Stephanie Blythe News

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's award-winning series of live transmissions to movie theaters, will feature 10 productions in the 2013-14 season, offering a significant portion of the Met season to opera lovers around the world.

The Metropolitan Opera's 2013-14 season will feature many of the world's greatest singers, conductors, and theater artists in 26 operas, including six new productions, of a varied repertory that ranges from the Baroque era to the 21st century. Met Music Director James Levine will return to the Met podium for the first time in two years, conducting three operas with which he has long been associated: a new production of Verdi's final masterpiece Falstaff, Mozart's Cosi fan tutte, and Berg's Wozzeck. Met Principal Conductor Fabio Luisi will be conducting two operas in the 2013-14 season, Rossini's La Cenerentola and Puccini's Madama Butterfly.

The New York Philharmonic will present Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel, February 27-March 2, 2013. As previously announced, the production will star Kelli O'Hara as Julie Jordan, Nathan Gunn as Billy Bigelow, Stephanie Blythe as Nettie Fowler, Shuler Hensley as Jigger Craigin, Jason Danieley as Enoch Snow, Jessie Mueller as Carrie Pipperidge, Kate Burton as Mrs. Mullin, and John Cullum as Fisher. In the video below, go inside ballet rehearsals for the show with director Warren Carlyle!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: RAGTIME is performed by a dream cast, PASSION returns to the New York stage, CAROUSEL preps for the New York Philharmonic, and so much more!

Now in its 15th season, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook celebrates the best in American singing and songwriting with a new chapter in the Songbook story: 'American Songbook in the Penthouse,' a series of weekend-only performances by performers and composers presented in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, an intimate yet elegant venue that brings artists closer to the audience in a cabaret-style setting. 'American Songbook in the Penthouse' embraces adventuresome performers and celebrates composers and lyricists, both newer and veteran. With a seating capacity of just 225, the Kaplan Penthouse allows acoustic performers to be heard the way they intend - near to the audience and without elaborate amplification. The size of the space also allows performers to interact with their audience to make them an integral part of their performance, something difficult to do in a larger, more formal venue.

The New York Philharmonic will present Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel, February 27-March 2, 2013. As previously announced, the production will star Kelli O'Hara as Julie Jordan, Nathan Gunn as Billy Bigelow, Stephanie Blythe as Nettie Fowler, Shuler Hensley as Jigger Craigin, Jason Danieley as Enoch Snow, Jessie Mueller as Carrie Pipperidge, Kate Burton as Mrs. Mullin, and John Cullum as Fisher. Check out photos from inside rehearsal below!

Live From Lincoln Center's winter and spring broadcast season kicks off with a special concert from Lincoln Center's 2013 American Songbook series celebrating the legendary songwriting duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The broadcast, 'RingThem Bells! A Kander & Ebb Celebration,' is hosted by Audra McDonald and will air on PBS stations on Friday, February 15, 2013, at 9 p.m. (ET) (check local listings).

'If I Loved You,' 'June Is Bustin' Out All Over,' 'You'll Never Walk Alone' — these are just a few of the many joys of the musical Time magazine called 'The Best of the 20th Century.' Now, in the tradition of its sold-out productions of Company and My Fair Lady, the Philharmonic and an all-star cast present Rodgers and Hammerstein's immortal Carousel, directed by Tony winner John Rando, and conducted by Rob Fisher.

The New York Philharmonic has announced that New York City Ballet principal dancers Robert Fairchild and Tiler Peck will perform in the staged production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel, February 27-March 2, 2013. Robert Fairchild will portray the Carnival Boy, and Tiler Peck will portray Louise. With original choreography by Warren Carlyle, Mr. Fairchild and Ms. Peck will dance the pas de deux ballet in Act II. Reflecting this production's focus on Carousel's music, the ballet will be the sole fully choreographed scene. These performances mark Warren Carlyle's first time choreographing Mr. Fairchild and Ms. Peck, and represent Mr. Carlyle, Mr. Fairchild, and Ms. Peck's Philharmonic debuts. Mr. Fairchild and Ms. Peck are appearing courtesy of the New York City Ballet.

