Otello Is the Jan. 5, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Verdi’s Otello is the Jan. 5, 2019, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering sixth of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

Verdi’s Otello airs Jan. 5, 2019, as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s sixth of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, Facebook Aug. 14, 2018

Giuseppe Verdi’s Otello is the Jan. 5, 2019, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the sixth of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901) set his musical score for Otello to an Italian libretto by Italian composer and librettist Arrigo Boito (Feb. 24, 1842-June 10, 1918). Boito’s literary source was Othello by Elizabethan playwright William Shakespeare (bapt. April 26, 1564-April 23, 1616).

Verdi’s Otello premiered Feb. 5, 1887 at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Lombardy region, north central Italy. Six years later, Verdi’s second collaboration with Boito, Falstaff, premiered Feb. 9, 1893, at La Scala.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season premiere of Verdi’s Otello takes place Friday, Dec. 14, at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Including the season premiere, the 2018-2019 season offers a total of seven performances of Otello.

Four performances take place in December 2018. In addition to the season premiere, the month’s performances are scheduled for Monday, Dec. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Dec. 21, at 8 p.m.; and Friday, Dec. 28, at 7:30 p.m.

The month’s performances take place Wednesday, Jan. 2, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Jan. 5, at 1 p.m.; and closing night, Thursday, Jan. 10, at 7:30 p.m. January’s Saturday performance airs as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s fifth of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

Gustavo Dudamel conducts all performances, including the Saturday matinee broadcast. The Venezuelan and Spanish conductor’s appearances in Otello mark his Metropolitan Opera debut.

Sonya Yoncheva appears in three December (Friday, Dec. 14; Monday, Dec. 17; Friday, Dec. 21) and all three January performances as Desdemona, whose love for naval hero Otello cannot thwart his murderous jealousy. The Bulgarian operatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 21, 2013, as Gilda in the opera house’s 859th performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Sonya Yoncheva also appears in the title role of Iolanta by Russian late-Romantic composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (May 7, 1840-Nov. 6, 1893).

Julianna Di Giacomo appears as Desdemona for the Friday, Dec. 28, performance. The American operatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 12, 2007, as Clotilde in the opera house’s 140th performance of Norma by Italian opera composer Vincenzo Bellini (Nov. 3, 1801-Sept. 23, 1835).

Jennifer Johnson Cano appears in all performances as Emilia. The American operatic mezzo-soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Sept. 22, 2009, as a Peasant in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Jennifer Johnson Cano also appears as Meg Page in Verdi’s Falstaff.

Stuart Skelton appears in five performances as Otello, manipulated by his ensign, Iago, into a fatal rage. He was originally scheduled for all seven but missed opening night, Friday, Dec. 14, and Friday, Dec. 28, because of illness. The Australian operatic heldentenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as the Drum-Major in the opera house’s 61st performance of Wozzeck by Austrian composer Alban Berg (Feb. 9, 1885-Dec. 24, 1935).

Carl Tanner opens the 2018-2019 Met Opera season's presentation of Otello as title role replacement for Stuart Skelton. He also appears in the Dec. 28 performance as replacement for Stuart Skelton. The American operatic tenor's Metropolitan Opera debut happened as Dick Johnson in the opera house's 101st performance of La Fanciulla del West by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). (Update per Dec. 14, 2018, tweet by The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera.) (Update per Dec. 28, 2018, tweet by The Metropolitan Opera ‏@MetOpera.)

Alexey Dolgov appears in all performances as Cassio, Otello’s captain, whom Iago falsely charges as Desdemona’s lover to Otello. The Siberian tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened June 12, 2011, as Edgardo in the opera house’s 589th performance of Lucia di Lammermoor by 19th century Italian bel canto opera composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848).

Željko Lučić appears in all performances as Iago, a bold manipulator whose schemes center on disgracing Otello. The Serbian operatic baritone made his Metropolitan Opera debut Sept. 26, 2006, as Barnaba in the opera house’s 275th performance of La Gioconda by 19th century Italian opera composer Amilcare Ponchielli (Aug. 31, 1834-Jan. 16, 1886). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Željko Lučić also appears as Sheriff Jack Rance in Puccini's La Fanciulla del West.

