Opera in NYC: Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro at The MetOpera

January 24, 2020July 7, 2021 arts-NY 1 Comment

Opera in NYC: Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro at The MetOpera

The Metropolitan Opera presents Le Nozze Di Figaro by Mozart in the modernized setting with two exceptional international casts; performances continue in February 2020

Susanna Phillips as the Countess, Nadine Sierra as Susanna, and Luca Pisaroni as Figaro in Mozart's "Le Nozze di Figaro." — Susanna Phillips as the Countess, Nadine Sierra as Susanna, and Luca Pisaroni as Figaro in Mozart’s “Le Nozze di Figaro.” Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera

A cornerstone of any opera house’s repertoire, Mozart’s Le Nozze Di Figaro is presented by the MetOpera in Sir Richard Eyre’s dynamic production with two exceptional casts. In the Fall 2019 sopranos Nadine Sierra and Susanna Phillips; mezzo-soprano Gaëlle Arquez; baritone Mariusz Kwiecien; and bass-baritones Luca Pisaroni and Adam Plachetka sing. Sopranos Anita Hartig and Hanna-Elisabeth Müller; mezzo-soprano Marianne Crevasse; and bass-baritone Mariusz Kwiecien take the charge in February 2020.

Premiered at the Met in the 2014-2015 season, the current production transposes the action from the late 18th century Spain to an elegant villa of the 1930s. Cleverly employing the rotating stage for the fast change of the decor and uninterrupted action when moving from scene to scene, the creators and the cast present a highly entertaining and instructive storyline about the virtues of love, decency, loyalty, and the vice of jealousy. The orchestral fluidity under the baton of Antonella Manacorda, sets the pace.

The libretto for the opera was written by Mozart’s favored collaborator Lorenzo Da Ponte. Da Ponte adapted a popular play La Folle Journée, ou Le Mariage de Figaro by Beaumarchais for his libretto which he completed even before Mozart started writing music for the opera. Ingeniously sequencing the comic scenes with hidings and cross-dressings, Beaumarchais’s play denounces the feudal rules and highlights the wits and smarts of the lower classes. According to Beaumarchais’s contemporaries, the play foreshadowed the French Revolution.

At the MetOpera, Le Nozze’s magical music and catchy arias are delivered by the incredible cast with confidence and mastery. Luca Pisaroni as Figaro sings with grace and warmth and is perfectly attuned to the velvety palette of Nadine Serra’s voice as Susanna. The beauty of the duets and the ensemble arias are well-matched by the orchestral work while the comic scenes and the moments of tension are skillfully calibrated and are presented with vitality and affection.

Enjoy the vibrant production of the timeless masterpiece by Mozart and Da Ponte.

The opera’s run time is 3 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission; sung in Italian with the subtitles.

Click for tickets at 20% off BUY TICKETS

Stay in the know about future events and offers by subscribing to ARTS-NY newsletter Subscribe

Opera in NYC: Andrea Bocelli at Met Opera

January 17, 2018January 29, 2020 arts-NY

Opera in NYC: Andrea Bocelli at Met Opera

Andrea Bocelli returns to MetOpera stage with Italian Opera Favorites recital on February 10, 2020 at 7.30 pm

Andrea Bocelli at the piano at Premio Faraglioni 2009 — Andrea Bocelli at Premio Faraglioni 2009; photo by Sannita / Image licensed by Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Andrea Bocelli returns to New York for two Sunday evenings of operatic recitals at the Metropolitan Opera House. The program will feature the opera fan’s favorite love duets, arias, and songs. Bocelli will appear with renown international stars and members of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra under the baton of Eugene Kohn. These unique musical events promise an unforgettable joy and entertainment.

This year recital by the master of Italian Opera follows a pair of triumphant recitals on the MetOpera stage in 2019. Before 2019, Bocelli was absent from the Met Opera stage for the past seven years, so his return was highly anticipated by the delighted fans. This year recital is another treat for the lucky audience promising a genuine performance of the timeless favorites. Click below for tickets:

Monday, February 10, 2020 at 7.30 pm BUY TICKETS

Stay in the know about future events and offers by subscribing to ARTS-NY newsletter Subscribe

Opera in NYC: The Queen of Spades at The MetOpera

December 5, 2019December 8, 2019 arts-NY 1 Comment

Opera in NYC: The Queen of Spades at The MetOpera

Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s opera about the vices of gambling and greed is performed at The MetOpera by the impressive international cast

Larissa Diadkova as the Countess, Lise Davidsen as Lisa, Yusif Eyvazov as Hermann, and Igor Golovatenko as Prince Yeletsky in Tchaikovsky's "The Queen of Spades" at the MetOpera — Larissa Diadkova as the Countess, Lise Davidsen as Lisa, Yusif Eyvazov as Hermann, and Igor Golovatenko as Prince Yeletsky in Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades.” Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera

Mysterious and alluring, the Imperial Russia of Catherine the Great’s time takes the stage of the Met Opera this December. The critics call The Quees of Spades, a masterpiece created by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, the highlight of the season so far. The splendid and imperially rich set and costume design by Mark Thompson recreates the times of extreme fashion, endless balls, and futile gambling and drinking nights. Premiered in 1995, Elijah Moshinsky’s production of The Queen of Spades is also memorable to the opera fans for Dmitriy Hvorostovky’s debut at the Met Opera.

