McAnuff: A Life in Stages' documentary tribute to the Multi-time Tony-winning director and stage producer as part of the Great Canadian Bios series. The documentary is a film about one man on two journeys - one the search for understanding of his father he never knew and the other creative zeal that defines his relentless passion for the world of musical theatre.

On February 8, at 8pm EST the Bravo! Network will air 'Des McAnuff: A Life in Stages' documentary tribute to the Multi-time Tony-winning director and stage producer as part of the Great Canadian Bios series. The documentary is a film about one man on two journeys - one the search for understanding of his father he never knew and the other creative zeal that defines his relentless passion for the world of musical theatre.

Broadway musical theatre icon Carol Lawrence will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Sunday, October 18, 2009 at a 3:00 pm Gala concert in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, followed by Cocktails and Dinner at 6:30 pm at the New York Athletic Club.

Broadway musical theatre icon Carol Lawrence will receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Sunday, October 18, 2009 at a 3:00 pm Gala concert in Zankel Hall at Carnegie Hall, followed by Cocktails and Dinner at 6:30 pm at the New York Athletic Club.

Verdi's grand Egyptian pageant, Aida, returns to the Met stage with soprano Violeta Urmana singing the title role for the first time with the company and mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick as Amneris, one of her most renowned interpretations.

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.

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).

When her mother and her mother's lover devise the murder of her beloved father, only one thing can ease Elektra's pain and sorrow... Revenge. Come experience this twisted tale of passion and revenue in Elektra - one of the most sensational operas - starring the virtuosic New York Philharmonic and an acclaimed cast.

When her mother and her mother's lover devise the murder of her beloved father, only one thing can ease Elektra's pain and sorrow... Revenge. Come experience this twisted tale of passion and revenue in Elektra - one of the most sensational operas - starring the virtuosic New York Philharmonic and an acclaimed cast.