Earth and Space News: 2018-2019 Met Opera Saturday matinee radio broadcasts

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Monday, April 29, 2019

Aida Is the May 4, 2019, Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida is the May 4, 2019, Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee broadcast.

Anna Netrebko made her Met Opera role debut as Aida (front), with Anita Rachvelishvili (behind) as rival Amneris, in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s production of Verdi’s Aida: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Oct. 2, 2018

Nineteenth century Italian opera composer Giuseppe Verdi’s Aida is the May 4, 2019, Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as number 23 of the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 24 Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

Verdi composed the opera’s score for an Italian libretto written by Italian librettist, poet and writer Antonio Ghislanzoni (Nov. 25, 1824-July 16, 1893). The inspiration for Ghislanzoni’s libretto is usually attributed to a scenario by French Egyptologist François Auguste Ferdinand Mariette (Feb. 11, 1821-Jan. 19, 1881).

Aida’s world premiere took place Dec. 24, 1871, in Cairo, northeastern Egypt, at Khedivial Opera House, also known as Royal Opera House. The opera house was inaugurated Nov. 1, 1869, as part of celebrations for the Nov. 17, 1869, opening of the Suez Canal as a connecting waterway between the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea.

Aida’s European premiere happened Feb. 8, 1872, at Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Lombardy region, north central Italy. La Scala’s most recent hosting of a Verdi premiere had occurred almost three years earlier, with the opening of La Forza del Destino on Feb. 27, 1869.

Aida’s Metropolitan Opera premiere took place Nov. 12, 1886. The 1886-1887 Met Opera season’s four performances of Aida were sung in German.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season offered 14 performances of Aida. Opening night took place Wednesday, Sept. 26, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. The month’s second performance occurred Saturday, Sept. 29, at 8 p.m.

Five performances were offered in October. The month’s performances took place Tuesday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 6, at 1 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 11, at 7:30 p.m.; Monday, Oct. 15, at 7:30 p.m.; Thursday, Oct. 18, at 8 p.m.

Winter performances were offered in January and February. January’s performances, which all began at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, took place Monday, Jan. 7; Friday, Jan. 11; Monday, Jan. 14; Friday, Jan. 18, at 7:30 p.m. February’s lone performance happened Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7:30 p.m.

Two spring performances were offered, both in March. The month’s performances, which began at 7:30 p.m. EST, took place Monday, March 4, and Thursday, March 7.

The estimated run time for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s Aida is 3 hours 36 minutes. Act I is estimated at 40 minutes. An intermission of 30 minutes follows. Act II is slated for 43 minutes, followed by an intermission of 36 minutes. Act III is estimated at 67 minutes.

Nicola Luisotta conducted the performances in September, October and January. The Italian conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 28, 2006, in the opera company’s 881st performance of Tosca by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Nicola Luisotta conducted two additional Verdi operas, Rigoletto and La Traviata.

Plácido Domingo conducted the season’s last three performances of Aida (Feb. 28; March 4, 7). The Spanish baritone/tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Sept. 28, 1968, as Maurizio in the opera company’s 16th performance of Adriana Lecouvreur by Italian composer Francesco Cilea (July 23, 1866-Nov. 20, 1950).

Anna Netrebko appeared in the title role for the season’s first five performances (Sept. 26, 29; Oct. 2, 6, 11). The Russian operatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Feb. 14, 2002, as Natasha Rostova in the opera house’s premiere of War and Peace by Soviet composer, conductor and pianist Sergei Prokofiev (April 23, 1891-March 5, 1953). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Anna Netrebko also sang the title role in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur.

Tamara Wilson appeared in October’s last two performances (Oct. 15, 18) as the conflicted Ethiopian princess. The American operatic soprano reprised her Metropolitan Opera debut role. Her Met Opera debut happened Dec. 26, 2014, in the opera company’s 1,140th performance of Verdi’s Aida.

Sondra Radvanovsky sang the title role for the winter (Jan. 7, 11, 14, 18; Feb. 28) and spring (March 4, 7) performances. The American-Canadian soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 9, 1996, as Countess Ceprano in the opera house’s 721st performance of Verdi’s Rigoletto. During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Sondra Radvanovsky also sang the title role of Puccini’s Tosca.