This year’s production features a superb cast of international stars with a radiant soprano Lise Davidsen as Lisa, an expressive tenor Yusif Eyoavazov as Hermann, impeccable baritones Igor Golovanenko and Aleksey Markov as Tomsk and Yeletsky, and a moody mezzo-soprano Larisa Diadkova as the countess. The conductor Vasily Petrenko makes his debut on the Met stage and takes full control of the splendid music score, leading the musicians in perfect alignment with the singing and acting.

Alexey Markov as Count Tomsky in Tchaikovsky's "The Queen of Spades." — Alexey Markov as Count Tomsky in Tchaikovsky’s “The Queen of Spades.” Photo: Ken Howard / Met Opera

Davidsen’s stormy entry into the opera world can only be fully appreciated when her powerful performance is observed on stage. With an understatement so suitable for Lisa, a young Russian lady of modest means, Davidsen uses her vocal strength to deliver the angst and desperation because of her lover’s betrayal in the name of material possessions. The colorful and exquisitely designed chorus scenes contrast with the gloomy mood and greedy aspirations of the high society. But the gorgeous music and the impressive signing save the day to the elation of the audience.

The opera is sung in Russian with subtitles; run time 3 hours and 35 minutes with one intermission. Performances are from December 5 – 21, 2019.

Click for tickets at 20% off BUY TICKETS

Stay in the know about future events and offers by subscribing to ARTS-NY newsletter

Opera in NYC: Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera from February 2019

April 23, 2019June 19, 2019 contact@arts-ny.com 1 Comment

Opera in NYC: Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera from February 2019

Verdi’s masterpiece about a court jester Rigoletto returns to the Metropolitan Opera in February with more performances in March and May 2019

George Gagnidze in the title role of Verdi's Rigoletto at the MetOpera — George Gagnidze in the title role of Verdi’s Rigoletto. Photo by Richard Termine/ Metropolitan Opera.

Rigoletto in Las-Vegas? Verdi’s extremely popular opera set to a powerful play by Victor Hugo seems to be destined for any epoch and impervious to the time and place transformations. With an ever-relevant fable and beloved arias widely familiar to opera fans and recognizable to those new to the genre, this opera is a time-tested favorite of every opera house.

Shifted to Las Vegas in the 1960s, Michael Mayer’s 2013 production of Rigoletto gets a modern look while telling the same centuries-old story of corruption, evil and love. While the power of the old man curse put at the center of the tale seems less believable in the 20th century, the dirty intrigues and the ruthlessness of the lonely figures doing shady business look rather plausible.

For the last four performances of Rigoletto in this season production at the MetOpera, the cast includes the highly-acclaimed baritone George Gagnidze as a tragic jester with Matthew Polenzanni taking on the role of amoral Duke. Rosa Feola sings innocent Gilda.

Get tickets at 17% off with TodayTix. BUY TICKETS

Stay in the know about future events and offers by subscribing to our newsletter Subscribe

Opera in NYC: Mefistofele at the Met Opera

November 13, 2018November 13, 2018 contact@arts-ny.com 1 Comment

Opera in NYC: Mefistofele at the Met Opera

Splendid and colorfully rich production of Arrigo Boito’s Mefistofele at the Met Opera until December 1, 2018

Michael Fabiano as Faust and Christian Van Horn as Mefistofele in Act II — Michael Fabiano as Faust, Christian Van Horn in the title role of Boito’s “Mefistofele.” Photo: Karen Almond / Met Opera

A revival of Robert Carsen’s the 1999 production of Boito’s Mefistofele brings all the elements of grand opera to the Met Opera stage. Omnipresent and vicious devil whistling and steering havoc, magnificent chorus scenes mightily delivered by the members of Met chorus and ballet, vibrant costumes and powerful singing are all in evidence throughout the performance.

Regarded as a showpiece for basses with Samuel Ramey famously singing Mefistofele with all the demonic charisma in place, Christian Van Horn, a bass-baritone, commands a formidable presence. Faust, his counterpart, played by young tenor Michael Fabiano, is reasonably sensual if restrained at times. Yet, both make an impressive leading pair going through all the ups and downs of Boito’s illustrious masterpiece.

The set and costume design by Michael Levine adds a strong visual component to the production and sometimes competes for attention with the music and the main characters. With sensitive and penetrating soprano Angela Meade as Margherita and Carlo Rizzi conducting, the opera is a fantastic treat for the spectators reminding us of vices and virtues in a truly theatrical way.

Tag: metopera