James Morris appears in all performances as Lodovico, ambassador of the Venetian Republic. The American bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as the King in the opera house’s 782nd performance of Verdi’s Aida.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of Otello mark the first revival of Bartlett Sher’s 2015-2016 production. The American theater director’s staging debuted Sept. 21, 2015, as a new production in the opera house’s 326th performance of Otello.

Bartlett Sher’s production team comprises Catherine Zuber, costume designer; Luke Halls, projection designer; Es Devlin, set designer; and Donald Holder, lighting designer. Gina Lapinski is the revival stage director.

The takeaways for Otello as the Jan. 5, 2019, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast are that Verdi’s Shakespearean opera airs as the sixth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts and that the season’s performances mark the first revival of American theater director Bartlett Sher’s 2015-2016 new production.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season's staging of Verdi's Otello is the first revival of Bartlett Sher's 2015-2016 new production, which debuted Sep. 21, 2015: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Twitter Sept. 9, 2015

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

Verdi’s Otello airs Jan. 5, 2019, as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s sixth of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, Facebook Aug. 14, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120775533/

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season's staging of Verdi's Otello is the first revival of Bartlett Sher's 2015-2016 new production, which debuted Sept. 21, 2015: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Sep. 9, 2015, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160907173825533/

For further information:

“Debut: Alexey Dolgov.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354020 Lucia di Lammermoor {589} Matinee ed. Tokyo, Japan: 06/12/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354020

"Debut: Carl Tanner." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353707 La Fanciulla del West {101} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/27/2010.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353707

“Debut: Julianna Di Giacomo.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352170 Norma {140} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/12/2007.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352170

“Debut: Sonya Yoncheva.” MetOpera Database > “Debut: Sonya Yoncheva.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355145 Rigoletto {859} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/21/2013.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355145

“Debuts: Christopher Wheeldon, Holly Hynes, Zeljko Lucic . . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351556 La Gioconda {275} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/26/2006.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351556

“Debuts: Dan Ettinger, Emma Bell, Jennifer Johnson Cano.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353075 Le Nozze di Figaro {442} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/22/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353075

“Debuts: James Morris, Jacques Cesbron.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 224150 Aida {782} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/7/1971.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=224150

“Debuts: Stuart Skelton, John Albert, Jonathan Kelly.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353922 Wozzeck {61} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/06/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353922

Marriner, Derdriu. “2018-2019 Met Opera Season Premiere of Mefistofele Is Thursday, Nov. 8.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Oct. 29, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/10/2018-2019-met-opera-season-premiere-of_29.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “The Magic Flute Is Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 24, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/12/the-magic-flute-is-dec-29-2018-met.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

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "12 days until Opening Night! Check out these early stage rehearsal photos of Verdi's OTELLO, opening September 21. . . .Photo by Ken Howard/Met Opera." Facebook. Sept. 9, 2015.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.10156028469940533.1073741865.20807115532/10156122690515533/

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Conducting sensation Gustavo Dudamel makes his Met debut leading Verdi’s towering Shakespearean masterpiece. . . .” Facebook. Feb. 15, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120775533/

Metropolitan Opera ‏@MetOpera. "For the performance of Otello on December 28, the role of Otello will be sung by Carl Tanner, replacing Stuart Skelton, who is ill. #CastChange." Twitter. Dec. 28, 2018.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1078649505627717634

Metropolitan Opera ‏@MetOpera. "For this evening’s performance of Otello, the role of Otello will be sung by Carl Tanner, replacing Stuart Skelton, who is ill. #CastChange." Twitter. Dec. 14, 2018.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1073660098734686211

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. "Maestro Gustavo Dudamel makes his Met debut conducting Verdi's Otello on December 14. . . ." Facebook. Aug. 14, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/posts/a.134969600532/10160907173825533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Sneak peek of the new Bartlett Sher production of Verdi’s Otello, opening 9/21!” Twitter. Sept. 9, 2015.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/641646007969841156

“New Production: Otello.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356006 New Production Otello {326} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/21/2015.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356006

The Magic Flute Is the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Mozart’s The Magic Flute is the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering fifth of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

The Magic Flute, the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English language, family friendly holiday version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, airs Dec. 29, 2018, as the fifth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 19, 2018

Wolfgang Mozart’s The Magic Flute is the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the fifth of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

The Magic Flute is presented as the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English language, family friendly holiday version of Die Zauberflöte by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791). American literary critic and poet Joseph Donald “J.D.” McClatchy Jr. (Aug. 12, 1945-April 10, 2018) was responsible for the 100-minute English language adaptation.