Anita Rachvelishvili appeared as Aida’s rival, Egyptian Princess Amneris, in the season’s autumn performances (Sept. 26, 29; Oct. 2, 6, 11, 15, 18). The Georgian operatic mezzo-soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Jan. 5, 2011, as the title role in the opera company’s 970th performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875). During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Anita Rachvelishvili also performed as Princess of Bouillon in Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur and in the title role in Samson et Dalila by French Romantic Era composer Camille Saint-Saëns (Oct. 9, 1835-Dec. 16, 1921).

Dolora Zajick appeared as Amneris in January’s performances (Jan. 7, 11, 14, 18). The American mezzo-soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 8, 1988, as Azucena in the opera company’s 515th performance of Verdi’s Il Trovatore.

Olesya Petrova appeared as Amneris for February’s sole performance and for March’s two performances (March 4, 7). The Russian mezzo-soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 24, 2014, as Madelon in the opera company’s 180th performance of Andrea Chénier by Italian verismo (“realism”) composer Umberto Giordano (Aug. 28, 1867-Nov. 12, 1948).

Aleksandrs Antonenko appeared as Radamès, captain of the King of Egypt’s Guard, in September’s two performances (Sept. 26, 29), three October performances (Oct. 2, 6, 11), February’s sole performance (Feb. 28) and March’s two performances (March 4, 7). The Latvian tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 9, 2009, as the Prince in the opera company’s 16th performance of Rusalka by Czech composer Antonín Leopold Dvořák (Sept. 8, 1841-May 1, 1904). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Aleksandrs Antonenko also performed the title role in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila.

Yonghoon Lee appeared as Radamès in October’s last two performances (Oct. 15, 18) and in all January performances (Jan. 7, 11, 14, 18). The South Korean operatic tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 29, 2010, in the title role in the opera company’s 193rd performance of Verdi’s Don Carlo. During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Yonghoon Lee also performed as Don José in Bizet’s Carmen.

Quinn Kelsey appeared as Aida’s father, Ethiopian King Amonasro, in all September (Sept. 26, 29), October (Oct. 2, 6, 11, 15, 18), February (Feb. 28) and March (March 4, 7) performances. The American baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 29, 2008, as Schaunard in the opera company’s 1,194th performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Quinn Kelsey also performed as Germont in Verdi’s La Traviata.

Roberto Frontali appeared as Amonasro in all January performances (Jan. 7, 11, 14, 18). The Georgian operatic baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Nov. 14, 1992, as Belcore in the opera company’s 196th performance of L’Elisir d’Amore by Italian bel canto composer Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848). During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Roberto Frontali also performed the title role in Verdi’s Rigoletto.

Dmitry Belosselskiy appeared as Egyptian High Priest Ramfis in September (Sept. 26, 29) and October (Oct. 2, 6, 11, 15, 18) performances. The Ukrainian bass made his Metropolitan Opera debut Nov. 5, 2011, as Zaccaria in the opera company’s 54th performance of Verdi’s Nabucco. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Dmitry Belosselskiy also performed as The Old Hebrew in Saint-Saëns’ Samson et Dalila, as Fafner in Das Rheingold and in Siegfried by German composer and librettist Richard Wagner (May 22, 1813-Feb. 13, 1883), and as the Commendatore in Don Giovanni by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

Vitalij Kowaljow appeared as Ramfis in all January performances (Jan. 7, 11, 14, 18). The Russian bass made his Metropolitan Opera debut March 17, 2003, as the High Priest in the opera house’s 24th performance of Verdi’s Nabucco. During the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Vitalij Kowaljow also performed as René in Iolanta by Russian late-Romantic composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (May 7, 1840-Nov. 6, 1893).

Štefan Kocán appeared as Ramfis in February’s sole performance (Feb. 28) and in March’s two performances (March 4, 7). The Slovakian bass made his Metropolitan Opera debut Oct. 2, 2009, as the King in the opera company’s 1,104th performance of Verdi’s Aida. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season Štefan Kocán also performed as the Commendatore in Mozart’s Don Giovanni and as Sparafucile in Verdi’s Rigoletto.

Ryan Speedo Green appeared as the King in September (Sept. 26, 29) and October (Oct. 2, 6, 11, 15, 18) performances. The American bass-baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Sept. 26, 2012, as a Mandarin in the opera company’s 287th performance of Puccini’s Turandot.

