Violeta Urmana News

The Met Opera's Free Summer HD Festival lights up the newly redesigned Lincoln Center Plaza, Saturday, August 28 - Monday, September 6, 2010.

The Metropolitan Opera announced plans for a series of free outdoor events this summer: operatic recitals that will take place in parks throughout the city and encore screenings of the Met's popular HD shows in Lincoln Center Plaza.

Starting next month, the Met will present Summer HD Encores, a series of popular Live in HD screenings from recent seasons, featuring opera's greatest stars in productions of repertory classics. Beginning June 16 and running through July 28, six operas will be shown in more than 400 movie theaters across the United States.

The Metropolitan Opera announced plans for a series of free outdoor events this summer: operatic recitals that will take place in parks throughout the city and encore screenings of the Met's popular HD shows in Lincoln Center Plaza.

The Metropolitan Opera and NCM Fathom will once again present a series of six encore performances from the historic archives of the Peabody Award-winning The Met: Live in HD series in select movie theaters nationwide.

Starting next month, the Met will present Summer HD Encores, a series of popular Live in HD screenings from recent seasons, featuring opera's greatest stars in productions of repertory classics. Beginning June 16 and running through July 28, six operas will be shown in more than 400 movie theaters across the United States.

The Metropolitan Opera announced plans for a series of free outdoor events this summer: operatic recitals that will take place in parks throughout the city and encore screenings of the Met's popular HD shows in Lincoln Center Plaza.

Russell Thomas will sing the role of Foresto in Verdi's Attila at tonight's performance, replacing Ramón Vargas, who is ill. Thomas, who was scheduled to sing Uldino this evening will be replaced in that role by Eduardo Valdes.

Seven new productions, including two company premieres and the first two parts of a new Ring cycle, featuring many of the world's greatest singers and conductors, will highlight the Metropolitan Opera's 2010-11 season.

Franco Vassallo will sing the role of Ezio in Verdi's Attila on March 19, 22, and 27, replacing Carlos Alvarez, who is ill. Vassallo is currently appearing at the Met as Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, the role of his 2005 company debut. Last season the Italian baritone was Belcore in L'Elisir d'Amore, and in 2007, audiences around the world saw him as Riccardo in The Met: Live in HD transmission of I Puritani, now available in DVD.

Giovanni Meoni will make his Met debut singing the role of Ezio in the premiere of Verdi's Attila, tomorrow evening, replacing Carlos Alvarez, who is ill.

Verdi's Attila will have its Met premiere on February 23, conducted by Riccardo Muti and directed by Pierre Audi in their Met debuts.

Award-winning filmmaker Susan Froemke looks at the intense pressures young opera singers face as they struggle to succeed in one of the difficult professions in the performing arts in The Audition.

The 79th consecutive season of the Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcasts launches on December 12, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. EST with a live performance of Puccini's Il Trittico, starring Patricia Racette singing all three leading soprano roles. Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe also appears in the Puccini triple-bill.

The 79th consecutive season of the Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Radio Broadcasts launches on December 12, 2009 at 12:30 p.m. EST with a live performance of Puccini's Il Trittico, starring Patricia Racette singing all three leading soprano roles. Mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe also appears in the Puccini triple-bill.

Olga Borodina will sing Amneris in this evening's performance of Aida at the Metropolitan Opera, replacing Dolora Zajick, who is ill. Zajick is still scheduled for performances on October 24, 29, November 2 and 6. The October 24 matinee of Aida will be shown Live in HD in movie theaters internationally.

Tickets for the fourth season of The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's popular, award-winning series of live transmissions in movie theaters around the world, are now on sale to the general public in the U.S. The 2009-10 season, featuring nine live opera transmissions, kicks off on Saturday, October 10 at 1:00 p.m. ET with a new production of Puccini's Tosca starring Karita Mattila.

Tickets for the fourth season of The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's popular, award-winning series of live transmissions in movie theaters around the world, are now on sale at Middlebury's Town Hall Theater.

Tickets for the fourth season of The Met: Live in HD, the Metropolitan Opera's popular, award-winning series of live transmissions in movie theaters around the world, are now on sale to the general public in the U.S. The 2009-10 season, featuring nine live opera transmissions, kicks off on Saturday, October 10 at 1:00 p.m. ET with a new production of Puccini's Tosca starring Karita Mattila.

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.