Mozart composed his fairy tale opera in the singspiel (“sing-play”) style of spoken and sung dialogues. He set his music to a German libretto by German stage director Johann Joseph Schickeneder (Sept. 1, 1751-Sept. 21, 1812), known as Emanuel Schikaneder. Mozart previously collaborated with Schikaneder on another fairy tale singspiel, Der Stein der Weisen, Oder die Zauberinsel (The Philosopher’s Stone, or the Enchanted Isle).

Die Zauberflöte premiered Sept. 30, 1791, at Schikaneder’s theater, the Freihaus-Theater auf der Wieden, also known as Wiednertheater, near the center of Vienna, northeastern Austria. Mozart conducted the premiere and the opera’s second performance.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season premiere of The Magic Flute takes place Wednesday, Dec. 19, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Including the season premiere, eight holiday performances are scheduled for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

Five performances take place in December. The month’s four additional performances occur Saturday, Dec. 22, at 8 p.m.; Monday, Dec. 24, at 7 p.m.; Thursday, Dec. 27, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 29, at 1 p.m. Saturday’s performance airs as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s fifth Saturday matinee radio broadcast.

Three performances are offered in January. The month’s performances take place Tuesday, Jan. 1, at 3:30 p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 3, at 7:30 p.m.; and closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5, at 8 p.m.

The Magic Flute has an estimated run time of 1 hour 42 minutes. The Metropolitan Opera reduces Mozart’s two-act German opera to one act for the opera company’s English language holiday version.

Harry Bicket conducts all performances. The British conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened in Rodelinda by German and British baroque composer George Frideric Handel (Feb. 23, 1685-April 14, 1759).

Erin Morley appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as Pamina, daughter of the Queen of the Night. The American coloratura soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as the First Madrigal in Manon Lescaut by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Erin Morley also appears as Woodbird in Siegfried by German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883) and as Constance in Dialogues des Carmélites by French composer and pianist Francis Poulenc (Jan. 7, 1899-Jan. 30, 1963).

Sydney Mancasola appears as Pamina for the Thursday, Jan. 3, performance. The American soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 30, 2018, as Frasquita in the opera company’s 2018-2019 season premiere of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Kathryn Lewek appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as the scheming Queen of the Night. The American coloratura soprano reprises her Metropolitan Opera debut role. Her Queen of the Night debut happened Dec. 28, 2013, in the opera company’s 413th performance of Die Zauberflöte.

So Young Park appears as the Queen of the Night for the Thursday, Jan. 3, performance. The South Korean soprano’s solitary January appearance marks her Metropolitan Opera debut.

Ben Bliss appears in all performances as Tamino, a prince who finds love with Pamina at the end of his quest for wisdom. The American tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 2, 2014, as Vogelgesang in the opera company’s 410th performance of Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg.

Brenton Ryan appears in all December and one January (Tuesday, Jan. 1) performances as Monostatos, slave of head priest Sarastro. The American tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 22, 2016, as Pedrillo in the opera company’s 69th performance of Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Brenton Ryan also appears as Spoletta in Puccini’s Tosca.

Mark Schowalter appears as Monostatos in January’s last two performances (Thursday, Jan. 3; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5). The American tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Feb. 19, 1999, as the Young Servant in the opera company’s 85th performance of Elektra by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Mark Schowalter also appears as the Chaplain in Poulenc’s Dialogues des Carmélites.

Nathan Gunn appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as Papageno, a birdcatcher who finds happiness with Papagena. The American operatic baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 3, 1995, as one of the three traders in the opera company’s eighth performance of The Ghosts of Versailles by American classical composer John Corigliano (born Feb. 16, 1938).

Duncan Rock appears as Papageno in one January (Thursday, Jan. 3) performance. The Australian baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 2, 2017, as Schaunard in the opera company’s 1,306th performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Duncan Rock reprises his debut role as Schaunard.