Soloman Howard appeared as the King in January (Jan. 7, 11, 14, 18), February (Feb. 28) and March (March 4, 7) performances. The American bass opera singer’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 30, 2014, as the Second Prisoner in Fidelio by German composer and pianist Ludwig von Beethoven (bapt. Dec. 17, 1770-March 26, 1827).

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of Verdi’s Aida revived staging by Sonja Frisell (Sonja Bettie Frisell-Schröder). The British stage director’s new staging debuted Dec. 8, 1988, in the opera company’s 924th performance of Aida.

Frisell’s production team comprised Gianni Quaranta, set designer; Dada Saligeri, costume designer; Gil Wechsler, lighting designer; and Alexei Ratmansky, choreographer. Stephen Pickover was the production’s revival stage director.

Wagner’s Götterdämmerung aired Saturday, April 27, as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 22nd Saturday matinee radio broadcast. Dialogues des Carmélites by French composer Francis Poulenc (Jan. 7, 1899-Jan. 30, 1963) airs May 11, as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s Saturday matinee broadcast schedule’s closing opera.

Aida aired as the fifth of five Verdi operas on the 2018-2019 Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast roster. La Traviata aired Dec. 15, 2018, as the season’s third Saturday matinee broadcast. Otello, airing Jan. 5, 2019, was the season’s sixth Saturday matinee broadcast. Rigoletto aired Feb. 23, 2019, as number 13. Falstaff, airing March 16, 2019, was the 16th Saturday matinee broadcast.

The takeaway for Aida as the May 4, 2019, Metropolitan Opera Saturday matinee broadcast is that Verdi’s ancient Egypt-themed opera aired as the fifth of five Verdi operas on the 2018-2019 Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast season’s schedule.

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances of Verdi’s Aida revive staging debuted Dec. 8, 1988, by British stage director Sonja Frisell: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook June 20, 2015, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160682963490533/

For further information:

“Debut: Dmitry Belosselskiy.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354136 Nabucco {54} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/05/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354136

"Debut: Dolora Zajick." MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID:294140 Il Trovatore {515} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/8/1988.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=294140

“Debut: Nicola Luisotti.” MetOpera Database > “Debut: Nicola Luisotti.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351618 Tosca {881} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/28/2006.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351618

“Debut: Olesya Petrova.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355386 Andrea Chénier {180} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/24/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355386

“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: Quinn Kelsey.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352451 La Bohème {1194} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/29/2008.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352451

“Debut: Roberto Frontali.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 310550 l’Elisir d’Amore {196} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 11/14/1992.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=310550

“Debut: Soloman Howard.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355599 Aida {1133} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/30/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355599

“Debuts: Alexei Ratmansky, Stefan Kocán, Adam Laurence Herskowitz.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353094 Aida {1104} Metropolitan Opera House: 10/02/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353094

“Debut: Tamara Wilson, Jennifer Cadden.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355711 Aida {1140} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/26/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355711

“Debut: Vitalij Kowaljow.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 333501 Nabucco {24} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/17/2003.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=333501

“Debut: Yonghoon Lee, Maxime de Toledo.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353647 Don Carlo {193} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/29/2010.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353647

“Debuts: Alastair Miles, Sondra Radvanovsky, Lee Hamilton.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID:326720 Rigoletto {721} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/9/1996.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=314310

“Debuts: Aleksandrs Antonenko, Brenda Patterson.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352925 Rusalka {16} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/09/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352925

“Debuts: Anita Rachvelishvili, Margaret Thompson.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353729 Carmen {970} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/05/2011.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353729

“Debuts: Anna Netrebko . . . .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] Metropolitan Opera Premiere CID: 350257 War and Peace {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/14/2002.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=350257

“Debuts: Ryan Speedo Green, Oriada Islami Prifti.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 354549 Turandot {287} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/26/2012.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=354549

Marriner, Derdriu. “Aida Is the April 15, 2017, Metropolitan Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, April 10, 2017.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2017/04/aida-is-april-15-2017-metropolitan.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Falstaff Is the March 16, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, March 11, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/03/falstaff-is-march-16-2019-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Götterdämmerung Is the April 27, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, April 22, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/04/gotterdammerung-is-april-27-2019-met.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “La Traviata Is the Dec. 15, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 10, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/12/la-traviata-is-dec-15-2018-met-opera.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Otello Is the Jan. 5, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Dec. 31, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/12/otello-is-jan-5-2019-met-opera-saturday.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “Rigoletto Is the Feb. 23, 2019, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Feb. 18, 2019.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2019/02/rigoletto-is-feb-23-2019-met-opera.html

Mesa, Franklin. Opera: An Encyclopedia of World Premieres and Significant Performances, Singers, Composers, Librettists, Arias and Conductors, 1597-2000. Jefferson NC; London, England: McFarland & Company, Inc. 2007.

