Il Trittico Is the Dec. 8, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Puccini’s Il Trittico is the Dec. 8, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering second of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

Puccini’s Il Trittico, on air Saturday, Dec. 8, is the second in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s Saturday matinee radio broadcast schedule: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 15, 2018

Giacomo Puccini’s Il Trittico is the Dec. 8, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the second of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s schedule of 24 Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

Il Trittico (The Triptych) by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924) comprises a trio of one-act operas linked by the concealment of death. Puccini composed the musical scores for the Italian language librettos.

Italian librettist and playwright Giuseppe Adami (Feb. 4, 1878-Oct. 12, 1946) is credited with the Italian libretto for Il Tabarro (The Cloak). The one-act opera’s literary source is La Houppelande: Drame en Un Acte, a one-act French play by Didier Gold (1874-Jan. 2, 1931). La Houppelande debuted in 1910 at Théâtre Marigny in the Parisian 8th arrondissement (8e arrondissement de Paris), on the Seine’s right bank (la Rive gauche de la Seine). The theatre-in-the-round is sited near the junction of the Champs-Élysées with Avenue Marigny.

Italian librettist and playwright Giovacchino Forzano (Nov. 19, 1884-Oct. 28, 1970) is credited with the Italian libretto for Il Trittico’s last two parts, Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi. The literary source for Gianni Schicchi is an incident in The Divine Comedy (Divina Commedia) by Late Medieval Italian poet Durante degli Alighieri (ca. May/June 1265-Sept. 14, 1321), known commonly as Dante Alighieri or Dante. Dante’s Gianni Schicchi appears in Inferno Canto XXX during Dante’s visit to Hell’s Circle of Impersonators.

The Metropolitan Opera was the venue for the world premiere of Puccini’s Il Trittico during the opera house’s 1918-1919 season. Il Trittico’s world premiere took place Dec. 14, 1918. Italian conductor Roberto Moranzoni (Oct. 5, 1880-Dec. 14, 1959) conducted the world premiere.

Seven performances of Il Trittico are scheduled for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season. The season premiere occurs Friday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Two additional performances are given in November. The month’s additional Il Trittico performances take place Monday, Nov. 26, at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

Il Trittico’s four winter performances take place in December. The month’s performances happen Wednesday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 8, at 12:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 15, at 8:30 p.m.

Il Trittico is estimated to run for 3 hours 46 minutes. Act I (Il Tabarro) spans 51 minutes, followed by a 38-minute intermission. Act II (Suor Angelica) runs for 54 minutes. The intermission between Act II and Act III spans 33 minutes. Act III (Gianni Schicchi) lasts for 50 minutes.

Bertrand de Billy conducts all seven performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast. The French conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 16, 1998, in the opera company’s 294th performance of Roméo et Juliette by French composer Charles-François Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Amber Wagner appears in six performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Il Tabarro’s Giorgetta. She sings Giorgetta for three November performances (Friday, Nov. 23; Monday, Nov. 26; Friday, Nov. 30) and three December performances (Wednesday, Dec. 5; Saturday, Dec. 8; Saturday, Dec. 15). The American soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Sept. 27, 2011, as Anna in the opera company’s 46th performance of Nabucco by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901).

Amber Wagner shares the role of Il Tabarro’s Giorgetta with Tatiana Melnychenko, who appears in the Wednesday, Dec. 12, performance. The Ukrainian dramatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut occurred Dec. 27, 2016, as Abigaille in the opera company’s 62nd performance of Verdi’s Nabucco.

Stephanie Blythe appears in all seven performances with roles in all of Il Trittico’s operatic trio. She sings Frugola in Il Tabarro, La Principessa in Suor Angelica and Zita in Gianni Schicchi. The American mezzo-soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut occurred April 14, 1995, as the Voice in the opera company’s 273rd performance of Parsifal by 19th century German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883). In the 2018-2019 season, Stephanie Blythe also appears as the Marquise of Berkenfield in La Fille du Régiment by Italian bel canto composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848).

Marcelo Álvarez appears in all seven performances as Il Tabarro’s Luigi. The Argentine lyric tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut took place Nov. 23, 1998, as Alfredo in the opera company’s 819th performance of Verdi’s La Traviata.

George Gagnidze appears in six performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Il Tabarro’s Michele. He sings Michele in three November performances (Friday, Nov. 23; Monday, Nov. 26; Friday, Nov. 30) and three December performances (Wednesday, Dec. 5; Saturday, Dec. 8; Saturday, Dec. 15). The Georgian operatic baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Jan. 27, 2009, as the title role in the opera company’s 817th performance of Verdi Rigoletto. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, he revisits his debut role.

George Gagnidze shares the role of Michele with Lucio Gallo, who appears in the Wednesday, Dec. 12, performance. The Italian baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 7, 1991, as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Maurizio Muraro appears in all performances in the roles of Talpa and Simone in Il Tabarro. The Italian operatic bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 2, 2005, as Dr. Bartolo in the opera company’s 419th performance of Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Maurizio Muraro also appears as Prince of Bouillon in Adriana Lecouvreur by Italian composer Francesco Cilea (July 23, 1866-Nov. 20, 1950) and as Sulpice in Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment.

