Stephen Wadsworth News

The Metropolitan Opera will premiere a new production of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov on October 11, starring Rene Pape as Boris and conducted by Valery Gergiev.

he Metropolitan Opera's fifth season of free open dress rehearsals begins on October 8 with the company's new production of Modest Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, starring bass Rene Pape in the title role. Valery Gergiev conducts the production, which is directed by Stephen Wadsworth.

MetTalks, a series of panel discussions with the casts and creative teams of the Metropolitan Opera's new productions, will begin on September 22 with a conversation about Das Rheingold, the first installment of the Met's new Ring cycle.

The Metropolitan Opera and The Juilliard School jointly announced plans today to stage Bed?ich Smetana's The Bartered Bride, the first co-production between the two arts institutions.

While René Pape is preparing to sing the title role of Boris Godunov for the first time at the Metropolitan Opera, the Mariinsky label releases its recording of Parsifal featuring the bass in a role for which he has garnered much critical praise: Gurnemanz.

Season Features World Premieres, New York Premieres, New Productions, More than 20 Debut Artists, and an All-New Concert Series at the David H. Koch Theater

René Pape will be the toast of the opera world again this season when he assumes two of his signature roles on two of the world's greatest stages: the title role of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov in a new production at New York's Metropolitan Opera (Oct 11-30) and Wotan in Wagner's Die Walküre as part of the ongoing Ring cycle at Milan's La Scala (Dec 7 - Jan 2).

The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's Emmy and Peabody Award-winning series of live performance transmissions into movie theaters around the world, will expand in its fifth season to 1500 theaters (an increase of 300 theaters), while adding Egypt, Portugal, and Spain to its network of now 46 participating countries.

MetTalks, a series of panel discussions with the casts and creative teams of the Metropolitan Opera's new productions, will begin on September 22 with a conversation about Das Rheingold, the first installment of the Met's new Ring cycle.

Today New York City Opera released full casting, creative team, and production details for the company's 2010-2011 season.

Today New York City Opera released full casting, creative team, and production details for the company's 2010-2011 season. The season spotlights American composers and 20th-century works, world premieres, New York premieres and new productions. Offering audiences the opportunity to experience new and rarely performed operas as well as modern interpretations of traditional repertoire, the 2010-2011 season also will feature the launch of a new concert series showcasing the non-operatic works of several of the composers whose operas will be presented on the mainstage.

As part of its upcoming season New York City Opera will launch an all-new concert series showcasing the non-operatic works of composers whose operas will be presented on its main stage. With the 2010-2011 season boasting operas by Leonard Bernstein, one of America's most influential composers, the organization will honor Bernstein with Lucky to Be Me: The Music of Leonard Bernstein in Concert featuring Broadway's best.

On Tuesday, August 3, at Seattle Opera's Annual Meeting at McCaw Hall, the company announced that it expects to achieve a balanced budget for the 2009/10 season, no mean feat in today's difficult economy.

Stephen Wadsworth will direct the Metropolitan Opera's new production of Mussorgsky's Boris Godunov, replacing Peter Stein, who has withdrawn for personal reasons.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with a revival of BETH HENLEY's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CRIMES OF THE HEART. Set in Mississippi in 1974 (five years after Hurricane Camille), this sweet, sexy comedy follows the travails of the three Magrath sisters, who come together at the family home in Hazelhurst when the youngest Babe is charged with shooting her husband 'cause she didn't like his looks.'

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with a revival of BETH HENLEY's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CRIMES OF THE HEART. Set in Mississippi in 1974 (five years after Hurricane Camille), this sweet, sexy comedy follows the travails of the three Magrath sisters, who come together at the family home in Hazelhurst when the youngest Babe is charged with shooting her husband 'cause she didn't like his looks.'

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 2009-2010 Season with a revival of BETH HENLEY's Pulitzer Prize-winning play CRIMES OF THE HEART. Set in Mississippi in 1974 (five years after Hurricane Camille), this sweet, sexy comedy follows the travails of the three Magrath sisters, who come together at the family home in Hazelhurst when the youngest Babe is charged with shooting her husband 'cause she didn't like his looks.'

Rossini's rarely performed Armida has its Met premiere on April 12 with a gala performance of Mary Zimmerman's new production. Renowned soprano Renée Fleming stars as the mythological sorceress, Armida, one of the greatest virtuoso roles from the bel canto repertory. Fleming is joined by Lawrence Brownlee, who sings Armida's chief love interest, Rinaldo, and five more tenors in the roles of the crusader knights. José Manuel Zapata portrays Rinaldo's deadly rival Gernando.

The Kennedy Center will end its production of Terrence McNally's The Lisbon Traviata on April 11th. The play starred Malcolm Gets as Stephen, John Glover as Mendy, and Chris Hartl as Paul.

Ambroise Thomas's Hamlet returns to the Met stage for its first performances since 1897, with the powerful pairing of Simon Keenlyside in the title role and Marlis Petersen as Ophélie. Keenlyside's acclaimed interpretation of Hamlet in Geneva, London and Barcelona finally arrives in the United States, with a performance in the Patrice Caurier and Moshe Leiser production that was hailed by the British press as 'magnificent . . . sheer vocal genius.' Petersen, who steps in for Natalie Dessay, brings her haunting portrayal of Ophélie to the Met; she earned praise for the role during a 2006 run of Hamlet in Düsseldorf. Louis Langrée conducts a cast that includes Jennifer Larmore as Gertrude, Toby Spence in his Met debut as Laërte, and James Morris in the role of Claudius. Jane Archibald, in her Met debut, sings the role of Ophélie on April 5 and 9. The creative team is rounded out by Christian Fenouillat with set designs, Agostino Cavalca with costume designs, and Christophe Forey with lighting designs, all in their Met debuts. Performances run through April 9, with the March 27 matinee shown worldwide as part of The Met: Live in HD