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Added a new photo.” Facebook. June 20, 2015.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10160682963490533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Listen live to tonight’s performance of Verdi’s Aida starring Anna Netrebko and Anita Rachvelishvili . . .” Facebook. Oct. 2, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532/10161096922820533/

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: Aida.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 5270 Metropolitan Opera Premiere Aida {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/12/1886.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=5270

“New Production: Aida.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 294740 New Production Aida {924} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/8/1988.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=294740

Monday, December 10, 2018

La Traviata Is the Dec.15, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast

Summary: Verdi’s La Traviata is the Dec. 15, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, numbering third of 24 in the 2018-2019 season’s schedule.

Giuseppe Verdi’s La Traviata is the Dec. 15, 2018, Met Opera Saturday matinee broadcast, airing as the third 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 La Traviata to an Italian libretto by Italian opera librettist Francesco Maria Piave (May 18, 1810-March 5, 1876). Piave’s literary source was La Dame aux Camélias, a stage adaptation by Alexandre Dumas, fils (July 27, 1824-Nov. 27, 1895), of his semi-autobiographical, same-named novel. Dumas’s play premiered Feb. 2, 1852. The play’s novel namesake was first published in 1848.

La Traviata premiered March 6, 1853, at Teatro La Fenice in Venice, Veneto region, northeastern Italy. La Traviata opened as the fourth Verdi opera to premiere at La Fenice. Ernani opened March 9, 1844, as La Fenice’s first Verdi opera premiere. Attila’s La Fenice premiere happened March 17, 1846. Rigoletto’s opening March 11, 1851, marked La Fenice’s third Verdi opera premiere.

La Traviata’s Metropolitan Opera premiere took place Monday, Nov. 5, 1883. Six performances were given during the 1883-1884 season.

Fifteen performances of La Traviata are scheduled for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season. The season premiere occurs Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018, at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.

Performances by the 2018-2019 season’s winter cast take place in December. Beyond the Dec. 4 premiere, seven more performances are scheduled for December. The month’s additional performances take place Friday, Dec. 7, at 8 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 11, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 15, at 1 p.m.; Tuesday, Dec. 18, at 7:30 p.m.; Saturday, Dec. 22, at 1 p.m.; Wednesday, Dec. 26, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, Dec. 29, at 8 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera airs the Saturday, Dec. 15, performance as third in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s Saturday matinee radio broadcast series.

Performances by the 2018-2019 spring cast take place in April. April’s seven performances are slated for Friday, April 5, at 8 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time; Wednesday, April 10, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 13, at 8:30 p.m.; Wednesday, April 17, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 20, at 8 p.m.; Wednesday, April 24, at 7:30 p.m.; and Saturday, April 27, at 8:30 p.m.

La Traviata has an estimated running time of 3 hours 7 minutes. Act I spans 30 minutes, followed by a 30-minute intermission. Act II runs for 64 minutes. The intermission between Act II and Act III is estimated at 30 minutes. Act III lasts for 33 minutes.

Yannick Nézet-Séguin conducts La Traviata’s winter performances, including the Dec. 15 Saturday matinee radio broadcast. The French Canadian conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Dec. 31, 2009, in the opera house’s performance of Carmen by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875).

Maestro Nézet-Séguin became the new Met Music Director in September 2018. La Traviata is the first of three operas under his conductorship in the 2018-2019 season. He also is scheduled to conduct Pelléas et Mélisande by French Impressionist music composer Achille-Claude Debussy (Aug. 22, 1862-March 25, 1918) and Dialogues des Carmélites by French composer and pianist Francis Poulenc (Jan. 7, 1899-Jan. 30, 1963).

Maestro Nézet-Séguin shares La Traviata’s conductor baton with Nicola Luisotti, who conducts La Traviata’s spring performances. The Italian conductor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Oct. 28, 2006, in the opera house’s 881st performance of Tosca by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Nicola Luisotti conducts two more Verdi operas, Aida and Rigoletto.