Alfred Walker appears in all performances as the Speaker. The American bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 16, 1998, as Grégorio in the opera company’s 294th performance of Roméo et Juliette by French composer Charles Gounod (June 17, 1818-Oct. 18, 1893).

Morris Robinson appears in all December and two January (Tuesday, Jan. 1; closing night, Saturday, Jan. 5) performances as Sarastro, head priest of the council of priests of Isis and Osiris. The American bass’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 16, 2002, as the Second Prisoner in the opera company’s 217th performance of Fidelio by German composer and pianist Ludwig van Beethoven (bapt. Dec. 17, 1770-March 26, 1827).

Peixin Chen appears as Sarastro in the Thursday, Jan. 3, performance. The Chinese bass’s solitary January appearance marks his Metropolitan Opera debut. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Peixin Chen also appears as Masetto in Mozart’s Don Giovanni.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of The Magic Flute revive Julie Taymor’s production. The American film, opera and theater director’s staging debuted as a new production Oct. 8, 2004, in the opera company’s 343rd performance of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte.

Julie Taymor serves as the production’s director and costume designer. She is credited with Michael Curry as puppet designers. The production team also comprises George Tsypin, set designer; Donald Holder, lighting designer; and Mark Dendy, choreographer. The revival stage director is David Kneuss.

The takeaway for The Magic Flute as the Dec. 29, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast is that the Metropolitan Opera’s English language, family friendly holiday version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte airs as the fifth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

Nathan Gunn, who won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition in 1994, reprises Papageno in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook April 19, 2018

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

The Magic Flute, the Metropolitan Opera’s abridged, English language, family friendly holiday version of Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, airs Dec. 29, 2018, as the fifth of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 19, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160146382080533/

Nathan Gunn, who won the Metropolitan Opera National Council Competition in 1994, reprises Papageno in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook April 19, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160437319305533/

For further information:

“Debut: Brenton Ryan.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356444 Die Entführung aus dem Serail {69} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/22/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356444

“Debut: Erin Morley.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352344 Manon Lescaut {211} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/09/2008.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352344

“Debuts: Alexander Soddy, Angel Blue, Duncan Rock.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356747 La Bohème {1306} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/02/2017.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356747

“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: Hector Vásquez, Peter Van Derick, Nathan Gunn, Christine Goerke, Carol Meyer, Kemal Khan.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 319890 The Ghosts of Versailles {8} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/3/1995.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=319890

“Debuts: Johannes Martin Kränzle, Benjamin Bliss, Martin Gantner.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355664 Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg {410} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/02/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355664

“Debuts: Kobie van Rensburg, Zachary Vail Elkind, Harry Bicket, Stephen Wadsworth, Thomas Lynch, Peter Kaczorowski.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351094 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Rodelinda {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/02/2004.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351094

“Debuts: Monte Pederson, Mariana Karpatova, Margaret Cusack, Mark Schowalter.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 331426 Elektra {85} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/19/1999.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=331426

“Debuts: Philippe Castagner, Morris Robinson.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 350403 Fidelio {217} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/16/2002.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=350403

Marriner, Derdriu. “La Fanciulla del West Is the Dec. 22, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 17, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/12/la-fanciulla-del-west-is-dec-22-2018.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “The Magic Flute Is Dec. 9, 2017, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 4, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/12/the-magic-flute-is-dec-9-2017-met-opera.html

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Now a holiday tradition, Julie Taymor’s beloved production of Mozart’s enchanting fairy tale returns in its abridged, English-language version for families. . . .” Facebook. Feb. 15, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120780533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Grand Finals Concert is Sunday, April 29! . . . .” Facebook. April 19, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160437319305533/

“New Production: Die Zauberflöte.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351036 New Production Die Zauberflöte {343} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/08/2004.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351036

La Fanciulla del West Is the Dec. 22, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West is the Dec. 22, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering fourth of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West airs Dec. 22, as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s fourth Saturday matinee radio broadcast: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 19, 2018

Giacomo Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West is the Dec. 22, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the fourth of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcasts during the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924) set his musical score for La Fanciulla del West (The Girl of the West) to an Italian libretto by Italian journalist, poet and writer Guelfo Civinini (Aug. 1, 1873-April 10, 1954) and Italian librettist Carlo Zangarini (Dec. 9, 1874-July 19, 1943). The librettists’ literary source was The Girl of the Golden West, by American playwright and theatrical producer David Belasco (July 25, 1853-May 14, 1931).

