Opera in HD: Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera

Opera in HD: Verdi’s Rigoletto at the Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera production of Verdi’s masterpiece about a court jester Rigoletto

Stream from anywhere on Saturday, May 16, 2020

A scene from Rigoletto by Verdi at the Metropolitan Opera
A scene from Rigoletto by Verdi at the Metropolitan Opera; photo by Marty Sohl

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 free streaming on Saturday, May 16, 2020, Met Opera selected the production performance on February 16, 2013 with Zeljko Lucic as Rigoletto, Diana Damrau as Gilda, Piotr Beczala as Duke; Michele Mariotti conducts.

 

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Opera in HD: Verdi’s Aida at the Met Opera

Opera in HD: Verdi’s Aida at the Met Opera

Monumental Met Opera production of a timeless masterpiece by Verdi with the incomparable Leontyne Price in the title role and historic star-studded cast recorded in 1985

Stream from home on May 1, 2020  

A scene from Verdi's Aida at MetOpera; Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera
A scene from Verdi’s Aida at MetOpera; Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera

Verdi’s Aida, the ultimate Grand Opera, is a highlight of every opera season. The grandeur of the music calls for an equally magnificent cast.

The live recording of Aida in January of 1985 was Price’s farewell to the opera world which, brought historic significance to the event. The role of Amneris was performed by Fiorenza Cossotto with James McCracken as Radames and James Levine conducting.

The stage design recreates the pompous style of the Old Kingdom architecture in all its sumptuousness. The production director matched the decor with hundreds of performers including four horses, two brass choirs, ballet dancers, and supernumeraries trooping the stage. It all aims to convey the might and power of Egypt’s Pharaoh. And it surely fulfills the intent. That state omnipotence is skillfully contrasted against the lonely and touching scenes of soul-searching, love, and despair. This is the theater in all its might with its tricks finely brought together for the joy of the opera fans.

You can stream Aida from home on May 1, 2020.             STREAM NOW

 

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Opera in NYC: Falstaff at the Metropolitan Opera

Opera in NYC: Falstaff at the Metropolitan Opera

Verdi’s final opera Falstaff fills the house with magnificent ensemble singing. Bring the Metropolitan Opera’s magnificent experience to your home via streaming 

The review and the cast is based on the 2019 performances

Ailyn Pérez as Alice and Ambrogio Maestri in the title role of Verdi's "Falstaff."
Ailyn Pérez as Alice and Ambrogio Maestri in the title role of Verdi’s “Falstaff.” Photo: Karen Almond / Met Opera

Robert Carsen’s vibrant and colorful 2013 production of Verdi’s Falstaff brings together a powerful ensemble of opera stars with Ambrogio Maestri, baritone, in the title role, Ailyn Perez, soprano as Alice Ford, and Golda Schultz, soprano as Alice’s daughter Nannetta. Carsen’s clever shift from Shakespearean time to the mid-20th century expresses complex themes of renewal, gender equality, fidelity, and trust while telling an enlightening and joyful story full of lighthearted jokes, fateful misunderstandings, and a happy ending.

Falstaff, the last of Verdi’s operas, was based on Shakespeare’s comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor. The majestic music by the Italian master combined with a witty storyline in the libretto written by Arrigo Boito, an opera composer in his own right, makes for a triumphant career finale for Verdi. In this season’s MetOpera production, Maestri’s confidence and gusto in the portrayal of a fateful Falstaff fit perfectly with the rest of the powerful cast. Brightly colored stage design and vivid costumes add hilarity and buoyancy to the plot. The free-flowing ensemble singing creates a production that is a lively fete for the actors and a delight for opera lovers.

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

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.

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Opera in NYC: Verdi’s Aida at the Met Opera

Opera in NYC: Verdi’s Aida at the Met Opera

Monumental Met Opera production of a timeless masterpiece by Verdi with star-studded cast returns to the Met Opera stage in January, 2019  

Opera Verdi Aida New York Metropolitan Opera
A scene from Verdi’s Aida at MetOpera; Photo: Marty Sohl / Met Opera

Grand Opera in its ultimate sense, Verdi’s Aida in Sonja Frisell’s production from 1988 is a highlight of the 2018-2019 Metropolitan Opera season. The grandeur of the staging calls for an equally magnificent cast. In the winter and early spring a talented duo of Sondra Radvanovsky in the title role and Dolora Zajick as Amneris  with Aleksandr Antonenko and Yonghoon Lee alternating as Radomes will take the stage.

The stage design by Gianni Quaranta recreates the pompous style of the Old Kingdom architecture in all its sumptuousness. The director Stephen Pickover is  matching the decor with hundreds of performers including four horses, two brass choirs, ballet dancers and supernumeraries trooping the stage. It all aims to convey the might and power of Egypt’s Pharaoh. And it surely fulfills the intent. That state omnipotence is skillfully contrasted against the lonely and touching scenes of soul-searching and love despair. This is the theater in all its might with its tricks finely brought together for the joy of the opera fans. Get tickets at 21% off  with TodayTIX.

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