Diana Damrau appears in all winter performances, including the Dec. 15 Saturday matinee broadcast, in the title role of Violetta Valéry. The German operatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened as Zerbinetta in the opera house’s 79th performance of Ariadne auf Naxos by German composer Richard Strauss (June 11, 1864-Sept. 8, 1949).

Anita Hartig appears as Violetta Valéry in all spring performances of La Traviata. The Romanian operatic soprano’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 19, 2014, as Mimì in the opera house’s 1,251st performance of La Bohème by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924).

Juan Diego Flórez appears in all winter performances, including the Dec. 15 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Alfredo Germont. The Peruvian operatic tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Jan. 10, 2002, as Count Almaviva in the opera house’s 511th performance of Il Barbiere di Siviglia by Classical Era composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Jan. 27, 1756-Dec. 5, 1791).

(Update per The Metropolitan Opera @MetOPera via Twitter Dec. 24, 2018: Stephen Costello replaces Juan Diego Flórez, who is ill, for the Wednesday, Dec. 26, performance.)

Stephen Costello appears as Alfredo Germont in all spring performances. The American operatic tenor’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Sept. 24, 2007, as Arturo in the opera house’s 558th performance of Lucia di Lammermoor by Italian opera composer Domenico Gaetano Donizetti (Nov. 29, 1797-April 8, 1848).

Quinn Kelsey appears in all winter performances, including the Dec. 15 Saturday matinee broadcast, as Giorgio Germont. The American baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened March 29, 2008, as Schaunard in the opera house’s 1,194th performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Quinn Kelsey also appears as Amonasro in Verdi’s Aida.

Artur Rucinski appears as Giorgio Germont in the first two spring performances. His Giorgio Germont performances are scheduled for Friday, April 5, and Wednesday, April 10. The Polish baritone’s Metropolitan Opera debut happened Feb. 19, 2016, as Sharpless in the opera house’s 857th performance of Puccini’s Madama Butterfly.

Plácido Domingo appears as Giorgio Germont in the last five spring performances. His Giorgio Germont performances are scheduled for Saturday, April 13; Wednesday, April 17; Saturday, April 20; Wednesday, April 24; and closing night, Saturday, April 27. The Spanish opera singer’s Metropolitan Opera house debut happened Sept. 28, 1968, as Maurizio in the opera house’s 16th performance of Cilea’s Adriana Lecouvreur. In the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, Plácido Domingo also in the title role of Il Trittico’s Gianni Schicchi segment by Puccini.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season debuts a new staging of Verdi’s La Traviata. Michael Mayer directs the new production. The American film and stage director’s production team comprises Christine Jones, set designer; Susan Hilferty, costume designer; Kevin Adams, lighting designer; and Lorin Latarro, choreographer.

The Metropolitan Opera’s last staging of La Traviata occurred during the 2016-2017 season as the fourth revival of Willy Decker’s production. The German theatre director’s staging debuted Dec. 31, 2010, as a new production in the opera house’s 961st performance of Verdi’s La Traviata.

The takeaway for La Traviata as the third 2018-2019 Saturday matinee broadcast, airing Dec. 15, is that the season’s performances debut a new production, directed by American film and stage director Michael Mayer.

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

Verdi’s La Traviata airs Saturday, Dec. 15, as the 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s third of 24 scheduled Saturday matinee radio broadcoasts: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 19, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160146381895533/

Diana Damrau revisits the title role in Michael Mayer’s new production of Verdi’s La Traviata, four years after the German operatic soprano sang in Met Opera’s second revival of Willy Decker’s 2010-2011 La Traviata staging: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook June 25, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160695491820533/

For further information:

“Debut: Stephen Costello, Mary Zimmerman, Daniel Ostling, Mara Blumenfeld, T. J. Gerckens, Daniel Pelzig.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 352065 New Production Lucia di Lammermoor {558} Metropolitan Opera House: 09/24/2007.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=352065

“Debuts: Anita Hartig, Jennifer Rowley, Nicolas Testé.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 355378 La Bohème {1251} Metropolitan Opera House: 03/19/2014.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=355378

“Debuts: Jon Villars, Diana Damrau, Christopher Maltman.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 351297 Ariadne auf Naxos {79} Matinee ed. Metropolitan Opera House: 09/24/2005.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=351297

“Debuts: Karel Mark Chichon, Artur Rucinski.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356328 Madama Butterfly {857} Metropolitan Opera House: 02/19/2016.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356328