Belasco’s play opened Nov. 14, 1905, at the old Belasco Theatre, an off-Broadway theater located at 209 West 42nd Street in New York City’s Midtown Manhattan. Belasco’s 42nd Street playhouse was known as the Belasco Theatre until its sale in 1910. The old Belasco Theatre is now known as the New Victory Theater. Belasco relinquished the playhouse in favor of bestowing his name upon the Stuyvesant Theatre, which he opened in 1907 at 111 West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan.

The Metropolitan Opera hosted the world premiere of La Fanciulla del West. The California Gold Rush-themed opera’s premiere took place Dec. 10, 1910, with the composer in attendance. The Metropolitan Opera Archives Database identifies David Belasco and Met Opera’s technical director, Edward Siedle (May 30, 1858-March 30, 1925), as the premiere’s directors.

The opera company’s archives also indicate: “David Belasco, author of the play, The Girl of the Golden West, on which the opera was based, worked on every detail of this production, overseeing the design and stage direction.”

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season premiere of La Fanciulla del West takes place Thursday, Oct. 4, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. Including the season premiere, seven performances are slated for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

All seven performances take place in October. The month’s additional performances are scheduled for Monday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, Oct. 12, at 7:30 p.m.; Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 20, at 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Oct. 27, at 1 p.m.

La Fanciulla has an estimated run time of 3 hours 22 minutes. Act I spans 59 minutes, followed by an intermission of 36 minutes. Act II runs for 46 minutes, followed by an intermission of 35 minutes. Act III runs for 26 minutes.

Marco Armiliato conducts all performances. The Italian conductor’s first appearance at the Metropolitan Opera took place June 16, 1998, in the opera company’s 557th performance of Il Trovatore by Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi (Oct. 10, 1813-Jan. 27, 1901). His Met Opera debut happened Nov. 9, 1998, in the opera company’s 1,048th performance of Puccini’s La Bohème.

Eva-Maria Westbroek appears for all performances in the title role of Minnie, Polka Saloon owner who falls in love with outlaw Dick Johnson. The Dutch soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened April 22, 2011, as Sieglinde in the opera company’s 525th performance of Die Walküre by German composer Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883).

Yusif Eyvazov appears in October’s first three performances as Dick Johnson, Minnie’s outlaw love interest. His performances are slated for opening night, Thursday, Oct. 4; Monday, Oct. 8; and Friday, Oct. 12. The Azerbaijan dramatic tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 7, 2015, as Calaf in the opera company’s 305th performance of Puccini’s Turandot.

Jonas Kaufmann appears in October’s last four performances as Dick Johnson. The German operatic tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Feb. 4, 2006, as Alfredo in the opera company’s 904th performance of Verdi’s La Traviata.

Carlo Bosi appears as Nick, the Polka Saloon’s bartender, in all performances. The Italian tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 6, 2013, as Dr. Cajus in the opera company’s 176th performance of Verdi’s Falstaff. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Carlo Bosi also appears as The Abbé in Adriana Lecouvreur by Italian composer Francesco Cilea (July 23, 1866-Nov. 20, 1950).

Željko Lučić appears in all performances as Jack Rance, the mining camp’s sheriff who loves Minnie. The Serbian operatic baritone made his Metropolitan Opera debut Sept. 26, 2006, as Barnaba in the opera company’s 275th performance of La Gioconda by 19th century Italian opera composer Amilcare Ponchielli (Aug. 31, 1834-Jan. 16, 1886). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Željko Lučić also appears as Iago in Verdi’s Othello.

Michael Todd Simpson appears in all performances as Sonora the miner. The American operatic baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 3, 2009, as Hermann/Schlémil in the opera company’s 241st performance of Les Contes d’Hoffmann by German-born French composer Jacques Offenbach (June 20, 1819-Oct. 5, 1880). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Michael Todd Simpson also appears as Esamillo in Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875) and as Donner in Das Rheingold by German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883).

