William Kent News

The bustling World Financial Center will be transformed into Elsinore Castle next month when it hosts a free production of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by William Shakespeare that will inhabit the sprawling venue as its set.

Dmitri Shostakovich's The Nose has its Metropolitan Opera premiere on March 5 at 8:00 pm, conducted by Valery Gergiev, in a visually arresting new production by artist William Kentridge that features original collage, film, sculpture, and massive projections of the artist's drawings and prints. Making his Met debut, baritone Paulo Szot performs the role of Kovalyov in the story of the Russian official who wakes one morning to discover his nose has disappeared (and taken on a higher bureaucratic rank). Based on the short story of the same name by Nikolai Gogol, the opera is what Kentridge has called an exploration of "learning from the absurd." In this production, visuals include renderings of Soviet workers, snatches of newspaper, and projections of propaganda - as well as the missing appendage in adventures ranging from delivering a speech to riding a horse.

Chopin 200, a weeklong celebration of Frederic Chopin's 200th birthday featuring 200 hours of the composer's works performed by an eclectic mix of nearly 200 pianists, including NPR's 'From the Top' host Christopher O'Riley; Jeffrey Swann; Vassily Primakov; Claire Huangci, winner of the Chopin Competition of Europe; Kimball Gallagher; and the winner of this month's Chopin Competition in Miami.

The classical music world is gearing up to celebrate Frederic Chopin's 200th birthday on March 1st, and one of the most ambitious tributes in the world will be happening for free in downtown Manhattan.

The Museum of Modern Art presents William Kentridge: Five Themes, a comprehensive survey of the artist's career, featuring more than 100 works in a range of mediums-animated films, drawings, prints, theater models, and books-on view from February 24 to May 17, 2010.

Chopin 200, a weeklong celebration of Frederic Chopin's 200th birthday featuring 200 hours of the composer's works performed by an eclectic mix of nearly 200 pianists, including NPR's 'From the Top' host Christopher O'Riley; Jeffrey Swann; Vassily Primakov; Claire Huangci, winner of the Chopin Competition of Europe; Kimball Gallagher; and the winner of this month's Chopin Competition in Miami.

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.

Acclaimed South African artist William Kentridge will dominate New York City's arts calendar in the coming months with works at MOMA and the Metropolitan Opera, but there's only one major venue where audiences can see his work for free.

Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez star in La Fille du Régiment, Donizetti's comedy about the tough-hearted young woman who was rescued and raised by the 21st regiment of the French army, and her romance with a hapless soldier-suitor.

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 Museum of Modern Art presents William Kentridge: Five Themes, a comprehensive survey of the artist's career, featuring more than 100 works in a range of mediums-animated films, drawings, prints, theater models, and books-on view from February 24 to May 17, 2010.

Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez star in La Fille du Régiment, Donizetti's comedy about the tough-hearted young woman who was rescued and raised by the 21st regiment of the French army, and her romance with a hapless soldier-suitor.

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

The classical music world is gearing up to celebrate Frederic Chopin's 200th birthday on March 1st, and one of the most ambitious tributes in the world will be happening for free in downtown Manhattan.

Acclaimed soprano Nina Stemme returns to the Met for the first time in nine years, adding the demanding title role of Ariadne auf Naxos to her company repertoire.

Dynamic tenor José Cura sings the title role of Verdi's rarely performed Stiffelio, the composer's daring opera about faith, jealousy, and redemption.

Dynamic tenor José Cura sings the title role of Verdi's rarely performed Stiffelio, the composer's daring opera about faith, jealousy, and redemption.

Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel returns to the Met beginning December 14 as this year's special holiday presentation.

A new production of Bizet's Carmen, directed by Richard Eyre and starring El?na Garan?a in the title role and Roberto Alagna as Don José, premieres at a New Year's Eve gala performance. Garan?a makes her Met role debut as the gypsy femme fatale, reuniting with Alagna following their recent success in these parts at London's Royal Opera, Covent Garden.

A new production of Bizet's Carmen, directed by Richard Eyre and starring El?na Garan?a in the title role and Roberto Alagna as Don José, premieres at a New Year's Eve gala performance. Garan?a makes her Met role debut as the gypsy femme fatale, reuniting with Alagna following their recent success in these parts at London's Royal Opera, Covent Garden.