“Debuts: Paula Almerares, Juan Diego Flórez, Rodion Pogossov .” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 350187 Il Barbiere di Siviglia {511} Metropolitan Opera House: 01/10/2002.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=350187

“Debuts: Yannick Nézet-Séguin, Richard Eyre, Rob Howell, Irene Bohan, Elizabeth Caballero, Maria Kowroski, Martin Harvey.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353274 New Production Carmen {946} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/31/2009.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353274

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. “2018-2019 Metropolitan Opera Season Presents Four New Productions.” Earth and Space News. Monday, June 25, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/06/2018-2019-metropolitan-opera-season_25.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. "For the performance of La Traviata on 26 December 2018, Alfredo will be sung by Stephen Costello, replacing Juan Diego Flórez, who is ill. #castchange." Twitter. Dec. 24, 2018.
Available @ https://twitter.com/MetOpera/status/1077322636504559617

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Live in HD December 15. Music Director Yannick Nezet-Seguin conducts Michael Mayer’s richly textured new production, featuring a dazzling 18th-century setting that changes with the seasons . . .” Facebook. Feb. 19, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160146381895533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Tickets to the 2018–19 season are now on sale! The new season features four new productions -- including the highly anticipated new staging of Verdi’s La Traviata, starring Diana Damrau and Juan Diego Flórez. . . .” Facebook. June 25, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160695491820533/

“Metropolitan Opera Premiere: La Traviata.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 1080 Metropolitan Opera Premiere La Traviata {1} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/5/1883.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=1080

“New Production: La Traviata.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 353718 New Production La Traviata {961} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/31/2010.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=353718

Monday, November 19, 2018

2018-2019 Met Opera Season’s 10th Week Offers Bizet, Boito and Puccini

Summary: The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 10th week offers Bizet, Boito and Puccini operas of Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Mefistofele, La Bohème and Il Trittico.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season switches to La Bohème’s second cast Thursday, Nov. 29: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Dec. 14, 2017

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 10th week offers Bizet, Boito and Puccini operas in continuing performances of Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Mefistofele, La Bohème and Il Trittico during the season’s 10th week.

Week 10 in the 2018-2019 Met Opera season opens with the first of the week’s two performances of Il Trittico by Italian opera composer Giacomo Puccini (Dec. 22, 1858-Nov. 29, 1924). The performance Monday, Nov. 26, starts at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. A second performance takes place Friday, Nov. 30, at 7:30 p.m.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season premiere of Il Trittico took place during the season’s ninth week. The season premiere occurred Friday, Nov. 23, at 7:30 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera includes Il Trittico in the 2018-2019 season’s roster of Saturday matinee radio broadcasts. Il Trittico’s performance Saturday, Dec. 8, numbers second in the season’s schedule of 24 Saturday matinee radio broadcasts.

The Metropolitan Opera hosted the world premiere of Il Trittico 99 years ago. Il Trittico’s world premiere took place Dec. 14, 1918.

Prior to the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, the Metropolitan Opera most recently performed Il Trittico during the 2009-2010 season. The 2009-2010 season’s performances marked the first revival of Jack O’Brien’s new staging of Il Trittico. The American director and producer’s new production debuted April, 20, 2007, in the Metropolitan Opera’s 60th performance of Il Trittico.

Il Trittico gathers together three one-act operas that are sometimes performed as an ensemble and sometimes separately. Il Trittico translates as triptych. The three component acts are Il Tabarro (The Cloak), Suor Angelica (Sister Angelica) and Gianni Schicchi.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 10th week also continues performances of Mefistofele by Italian composer and librettist Arrigo Boito (Feb. 24, 1842-June 10, 1918). The week’s first Mefistofele performance begins at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Standard Time, Tuesday, Nov. 27.

The week’s second Mefistofele performance takes place Saturday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m. Saturday’s performance opens the 2018-2019 Met Opera Saturday matinee radio broadcast season. Saturday’s performance occurs as the first of 24 Saturday matinee radio broadcasts scheduled for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season.

Prior to the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, the Metropolitan Opera most recently performed Mefistofele 18 years ago. The 1999-2000 Met Opera season’s staging debuted Robert Carsen’s new production Nov. 5, 1999. The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances mark the first revival of Carsen’s staging.

