2019-2020 Met Opera Season’s Seventh Week Has Glass, Gluck and Puccini

Summary: The 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s seventh week has Glass, Gluck and Puccini operas of Akhnaten, Orfeo ed Euridice, La Bohème and Madama Butterfly.

The Metropolitan Opera Premiere of Akhnaten by American composer Philip Glass introduces English director Phelim McDermott's staging, which the English National Opera premiered March 4, 2016, as a new production: English National Opera @englishnationalopera, via Facebook March 7, 2016

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s seventh week has Glass, Gluck and Puccini operas in continuing performances of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice and two Puccini operas and in the Met Opera premiere of Glass’ Akhnaten.

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s seventh week begins with Orfeo ed Euridice by German Classical Era composer Christoph Gluck (July 2, 1714-Nov. 15, 1787). The week offers two performances of the opera. The week’s first performance takes place Monday, Nov. 4, 2019, at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The week’s second performance happens Thursday, Nov. 7, at 8 p.m.

The season’s seventh week includes two performances of La Bohème by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). The week’s first performance takes place Tuesday, Nov. 5, at 7:30 p.m. The week’s second performance of La Bohème happens Saturday, Nov. 9, at 8 p.m.

The season’s seventh week features performances of a second Puccini opera. Madama Butterfly receives two performances in the season’s seventh week. The week’s first performance takes place Wednesday, Nov. 6. The week’s second performance happens Saturday, Nov. 9, at 1 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Akhnaten by American composer Philip Glass takes place during the 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s seventh week. Akhnaten premieres Friday, Nov. 8, at 8 p.m. at the Metropolitan Opera.

Including its premiere, Akhnaten receives eight performances in the 2019-2020 Met Opera season. Six of the opera’s performances take place in November. Beyond opening night, the month’s five additional performances take place Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Nov. 15, at 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Nov. 19, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 23, at 1 p.m.; Saturday, Nov. 30, at 8 p.m.

Akhnaten’s last two performances are slated for December. The month’s performances take place Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera premiere of Akhnaten presents staging by Phelim McDermott. The English stage director’s production team comprises Tom Pye, set designer; Kevin Pollard, costume designer; Bruno Poet, lighting designer; Sean Gandini, choreographer.

Akhnetan is the first of two productions directed by Phelim McDermott during the 2019-2020 Met Opera season. McDermott also is credited as director of Così fan tutte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Philip Glass composed Akhnaten in fulfillment of a commission from Württembergische Staatstheater in Stuttgart, Baden-Württemberg state, southwestern Germany. The Egyptian-themed opera received its world premiere March 29, 1984, at Stuttgart State Theatre.

The American premiere of Akhnaten preceded the opera’s Metropolitan Opera Premiere by 34 years 11-plus months. Houston Grand Opera in Houston, southeastern Texas, hosted the American premiere of Akhnetan Oct. 12, 1984.

The New York premiere of Akhnaten occurred a little over three weeks after the opera’s American premiere. New York City Opera hosted the opera’s New York premiere Nov. 4, 1984.

Akhnaten becomes the third Glass opera in the Metropolitan Opera’s repertoire. Met Opera hosted the world premiere of The Voyage on Oct. 12, 1992. Satyagraha received its Metropolitan Opera Premiere on April 11, 2008. Phelim McDermott made his Met Opera debut as production director of the Metropolitan Opera Premiere of Satyagraha.

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s seventh week is one of two weeks in October with no Sunday matinee. The month’s last weekend also does not offer a Sunday matinee. The 2019-2020 Met Opera season's schedule includes 16 Sunday matinees.

Sunday is the only opera-less day in the seventh week. The week’s remaining six days, Monday through Saturday, offer seven performances.

The takeaways for the 2019-2020 Met Opera season’s seventh week are that the week launches the Metropolitan Opera Premiere of Akhnaten by Philip Glass and also continues performances of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice and Puccini’s La Bohème and Madama Butterfly.

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season revives American choreographer, dancer and director Mark Morris' 2006-2007 staging of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Dec. 18, 2008

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

The Metropolitan Opera Premiere of Akhnaten by American composer Philip Glass introduces English director Phelim McDermott's staging, which the English National Opera premiered March 4, 2016, as a new production: English National Opera @englishnationalopera, via Facebook March 7, 2016, @ https://www.facebook.com/englishnationalopera/photos/a.10153736826528429/10153736826858429/

The 2019-2020 Met Opera season revives American choreographer, dancer and director Mark Morris' 2006-2007 staging of Gluck's Orfeo ed Euridice: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Dec. 18, 2008, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.63777700532/104674875532/

For further information:

Marriner, Derdriu. “2019-2020 Met Opera Season Opens Monday, Sept. 23, With Porgy and Bess.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Sept. 16, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/09/2019-2020-met-opera-season-opens-monday.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “2019-2020 Met Opera Season’s Fifth Week Has Gluck, Massenet and Puccini.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Oct. 14, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/10/2019-2020-met-opera-seasons-fifth-week.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “2019-2020 Met Opera Season’s Fourth Week Has Gershwin, Massenet and Puccini.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Oct. 7, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/10/2019-2020-met-opera-seasons-fourth-week.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “2019-2020 Met Opera Season’s Second Week Has Gershwin, Puccini and Verdi.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Sept. 23, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/09/2019-2020-met-operas-second-week-has.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “2019-2020 Met Opera Season’s Sixth Week Offers Gluck and Puccini.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Oct. 21, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/10/2019-2020-met-opera-seasons-sixth-week.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “2019-2020 Met Opera Season’s Third Week Has Gershwin, Massenet, Puccini, Verdi.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Sept. 30, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/09/2019-2020-met-opera-seasons-third-week.html

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "New during the 2019–20 season: We’re presenting 16 Sunday matinee performances, giving you more opportunities to enjoy opera on the weekend. Explore the full season: http://bit.ly/2VdNCNL. Photo by Jonathan Tichler / Met Opera." Facebook. Feb. 24, 2019.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1099763017854738433