Only Two of 11 Zeffirelli Productions Are Still Revived at Met Opera

Summary: Only two of 11 Zeffirelli productions are still revived at Met Opera, with recent revivals of La Bohème and Turandot in the 2019-2020 season.

Franco Zeffirelli considered Teresa Stratas and José Carreras as perfect in the roles of Mimì and Rodolfo for his new production of Puccini’s La Bohème in the 1981-1982 Met Opera season: Fondazione Franco Zeffirelli Onlus @fondazionefrancozeffirelli, via Facebook March 3, 2019

Only two of 11 Zeffirelli productions are still revived at Met Opera, with the most recent revivals of La Bohème and Turandot occurring in the 2019-2020 season.

Italian designer, director and producer Franco Zeffirelli (Feb. 12, 1923-June 15, 2019) directed and designed sets for new productions of three operas (La Bohème, Tosca, Turandot) by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924) at the Metropolitan Opera. Only La Bohème and Turandot remain in the opera company’s active repertory.

Zeffirelli debuted his new production of La Bohème on Dec. 14, 1981, as his fifth staged opera at the Metropolitan Opera. His new production received 20 performances in the 1981-1982 season. The Metropolitan Opera’s 35th revival of Zeffirelli’s production took place in the 2019-2020 season.

Zeffirelli debuted his new production of Turandot on March 12, 1987, as his seventh Met Opera production. Turandot received eight performances in the 1986-1987 season. The Metropolitan Opera’s 16th revival of Zeffirelli’s production occurred in the 2019-2020 season.

La Bohème and Turandot remain as the only two of Zeffirelli’s original 11 productions that are still revived. The Metropolitan Opera has retired nine Zeffirelli productions. Three were withdrawn in the 20th century. Six were retired in the first decade of the 21st century.

Zeffirelli debuted his new staging of Falstaff by 19th-century Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901) on March 6, 1964, as his first Met Opera production. In addition to directing, he designed the opera’s costumes and sets. Zeffirelli’s production of Verdi’s third Shakespearean opera received 15 performances in the 1963-1964 season. Zeffirelli’s Falstaff experienced 10 revivals. The 10th revival’s closing night, during the 2005-2006 season, marked the production’s retirement.

Zeffirelli debuted his staging of Antony and Cleopatra by American 20th-century composer Samuel Barber (March 9, 1910-Jan. 23, 1981) on Sept. 16, 1966, as his second Met Opera production. The world premiere of Barber’s Shakespearean opera inaugurated the Metropolitan Opera House’s new location in Manhattan’s Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts. In addition to directing, Zeffirelli designed the opera’s costumes and sets. Antony and Cleopatra received eight performances in the 1966-1967 season. The production was retired after the inaugural season.

Zeffirelli debuted his new productions of Cavalleria Rusticana by Italian opera composer Pietro Mascagni (Dec. 7, 1863-Aug. 2, 1945) and Pagliacci by Italian opera composer and librettist Ruggero Leoncavallo (April 23, 1857-Aug. 9, 1919) on Jan. 8, 1970, as his third Met Opera production. In addition to directing, he designed the production’s costumes and sets. Cav Pag received 19 performances in the 1969-1970 season. Zeffirelli’s Cav Pag experienced 16 revivals before retirement at the end of the 2008-2009 season.

Zeffirelli’s new production of Otello debuted March 25, 1972, as the Italian designer and director’s fourth Met Opera production and second Verdi opera at the Metropolitan Opera. In addition to directing, he designed Otello’s sets. Otello received 17 performances in the 1971-1972 season. Otello’s eighth and final revival took place in the 1989-1990 season.

Zeffirelli’s new production of Tosca debuted March 11, 1985, as his sixth Met Opera production and second Puccini opera at the opera house. In addition to directing, he designed the production’s sets. Tosca received 11 performances in the 1984-1985 season. The production’s 16th and final revival was staged in the 2006-2007 season.

Zeffirelli debuted his new production of La Traviata on Oct. 16, 1989, as his eighth Met Opera production and third Verdi opera at the Metropolitan Opera. In addition to directing, he designed the opera’s costumes and sets. La Traviata received 18 performances in the 1989-1990 season. The production’s fifth and final revival took place in the 1996-1997 season.

Zeffirelli debuted his new production of Don Giovanni on March 22, 1990, as his ninth Met Opera production and his only staging of an opera by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791). In addition to directing, he designed the production’s sets. Don Giovanni received nine performances in the 1989-1990 season. The production’s seventh and final revival occurred in the 2002-2003 season.

Zeffirelli’s new production of Carmen debuted on Halloween, Oct. 31, 1996, as his 10th Met Opera production and as the only opera by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875) in Zeffirelli’s Met Opera portfolio. In addition to directing, he designed the production’s sets. Carmen received 23 performances in the 1996-1997 season. Zeffirelli’s Carmen experienced seven revivals and retired at the end of the 2007-2008 season.