Week 10 also continues performances of Les Pêcheurs de Perles by French Romantic Era composer Georges Bizet (Oct. 25, 1838-June 3, 1875). The week’s first performance of Les Pêcheurs de Perles is scheduled for Wednesday, Nov. 28, at 7:30 p.m. The week’s second performance takes place Saturday, Dec. 1, at 8 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera’s 2018-2019 season premiere of Les Pêcheurs de Perles occurred during the season’s eighth week. The season premiere of Les Pêcheurs de Perles happened Wednesday, Nov. 14, at 7:30 p.m.

The Metropolitan Opera includes Bizet’s opera in the 2018-2019 season’s Saturday matinee radio broadcast schedule. Les Pêcheurs de Perles closes the 2018-2019 Met Opera Saturday matinee radio broadcast season Saturday, May 4, 2019, as the last of 24 scheduled broadcasts.

Prior to the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, the Metropolitan Opera most recently performed Les Pêcheurs de Perles two years ago. The 2015-2016 Met Opera season’s staging debuted Penny Woolcock’s new production Dec. 31, 2015. The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s performances mark the first revival of Woolcock’s staging.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season’s 10th week offers a solitary performance of Puccini’s La Bohème. Puccini’s bohemian opera is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 29, at 7:30 p.m.

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season premiere of La Bohème occurred during the season’s opening week. La Bohème’s season premiere took place Tuesday, Sept. 25, at 7:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time.

Prior to the 2018-2019 Met Opera season, the Metropolitan Opera most recently performed La Bohème during the previous season, 2017-2018. Opera News’ monthly Operapedia feature writer Henry Stewart notes that the Metropolitan Opera has performed revivals of Franco Zeffirelli’s production every year, with the exception of 2013, since the staging’s 1981 debut.

The takeaways for the 2018-2019 Met Opera season's 10th week are that the week offers Bizet, Boito and Puccini in continued performances of Les Pêcheurs de Perles, Mefistofele and Il Trittico; brings back La Bohème for the season's winter cast; and ends with Mefistofele as the season's first Saturday matinee radio broadcast.

Acknowledgment

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

Image credits:

The 2018-2019 Met Opera season switches to La Bohème’s second cast Thursday, Nov. 29: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Dec. 14, 2017, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137119955533/

Boito’s Mefistofele opens the 2018-2019 Met Opera Saturday matinee radio broadcast season Saturday, Dec. 1, as the first of 24 scheduled broadcasts: The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera, via Facebook Feb. 15, 2018, @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120435533/

For further information:

Marriner, Derdriu. “2018-2019 Met Opera Season Opens Sept. 24 With Samson et Dalila.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Sept. 17, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/09/2018-2019-met-opera-season-opens-sept.html

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 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. “2018-2019 Met Opera Season Premiere of Les Pêcheurs de Perles Is Wednesday, Nov. 14.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Nov. 5, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/11/2018-2019-met-opera-season-premiere-of.html

Marriner, Derdriu. “2018-2019 Metropolitan 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 Bohème Is Feb. 24, 2018, Met Opera Saturday Matinee Broadcast.” Earth and Space News. Monday, Feb. 19, 2018.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2018/02/la-boheme-is-feb-24-2018-met-opera.html

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “Puccini’s timeless masterpiece of love and loss returns on September 25. . . .” Facebook. Dec. 14, 2017.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137119955533/

The Metropolitan Opera @MetOpera. “The spectacular Robert Carsen production returns to the Met for the first time since 2000 . . .” Facebook. Feb. 15, 2018.
Available @ https://www.facebook.com/MetOpera/photos/a.134969600532.229232.20807115532/10160137120435533/

“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: Mefistofele.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 332117 New Production Mefistofele {55} Metropolitan Opera House: 11/05/19999.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=332117

“New Production: Les Pêcheurs de Perles.” MetOpera Database > [Met Performance] CID: 356215 New Production Les Pêcheurs de Perles {5} Metropolitan Opera House: 12/31/2015.
Available @ http://archives.metoperafamily.org/archives/scripts/cgiip.exe/WService=BibSpeed/fullcit.w?xCID=356215

Stewart, Henry. “Operapedia: La Bohème.” Opera News, vol. 81, no. 2 (August 2016).
Available @ https://www.operanews.com/Opera_News_Magazine/2016/8/Departments/Operapedia_%E2%80%94_La_Boh%C3%A8me.html