Matthew Rose appears in all performances as Ashby, a Wells Fargo agent who pursues outlaws. The English operatic bass’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 18, 2011, as Colline in the opera company’s 1,240th performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Matthew Rose also reprises his debut role as La Bohème’s Colline.

Oren Gradus appears in all performances as travelling minstrel Jake Wallace. The American bass’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 14, 2002, as the Guardian of Ores in Elektra by German late Romantic and early modern composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Oren Gradus also appears as Angelotti in Puccini’s Tosca.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances mark the opera house’s third revival of Giancarlo del Monaco’s 1991-1992 production, which had debuted Oct. 10, 1991, in the opera company's 76th performance of Puccini's California Gold Rush-themed opera. The Metropolitan Opera’s last staging of La Fanciulla del West occurred during the 2010-2011 season as the second revival of Giancarlo del Monaco’s production. The season’s performance Dec. 10, 2010, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the opera’s world premiere at the Metropolitan Opera. The production's first revival had taken place in the 1992-1993 season.

The takeaway for La Fanciulla del West as the fourth 2018-2019 Saturday matinee broadcast, airing Dec. 22, is that the season’s performances mark the opera house’s third revival of Italian stage director Giancarlo del Monaco’s 1991-1992 production.

The Metropolitan Opera was the venue Dec. 10, 1910, for the world premiere of Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West; photo by White Studio, New York City: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook March 19, 2012

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West airs Dec. 22, as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s fourth Saturday matinee radio broadcast: Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 19, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160146382080533/

The Metropolitan Opera was the venue Dec. 10, 1910, for the world premiere of Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West; photo by White Studio, New York,City: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook March 19, 2012, @ https://www.facebook.com/20807115532/posts/10151394071975533/

For further information:

“Debut: Jonas Kaufmann.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351420 La Traviata {904} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/04/2006.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351420

“Debut: Matthew Rose.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354168 La Bohème {1240} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/18/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354168

“Debut: Michael Todd Simpson.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353209 Les Contes d’Hoffmann {241} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/03/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353209

“Debut: Oren Gradus.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 350433 Elektra {93} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/14/2002.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353209

"Debut: Yusif Eyvazov." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356109 Turandot {305} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/07/2015.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356109

“Debuts: Christopher Wheeldon, Holly Hynes, Zeljko Lucic . . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351556 La Gioconda {275} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/26/2006.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351556

“Debuts: Eva-Maria Westbroek, Molly Fillmore, Lindsay Ammann.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353959 New Production Die Walküre {525} Metropolitan Opera House: 04/22/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353959

“Debuts: Gregory Lorenz, Marco Armiliato.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 331123 La Bohème {1048} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/09/1998.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=331123

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

“First Appearance Marco Armiliato.” MetOpera Database > Met Performance] CID: 330663 Il Trovatore {557} Parks ed. Central Park, Great Lawn, Manhattan: 06/16/1998.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=330663

Marriner, Derdriu. “2018-2019 Met Opera Season Premiere of La Fanciulla del West Is Thursday, Oct. 4.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Sept. 24, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/09/2018-2019-met-opera-season-premiere-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “2018-2019 Met Opera Season Stages 29 Operas.” Earth and Space News. Monday, June 18, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/06/2018-2019-metropolitan-opera-season.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “La Traviata Is March 11, 2017, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, March 6, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/03/la-traviata-is-march-11-2017.html

Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Live in HD October 27. Soprano Eva-Maria Westbroek sings Puccini’s gun-slinging heroine in this romantic epic of the Wild West, with the heralded return of tenor Jonas Kaufmann in the role of the outlaw she loves. . . .” Facebook. Feb. 19, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160146382080533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “World Premiere of Puccini's ‘La Fanciulla del West’ December 10, 1910 Puccini returns for the world premiere of his ‘La Fanciulla del West’, based on the play he had seen on his earlier visit. This production stars Enrico Caruso, Emmy Destinn and Pasquale Amato.” Facebook. March 19, 2012.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/20807115532/posts/10151394071975533/

“New Production: La Fanciulla del West.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 306170 New Production La Fanciulla del West {76} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/10/1991.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=306170

“World Premiere: La Fanciulla del West.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 49290 World Premiere In the presence of the composer La Fanciulla del West {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/10/1910.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=49290

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