Zeffirelli revisited Verdi’s La Traviata for his 11th and last Met Opera production. One season, 1997-1998, separated the retirement of his first production and the debut of his production of La Traviata. Zeffirelli’s second staging of La Traviata debuted Nov. 23, 1998. For his second Traviatia, Zeffirelli designed the sets but not the costumes. La Traviata received 13 performances in the 1998-1999 season. Zeffirelli’s second La Traviata received 10 revivals. Retirement occurred after the 10th revival’s run in the 2009-2010 season.

The takeaways for the revival of only two of 11 Zeffirelli productions at Met Opera are that Zeffirelli’s La Bohème and Turandot remain in Met Opera’s active repertory, that three Zeffirelli productions were withdrawn in the 20th century and that nine Zeffirelli productions were retired in the first decade of the 21st century.

Franco Zeffirelli designed the sets for his new production of Puccini’s Turandot, which debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in the 1986-1987 season: Fondazione Franco Zeffirelli Onlus @fondazionefrancozeffirelli, via Facebook March 12, 2019

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

Franco Zeffirelli considered Teresa Stratas and José Carreras as perfect in the roles of Mimì and Rodolfo for his new production of Puccini’s La Bohème in the 1981-1982 Met Opera season: Fondazione Franco Zeffirelli Onlus @fondazionefrancozeffirelli, via Facebook March 3, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/fondazionefrancozeffirelli/photos/a.521465231522293/825411367794343/

Franco Zeffirelli designed the sets for his new production of Puccini’s Turandot, which debuted at the Metropolitan Opera in the 1986-1987 season: Fondazione Franco Zeffirelli Onlus @fondazionefrancozeffirelli, via Facebook March 12, 2019, @ https://www.facebook.com/fondazionefrancozeffirelli/photos/a.521465231522293/830080303994116/

For further information:

“Debuts: Luigi Alva, Leonard Bernstein, Franco Zeffirelli.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 197440 New Production Falstaff {67} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/6/1964.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=197440

Fondazione Franco Zeffirelli Onlus @fondazionefrancozeffirelli. “New York, Metropolitan Opera House, 1981. A quasi 20 anni dal successo scaligero, va in scena la Bohème diretta da Zeffirelli con Teresa Stratas e José Carreras. 'Soltanto la graziosa, minuta e vibrante Teresa Stratas, poteva affrontare e vincere questa difficile battaglia. E solo José Carreras poteva offrire un aspetto così forte e giovanile da saperle dare sicurezza e speranza. Era una combinazione unica di talenti: dove avrei potuto trovare una coppia più perfetta di quella per far rivivere la meravigliosa storia di Mimì e di Rodolfo?' FZ Giovedì 7 marzo, L'Archivio Mai Visto: la Bohème di Zeffirelli a cura di Caterina d'Amico https://bit.ly/2XjNq1l.” Facebook. March 3, 2019.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/fondazionefrancozeffirelli/photos/a.521465231522293/825411367794343/

Fondazione Franco Zeffirelli Onlus @fondazionefrancozeffirelli. “Il 12 marzo 1987 va in scena al Metropolitan Opera House di New York la Turandot di Puccini con la direzione d’Orchestra di Levine e la partecipazione di Placido Domingo. Con la Turandot, e dopo l’allestimento di Tosca e Bohème, Zeffirelli divenne regista di riferimento del MET. Sabato 30 marzo, visita guidata a cura del personale del Museo, alla scoperta delle grandi messe in scena di Zeffirelli https://bit.ly/2Rjeqif.” Facebook. March 12, 2019.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/fondazionefrancozeffirelli/photos/a.521465231522293/830080303994116/

Marriner, Derdriu. "La Bohème Is the Jan. 25, 2020, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, Jan. 20, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/01/la-boheme-is-jan-25-2020-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Turandot Was To Be April 25, 2020, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast." Earth and Space News. Monday, April 20, 2020.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2020/04/turandot-is-april-25-2020-met-opera.html

“New Production: Carmen.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 326320 New Production Carmen {840} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/31/1996.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=326320

“New Productions: Cavalleria Rusticana / Pagliacci.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: New Productions Cavalleria Rusticana {441} Pagliacci {481} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/8/1970.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=220100

“New Production: Don Giovanni.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 299770 New Production Don Giovanni {388} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/22/1990.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=299770

“New Production: Falstaff.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 197440 New Production Falstaff {67} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/6/1964.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=197440

“New Production: La Bohème.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 266920 New Production La Bohème {823} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/14/1981.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=266920

“New Production: La Traviata.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 298210 New Production La Traviata {731} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/16/1989.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=298210

“New Production: La Traviata.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 331168 New Production La Traviata {819} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/23/1998.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=331168

“New Production: Otello.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: New Production Otello {184} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/25/1972.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=228890

“New Production: Tosca.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 279860 New Production Tosca {678} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/11/1985.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=279860

“New Production: Turandot.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 287710 New Production Turandot {132} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/12/1987.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=287710

“World Premiere: Antony and Cleopatra.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 208000 World Premiere Antony and Cleopatra {1} Broadcast ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 09/16/1966.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=208000