Kristine Opolais appears in six performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, in the title role of Suor Angelica. She sings Suor Angelica three November performances (Friday, Nov. 23; Monday, Nov. 26; Friday, Nov. 30) and three December performances (Wednesday, Dec. 5; Saturday, Dec. 8; Saturday, Dec. 15). The Latvian operatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Jan. 11, 2013, as Magda in the opera company’s 29th performance of Puccini’s La Rondine.

Kristine Opolais shares the role of Suor Angelica with Elena Stikhina, who appears in the Wednesday, Dec. 12, performance. The Russian soprano’s appearance in the title role marks her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Maureen McKay appears in all performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Suor Angelica’s Sister Genovieffa. The American soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 28, 2018, as Gretel in the opera company’s 275th performance of Hänsel und Gretel by German composer Engelbert Humperdinck (Sept. 1, 1854-Sept. 27, 1921).

Kristina Mkhitaryan appears in all performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Gianni Schicchi’s Lauretta. The Russian soprano’s appearance as Lauretta marks her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Atalla Ayan appears in all performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Gianni Schicchi’s Rinuccio. The Brazilian tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 29, 2017, as Alfredo in the opera company’s 1,006th performance of Verdi’s La Traviata.

Plácido Domingo appears in all performances, including the Dec. 8 Saturday matinee broadcast, in the title role of Gianni Schicchi. The Spanish opera singer’s Metropolitan Opera house debut happened Sept. 28, 1968, as Maurizio in the opera company’s 16th performance of Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Plácido Domingo also appears as Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata.

The Metropolitan Opera last performed Puccini’s Il Trittico in the 2009-2010 season. The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of Il Trittico count as the second revival of Jack O’Brien’s production. The American director and producer’s staging of Il Trittico debuted April 20, 2007, as a new production in the Metropolitan Opera’s 60th performance of Il Trittico.

The new production’s debut also marked Metropolitan Opera debuts by Jack O’Brien and his production team. His production team comprises Douglas W. Schmidt, set designer; Jess Goldstein, costume designer; and Jules Fisher and Peggy Eisenhauer, lighting designers.

The takeaway for Il Trittico as the 2018-2019 Saturday matinee broadcast Dec. 8 is that the season's second Saturday matinee broadcast occurs about a week short of the 100th anniversary of Il Trittico's world premiere, held at the Metropolitan Opera Dec. 14, 1918.

The world premiere cast of Il Trittico's Gianni Schicchi segment featured Italian baritone Giuseppe De Luca (Dec. 25, 1876-Aug. 26, 1950) in the title role, English dramatic soprano Florence Easton (Oct. 25, 1882-Aug. 13, 1955) as Lauretta and Italian operatic tenor Giulio Crimi (May 10, 1885-Oct. 29, 1939) as Rinuccio: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Dec. 14, 2017

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Image credits:

Puccini’s Il Trittico, on air Saturday, Dec. 8, is the second in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s Saturday matinee radio broadcast schedule: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 15, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120580533/

The world premiere cast of Il Trittico's Gianni Schicchi segment featured Italian baritone Giuseppe De Luca (Dec. 25, 1876 Aug. 26, 1950) in the title role, English dramatic soprano Florence Easton (Oct. 25, 1882-Aug. 13, 1955) as Lauretta and Italian operatic tenor Giulio Crimi (May 10, 1885-Oct. 29, 1939) as Rinuccio: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Dec. 14, 2017, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10159854181810533/

For further information:

“Debut: Amber Wagner.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354051 Nabucco {46} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/27/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354051

“Debut: George Gagnidze.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352823 Rigoletto {817} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/27/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352823

“Debut: Maureen McKay.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356833 Hänsel und Gretel {275} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 12/28/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356833

“Debut: Plácido Domingo.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 216130 Adriana Lecouvreur {16} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/28/1968.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=216130

“Debut: Tatiana Melnychenko.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356576 Nabucco {62} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/27/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356576

“Debuts: Alfred Walker, Bertrand de Billy.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 330528 Roméo et Juliette {294} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/16/1998.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=330528

“Debuts: Atalla Ayan, Aaron Blake.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356675 La Traviata {1006} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/29/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356675

“Debuts: Kristine Opolais . . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354783 La Rondine {29} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/11/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354783

“Debuts: Mark Wigglesworth, Maurizio Muraro . . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351338 Le Nozze di Figaro {419} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/02/2005.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351338

“Debuts: Peter Van Praet, Paolo Fanale, Carlo Bosi, Christian Van Horn.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355173 Falstaff {176} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/06/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355173

“Debuts: Stephanie Blythe, Anthony Dean Griffey.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 320010 Parsifal {273} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/14/1995.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=320010

Marriner, Derdriu. “2018-2019 Met Opera Season Premiere of Il Trittico Is Friday, Nov. 23.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 12, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/2018-2019-met-opera-season-premiere-of_12.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Mefistofele Is First 2018-2019 Saturday Matinee Broadcast Dec. 1.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 26, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/mefistofele-is-first-2018-2019-saturday.html

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Puccini’s triple bill features first-class casting . . .” Facebook. Feb. 15, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120580533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “ #TBT On this day in 1918, Il Trittico, a trio of one-act operas by Giacomo Puccini, made its world premiere at the Met. . . .” Facebook. Dec. 14, 2017.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10159854181810533/

“World Premiere: Il Trittico.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 70380 World Premiere Il Trittico {1} Il Tabarro {1} Suor Angelica {1} Gianni Schicchi {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/14/1918.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=70380