On Monday, March 11, at 8:00 p.m., the versatile and commanding mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe, joined by frequent collaborator, pianist Warren Jones, makes her Carnegie Hall recital debut in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage with a deeply personal program of American song. Ms. Blythe's program features Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson, a set of songs written for her by the late composer James Legg, and Samuel Barber's Three Songs, Op. 10, powerful settings of three poems by James Joyce. Also featured are songs by Tin Pan Alley songwriters Ray Henderson, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin.

Live From Lincoln Center presents 'Kristin Chenoweth: The Dames of Broadway…All of 'Em!!!', a specially conceived concert for Lincoln Center's 2013 American Songbook series, which salutes the great roles for leading ladies and the sidekick scene stealers from an array of Broadway composers and lyricists, creating a performance that promises to be at once intimate and filled with her trademark 'razzle dazzle.' 'Kristin Chenoweth: The Dames of Broadway…All of 'Em!!!' is hosted by Live From Lincoln Center series host Audra McDonald and will air on PBS stations on Sunday, March 24, at 8 p.m. (ET) (check local listings).

The New York Philharmonic has announced several additions to the cast of its production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel, February 27-March 2, 2013: Shuler Hensley will portray Jigger Craigin, Jason Danieley will portray Enoch Snow (replacing the previously announced Alexander Gemignani, who has withdrawn due to scheduling conflicts), Jessie Mueller will portray Carrie Pipperidge, Kate Burton will portray Mrs. Mullin, and John Cullum will portray Starkeeper/Dr. Seldon. As previously announced, Carousel will star Kelli O'Hara as Julie Jordan, Nathan Gunn as Billy Bigelow, and Stephanie Blythe as Nettie Fowler. The production will be directed by John Rando, conducted by Rob Fisher, and choreographed by Warren Carlyle. The production's cast and creative team have earned a combined total of 16 Tony Awards and 32 Tony nominations.

For the music alone, you can't beat Verdi's IL TROVATORE, with a demanding string of arias that, in the right hands (or voices), can raise the rafters. But when it comes to the action, you must suspend your disbelief at the door--or stay home and watch the Marx Brothers have fun with it in 'A Night at the Opera.'

The Collegiate Chorale announces the New York Premieres of two works by major composers: Symphony No. 7 'Toltec' by Philip Glass and Oceana by Osvaldo Golijov, featuring international jazz vocalist Biella Da Costa and the American Symphony Orchestra on Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 7pm at Carnegie Hall, 881 7th Avenue, NYC. The Collegiate Chorale's Music Director James Bagwell will conduct.

Elena Manistina will sing the role of Azucena in this evening's performance of Verdi's Il Trovatore, replacing Stephanie Blythe, who is ill.

OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, has announced that it has awarded grants to 10 opera companies and four teams of artists through two funding programs: The Opera Fund: Repertoire Development and the Robert L.B. Tobin Director-Designer Showcase. These grants support the production of new North American opera and help develop the careers of promising directors and designers, respectively.

Live From Lincoln Center's winter and spring broadcast season kicks off with a special concert from Lincoln Center's 2013 American Songbook series celebrating the legendary songwriting duo of John Kander and Fred Ebb. The broadcast, "RingThem Bells! Rob Fisher Celebrates Kander & Ebb," is hosted by Audra McDonald and will air on PBS stations on Friday, February 15, 2013, at 9 p.m. (ET) (check local listings).

Elena Manistina will make her Met debut as Azucena in the Saturday, January 19 evening performance of Verdi's Il Trovatore, replacing Stephanie Blythe, who is ill.

Live From Lincoln Center, the award-winning series celebrating live performance at the world's largest performing arts center, will expand its 2013 broadcast season to a total of nine programs. Live From Lincoln Center's winter and spring broadcasts are: 'Ring Them Bells! Rob Fisher Celebrates Kander & Ebb', 'Kristin Chenoweth: The Dames of Broadway...All of 'Em!!!', Josh Groban, 'Stephanie Blythe: We'll Meet Again - The Songs of Kate Smith', Carousel and Audra McDonald.

According to an Equity castng notice, the New York Philharmonic's staged production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Carousel (February 27-March 2, 2013) will feature choreography by Warren Carlyle. The evening will feature Kelli O'Hara as Julie Jordan, Nathan Gunn as Billy Bigelow, Stephanie Blythe as Nettie Fowler, and Alexander Gemignani as Enoch Snow. The production will be directed by John Rando, replacing the previously announced James Brennan due to scheduling conflicts, and conducted by Rob Fisher.